Need some advice---we are looking to purchase a men's and women's BCD/regulator/octo package to use on 5-6 dive trips per year in 30-70' deep, warm water. Lots of packages available from various online sources. Anyone have input about an Oceanic 8 Reg of Oceanic BCD? is this good, bad, ugly or OK for the application. Thanks! Any suggestions on where to buy would be appreciated also.
Need recommendation on warm shallow water BCD and reg set up
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NudeDiver
Contributor
I bought a Seaquest Passport for traveling with. It's specifically marketed as a travel BC and great for warm water. It's relatively small, light, compact, and includes its own built-in mesh packing bag. I think it was around $400 at the local dive shop, but as usual, on-line prices are cheaper, if you want to go that route.
No comments about your reg idea - but I use a ScubaPro S600/MK25 that seems to work well in the application you mention.
Good luck!
nd
No comments about your reg idea - but I use a ScubaPro S600/MK25 that seems to work well in the application you mention.
Good luck!
nd
Sinbad the Diver
Contributor
Take a look at this BCD...pretty light and performs real well, also a great value.
Genesis Tropic BCD Black from LeisurePro.com
Genesis Tropic BCD Black from LeisurePro.com
Damselfish
Contributor
Don't get stuck on packages unless the place you are buying from will let you make up your own package with the things you really want. It may seem convenient and cheaper now but it won't in a year when you decide you don't really like some part of it. I think you're usually better off picking out BC and reg separately.
Fit is all important in BCs. Any BC of a major brand will be fine if it fits you properly, but getting a good fit can be challenging and requires at least trying them on, if not diving them (usually hard to get that chance though.) And, there's a good chance a man and a woman will not want the same model BC due to fit issues. If you go buy 2 of the same package good chance at least one of you will wind up hating the BC.
There are a couple major BC styles, basically jackets and back inflates and you may find you have a strong opinion which you prefer so you need to figure that out. And, you need to figure out what features are important to you. If you're traveling by air, definitely take bulk and weight into consideration.
Fit is all important in BCs. Any BC of a major brand will be fine if it fits you properly, but getting a good fit can be challenging and requires at least trying them on, if not diving them (usually hard to get that chance though.) And, there's a good chance a man and a woman will not want the same model BC due to fit issues. If you go buy 2 of the same package good chance at least one of you will wind up hating the BC.
There are a couple major BC styles, basically jackets and back inflates and you may find you have a strong opinion which you prefer so you need to figure that out. And, you need to figure out what features are important to you. If you're traveling by air, definitely take bulk and weight into consideration.
diver 85
Contributor
For a BC only, look @ the Zeagle Scout---great warm water & traveling(flying) BC....bought it last year for me but my wife fell in love with it(only one she now wears).....Paid I think $215 for it @ Scuba.com so very reasonable...here's a very short video of her using it in Cozumel this past May....
Video of Betsy @ Villa Dora - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
mblake
Contributor
We bought the oceanic 8 reg/ octo/bcd pro/nx100 package in April.
It was the cheapest no frills package around. 40 plus dives we figured we saved money on rentals and we used the same equipment on our dives instead of some of the junk some of the dive shops issued...
FYI, the Oceanic pro is one of the lightest BCDs around, even lighter then their travel BCD.
My wife's reg had some free flow problems but no major problems for our warm water dives this year.
It was the cheapest no frills package around. 40 plus dives we figured we saved money on rentals and we used the same equipment on our dives instead of some of the junk some of the dive shops issued...
FYI, the Oceanic pro is one of the lightest BCDs around, even lighter then their travel BCD.
My wife's reg had some free flow problems but no major problems for our warm water dives this year.
mwilding
Contributor
here is a pretty good deal:
https://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=402&products_id=2097
Another idea for travel gear is the Oxycheq ProPack
Oxycheq Pro Pack [ROW-10] - $240.00 : Cave Adventurers!, We will NOT be undersold!!!
imho, Regs are regs as far as travelling is concerned. Get a good set now and be set forever.
https://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=402&products_id=2097
Another idea for travel gear is the Oxycheq ProPack
Oxycheq Pro Pack [ROW-10] - $240.00 : Cave Adventurers!, We will NOT be undersold!!!
imho, Regs are regs as far as travelling is concerned. Get a good set now and be set forever.
When I first started diving, I had a similar plan for my diving future, with even fewer trips than you have planned. As I searched around, I saw that it would not cost me much more to get gear that would also fit the bill if by some remote chance I decided to get into it more than I had anticipated.
I got into it more than I had anticipated.
Having planned for the diver I might be instead of the diver I was, I had almost no wasted money. I didn't have to say, "Shoot! I wish I had bought a [insert name] instead of [insert name].
Good quality scuba equipment is incredibly durable. Counting pool training sessions, I would guess my mask has 1,200 dives on it. My primary computer is 10 years old and working great. My current BCD has about 300 dives on it, and it looks remarkably new. Whatever you buy will last a long long time if you take care of it and--more importantly--if you make a wise choice to begin with. If you don't make a wise choice to begin with, we'll be seeing it on eBay just after you decide you really needed something else.
I got into it more than I had anticipated.
Having planned for the diver I might be instead of the diver I was, I had almost no wasted money. I didn't have to say, "Shoot! I wish I had bought a [insert name] instead of [insert name].
Good quality scuba equipment is incredibly durable. Counting pool training sessions, I would guess my mask has 1,200 dives on it. My primary computer is 10 years old and working great. My current BCD has about 300 dives on it, and it looks remarkably new. Whatever you buy will last a long long time if you take care of it and--more importantly--if you make a wise choice to begin with. If you don't make a wise choice to begin with, we'll be seeing it on eBay just after you decide you really needed something else.
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