Oceanic Islander Scuba BCD

[Scuds]

Anyone have any experience with one of these? 225 is the asking price, I'd like to see what kind of input you all might have though. Thanks!

Edit: NWT, BTW

 

[kilo_fox]

I bought my Oceanic Islander last year in October and did more than 200 dives with it since then - I love it!

:thumbs_up: the integrated weight system which allows you to put the lead in four different pockets (the two in front are ditchable, the two in the back (tank band) are not) - I found out it's better to have more weight in the front and less in the back rather than have it equally distributed.

:thumbs_up: backinflated BCD - I like it much better than all jacket-style BCDs I used before, can't compare to other BI's though..

:thumbs_up: doesn't take much space/low weight

:thumbs_down: no quick dump valve at the shoulder (maybe the Islander II has it!?)

 

[Scuds]

If it helps any....

 

[Aspendiver]

I have the Islander II. Got it on Ebay for about $225 shipped, new. They're on there fairly often...
I've got about 25 dives on it, and really like it. Very comfortable, but I'm going to add a crotch strap.

 

[sockeye02]

I bought my Oceanic Islander last year in October and did more than 200 dives with it since then - I love it!....*original post cut*..... :thumbs_down: no quick dump valve at the shoulder (maybe the Islander II has it!?)

My Oceanic Distro told me that the shoulder dump valve exists. It works by tugging on the corrugated hose as there's supposed to be a SS wire inside the hose for that reason. Haven't verified it though as I haven't dived my new Islander yet.

 

[ti325v]

I have an Islander 1 with about 1500 dives on it, it has held up extremely well considering it is a "travel" BCD. Yeah it is getting frayed around the edges. I think it will have another 500 dives in it before it is junk. I paid about $400 for it new in Thailand. I think that works out to about 20 cents per dive, fair enough.
If you would like some pictures of the wear points you can pm me. For a recreational diver it is a TERRIFIC BCD for warm water and it will without a doubt last you a lifetime. I say warm water because there is a limited amout of weight..about 6 kilos that you can fit into the integrated pockets. I do not like the tank strap weight pockets myself.
Also to kilofox.....the shoulder dump is integrated into the corrugated hose and works very well, there is also a dump on the lower right for when you are horizontal.
P.S. I do not think I have ever seen a bcd that did not have a shoulder dump integrated into the corrugated hose, except on my OMS dual bladder wing. Even when there was another dump on the right side.

 

[sockeye02]

Do you have any suggestions on what proportion of weights to put on the dumpable vs non-dumpable pockets? As a reference I tend to rotate feet down if floating on my back in just my swimming trunks.
Thanks! Just bought it, haven't "maidened" it in the pool yet - tomorrow!

 

[ti325v]

Hi Sockeye: My experience with weighting is that it is a VERY individual thing. With heaps of experience I find that I can trim out quite nicely with any amount of weight anywhere I care to put it. However when I switch back and forth between my different BCD`s I have never really liked the tank band mounted weights. However I am sure if I left them there for a while I would get used to them. For sure the tank mounted weights will tend to bring your shoulders into a more horizontal position if you tend to swim with your body at a slightly upward angle. ( I often hang a 2 kilo weight on the valve of students who swim this way, to help them feel what position they need to be in the water,flat and horizontal.) Hope that helps. I know I did not clearly answer your question but it is the best advice I can give Larry