Need help with advanced equiment choices

[PerroneFord]

When I decided to come back to SCUBA, my interest was firmly in doing wreck diving. Obviously OMS is a big name in areas where wreck diving is popular. I lookedcarefully at their gear. However, I happen to live in an area of the country where OMS has very little presence. In looking around, and doing some price comparisons, I was surprised to see items in my local area that seemed to be identical to the OMS stuff, but for far less. A bit more investigation showed that OMS was rebranding quite a lot of things they sold, and their retailers were charging a premium for them.

I also noticed that a lot of "big names" were diving OMS gear, but like anything else, realized that of course they are. They're getting paid to. It's basic product placement. I'd dive some of OMS's gear if I was getting it free also.

OMS does indeed have some very fine gear. I've been able to examine some of their wings, lights, fins, and other things. All very nice. However, all priced above what I am able to pay in my area for gear of similar or better quality.

I have no interest in getting into a debate over bungied or non-bungied wings. That choice is best left to the purchaser of that gear. My sole point is that in my experience, and in my area, OMS gear tends to cost more and offer less than other options I have available. If OMS works for you, and is priced reasonably, then by all means, buy it and enjoy it.

As for a poll with locality, I don't think you'd find any surprises. OMS is in New York, and consequently has a strong following in the Northeast and not surprisingly in the UK where they do very similar types of diving. In the southeast, the diving style seems to be quite a lot different, and the gear of choice seems to be made by the likes of Dive Rite, Oxycheq, Halcyon, Golem Gear and a few others. DSS has carved out a nice niche out west. All of it is quality gear and nearly anyone would be happy with all of it.

Let's just get in the water and dive....

 

[nereas]

I don't know... But certification agencies run the statistics i am sure. I wonder if anyone would post or have posted a poll with questions identifyng divers locality . Nice points otherwise. As far as hostility goes i've not seen it yet outside this board but some of the big names in scuba use OMS.

Talking about unlikely choices: Nuno Gomes current cave (282,60mfw/927ffw) and deep diving record (318msw/1044fsw) holder uses TrippleL (www.scubaL.com) wings... The guy dives with four tanks on his back and bunch of tanks slinged. Go figure.

Thanks

Dont try this at home, of course.

Tank diving will safely get you down to about 100 m. Beyond that, you are in rebreather territory.

The OMS wing B/Cs or the backplate-wing configurations work equally well. It is simply a matter of personal preference, or else a joint decision by your team, realizing that nobody dives to these depths alone, therefore there are valid team issues.

 

[SkiDiver]

I agree with those who say you should get what you want. That said, I can offer my own recent choice as an example. I picked up the DSS singles rig with hog harness and a 26 lb. Torus (donut) wing, with the 8lb. weight plates and a SS plate. The total came to about $555 plus tax (my LDS carries DSS, and that factored into my decision, too). For my purposes, which include warm water diving in a 3/2 suit and cold water diving in a 7/5 suit this offered the most cost-effective, functional, uncluttered option. With the weight plates and STA-less design, the DSS setup w/hog harness is one of the simplest, most streamlined you can get for cold water.

After talking to Tobin and running the numbers, I decided that a 26lb. wing was sufficient for my needs. If I slung a pony and carried a heavy light, it might be borderline, but it's plenty for my needs. (If I carried those things, I'd go with a 30-35lb wing.)

I haven't used it yet with the thick wetsuit, but it was great with the 3/2 last week. Super comfortable. I didn't feel any need for a BP pad or fancy harness. Getting the rig on was not hard, and getting it off (in the water, over my head) was a piece of cake.

The weight plates let me add weight for cold water without dealing with pouches, etc. I'll still need some on a belt, but it won't be so much as to be uncomfortable, and I'll still have some ditchable weight. In warm water with AL tanks last week, I wore 4lbs. on a weight belt, which was little enough to barely notice it.

So, again, you should get what you want, since you seem pretty much decided already. But I'd hold off on the bells and whistles (padding, etc.) until you decide for sure that you need them. Your exposure suit will probably provide enough padding.

 

[SangP]

O.M.O.H.

I too went through the process of choosing what bc I should get initially and to get one with all the bells and whistles.

I then made the decision to get myself a Halcyon rig with a couple of cheap XSScuba weight pockets instead of expensive ones from Halcyon.

My backpad is now collecting dust as I've gotten a custom thigh pouch and in hindsight I would have saved quite a lot had I gotten a Oxycheq rig in the first place.

I'm sure you have done quite a bit of research on the various rigs you mentioned. If I or some others on this board can help you make a cheaper but equally good decision that'll be good.

The stuff you mentioned as add ons to your rig aren't really necessary. These things sound good on paper but in reality less is more.

I'm curious that you mentioned that you were a TDI tech instructor so what gear were you using then?

SangP

The good news is at least you are geting a BP/W LOL!

 

[O.M.O.H.]

I'm curious that you mentioned that you were a TDI tech instructor so what gear were you using then?

Weird i don't think i ever said that. I recall i said somethng about talking to my instructor about equiment and that he dives Deep Outdoors BP + Freedom harness + Weightbelt or Mechanical Pockets.

The good news is at least you are geting a BP/W LOL!

He he yeah. And i used to have it before, in a bit of different form: Riptide Zone II bcd (which is identical to OMS IQ Pack with 60lb bungied wing permanently attached to it) with AL plate + STA installed. BUt i figured i needed to move on to a less elaborate system.

 

[NC myerssl]

While your adding don't forget the contengency bottle/reg, jetfins, lights, negatively bouyant body mass and in-pool testing to see how it would hold up. BTW, the bp/w fits fine without any sliding or slippage and the crotch strap is adjusted right.

I could use a 30# bag and do a slow kick on the surface (fw) to stay afloat, or inflate the wing until the valves leak, but why? A 36# bag would probably work fine but if your looking at the drag difference between a 36# bag and 45# Oxychek, you will see that there is not much difference and gives me the opportunity to bring crowbars, mallets, tools when the dive requires it.

 

[FoSheZZie23]

OMS IQ pack, 100lbs dual bladder, alum backplate

 

[Sadamune]

Damn i should have posted this on a swedish scuba forum somewhere, then i would've definately gotten more votes for Poseidon. I kinda like it better than other options.

If you are into Swedish dive gear I suggest you investigate Agir-Brokk. I own a Blackbird 36 wing and their Backplate 28, which together are an outstanding singles rig. Their gear is exclusively tech oriented and their prices are quite good too, especially considering I bought mine straight from Sweden (I paid slightly less than if I had purchased a comparable Halcyon rig, shipping included).

Also, Poseidon has a new backplate/harness system called 'The Platform' that you may wish to investigate.

Cheers,

Sadamune