Need an advise related to BC - Hollis SMS 100 or Backplate systems

[MasterMindDiver]

Hello All,
actually that is the first post for me seeking an advise for the folks who tried the gears I am asking about and who have experience in scuba/tech/GUE training and the limitations i may face with my gears..

Currently I am in my dive master program. my plan is to be PADI instructor , also planing to participate in GUE trainnings as well as tech diving and side mount diving.

Going straight to the point , I have purchased Hollis SMS 100 with APEKS XTX50 and Shearwater Perdix dive computer for cold water diving in seattle and to let me have 1 BC to fit all my needs for the near future, but a friend of a friend who is GUE instructor in another country told me that Hollis SMS 100 is not good and it is better to have separate BC for each diving type , as this will provide better trim and buoyancy control.

the gears on its way but I still have the option to do a return since I did not use it. after having this chat with that instructor , I have been looking into XDEEP , Halcyon and Hollis back plates for single tank backplate systems .. but I am getting lost and not able to decide which one will be better ?? or even if I shall keep the Hollis SMS 100.

Also I heard about the DIR and GUE gear configuration .. but was not able to find any reference for it .. I appreciate if you can share some links if it is available online.

thanks a lot in advance.
Regards

 

[runsongas]

yea, you are better off getting a separate bc's if you plan on diving both backmount and sidemount. the sms100 is also larger than most really need, the sms75 is more popular because of that fact.

if you are going to become a gue diver, get a bpw. you can get a single tank config for now and pick up a doubles wing later. as a dm, get whatever brand you can get a discount on through your shop, they all dive pretty much the same.

Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

 

[tbone1004]

with GUE you will not be able to use an SMS100, and will not be able to complete your training in sidemount.

For backmount rigs, I would suggest looking at Deep Sea Supply vs. the others that you have mentioned as it will be more economical and higher quality than most with some unique features. It will be fully DIR/GUE compatible for single tank training, and adaptable to doubles with purchase of a doubles wing. DSS is especially important if you are either taller than 6'2" or shorter than about 5'8" which is the rough range of a normal sized backplate.
See GUE's equipment config page here
Standards - Appendix A | Global Underwater Explorers
Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

For sidemount, I would also look elsewhere. The SMS100 isn't bad, but without modifications it is far from ideal. The SMS75 system is what the SMS100 should have been and is a much better rig for sidemount diving if you are doing that kind of diving. Unfortunately the style of sidemount rig you choose is largely determined by the style of sidemount diving you are going to do. The SMS100 can be used with singles and doubles, but it is not ideal for either. It is one of those where 99% of your diving is sidemount, and maybe once a year you have to dive doubles or backmount singles, then it will work in a pinch, but if you are diving backmount regularly, it is less ideal. The Dive Rite Nomad XT is a much better rig for moving between all three, but is not compatible with any DIR/GUE training equipment requirements.

 

[MasterMindDiver]

yea, you are better off getting a separate bc's if you plan on diving both backmount and sidemount. the sms100 is also larger than most really need, the sms75 is more popular because of that fact.

if you are going to become a gue diver, get a bpw. you can get a single tank config for now and pick up a doubles wing later. as a dm, get whatever brand you can get a discount on through your shop, they all dive pretty much the same.

Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

Thanks a lot runsongas for helping me
i still can get some discounts of several brands .. that will not be a problem ..
question .. do you know if Halcyon infinity can be upgraded to doubles ? and if you can advise is it better or the travel pro ?

 

[runsongas]

halcyon infinity can be used with doubles, just switch out the eclipse for an evolve wing. it is just expensive at retail compared to a similar bpw from dive rite, oxycheq, or DSS.

 

[MasterMindDiver]

with GUE you will not be able to use an SMS100, and will not be able to complete your training in sidemount.

For backmount rigs, I would suggest looking at Deep Sea Supply vs. the others that you have mentioned as it will be more economical and higher quality than most with some unique features. It will be fully DIR/GUE compatible for single tank training, and adaptable to doubles with purchase of a doubles wing. DSS is especially important if you are either taller than 6'2" or shorter than about 5'8" which is the rough range of a normal sized backplate.
See GUE's equipment config page here
Standards - Appendix A | Global Underwater Explorers
Equipment Configuration | Global Underwater Explorers

For sidemount, I would also look elsewhere. The SMS100 isn't bad, but without modifications it is far from ideal. The SMS75 system is what the SMS100 should have been and is a much better rig for sidemount diving if you are doing that kind of diving. Unfortunately the style of sidemount rig you choose is largely determined by the style of sidemount diving you are going to do. The SMS100 can be used with singles and doubles, but it is not ideal for either. It is one of those where 99% of your diving is sidemount, and maybe once a year you have to dive doubles or backmount singles, then it will work in a pinch, but if you are diving backmount regularly, it is less ideal. The Dive Rite Nomad XT is a much better rig for moving between all three, but is not compatible with any DIR/GUE training equipment requirements.

thanks a lot tbone1004 for the detailed information...
then I will return SMS 100 once I receive it
based on that information i will focus only on the backplate system for backmount rigs and will leave side mounts for now till i decide to take the training for side mount diving.

for the backmount rigs .. I am 6 feet tall , will try to find out which size is supposed to fit me in DSS ..
is there something specific i need to check in the backplate ? and shall i look only into the donuts wing .. or torus will be better ?
also I am a bit heavy .. around 250 LB .. is the 30 mil bladder will be holding me in case i dive in wet suite ?

 

[tbone1004]

call Tobin and ask him, tell him I sent you over. The 30mil bladder is more robust than just about everything on the market, so is not an issue. Likely end up with either an LCD30 or Torus 26 bladder, and SS backplate in Large, but call Tobin anyway

 

[MasterMindDiver]

call Tobin and ask him, tell him I sent you over. The 30mil bladder is more robust than just about everything on the market, so is not an issue. Likely end up with either an LCD30 or Torus 26 bladder, and SS backplate in Large, but call Tobin anyway

perfect , thank you so much