oceanic probe vs. seaquest black diamond

[colsonn]

Do I sell my oceainc probe and buy the seaquest black diamond, or do I not....hmmm...decisions decisions. The truth is I have found that the jacket style pretty much sucks IMO, the pockets are useless since I can't reach them. I plan to talk my instructor into letting me jump into the water real quick with his setup (black diamond). What are your thoughts on both bcd's.
Thanks everyone.
Nick

 

[Nova SS]

My instructor uses a Seaquest Black Diamond when using a dry suit. He has unlimited funds when it comes to this stuff so I guess that says something good for them. The price was a little high so I went to a Oceanic Excursion and have never regreated it.

 

[cudachaser]

I really do like my Oceanic Probe...Wouldn't trade for anything else out there now

 

[Douglas Hamilton]

My wife and I both have Oceanic Probes and like them. We did have a recall for the inflaters,but that happens. We dive in mexico all the time and we take our equipment off in the water and the boat attendants pull it up over the side using the handle and that has cracked the tank plate from the back plate but that is also being taken care of by Oceanic.

 

[H2Andy]

colsonn, if you want a back inflate, go with the best: backplate and wings

you can get a great setup, infinitely adjustable, and with lots less crap to
drag around in the water for half the price of a Black Diamond.

go all the way, man...

i used to have an Oceanic Probe and i loved it. until i tried a
backplate and wings.

it's like night and day.

 

[colsonn]

you know, I have read thousands of posts on backplate with wings, and every time its the same guys preaching about em', and I have always laughed at every single one; But for some reason, after reading your post H2Andy, I must now try one. Something is calling me to them, the last time I was at the dive shop, they had just got in the new Apeks BP/W. It looked so slick compared to everything else. I wonder if they'll let me "borrow" it? I must find out.

Side note, anyone want to buy a barely used in great condition Oceanic probe with alternate air power inflator? Only got thirty dives on it. Inflator reg was just looked at..someone convince me by making an offer. (It's a Medium large, and when you put it on, the girls go crazy!)

 

[H2Andy]

hey colsonn, the key is what works for you.

if you try the bp/wings and it works, excellent. if the Probe works best for you,
excellent.

it's all about what makes you feel comfortable in the water. in my case,
the bp/wings just worked.

 

[scubadobadoo]

One of the main reasons people switch to a back inflate is to reduce clutter, as you also indicated with the "the pockets are useless," comment. So why go to the Black Diamond? It is a well made BC but it is even more bulky than most jacket style BC's. You do get the back inflation you may desire but you don't really reduce clutter.

As H2Andy said, it's all about what makes you feel comfy in the water. That said, you might as well try a BP/W because once the (what I call it) "BC Buying Evolution" begins, you may be able to save yourself some time and money by skipping the back inflate stage and going straight to the BP/W, assumng it's what makes you comfy. Sounds like you are on your way...Jacket BC, Another Jacket BC, Back inflate BC, Deluxe Harness BP/W, Hog Harness...Many have chosen this route and most have been happy with the end result.

Good luck and have fun with whatever you purchase!

 

[scubaratt]

So why go to the Black Diamond?

I did a lot of research to answer this question when I made my first BC purchase – which was a BD.

First off, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do while diving. I knew I liked diving but didn’t really know what I liked about it. The answer to that question is that it takes time to figure out what you are going to be doing.

I new I wanted to do some wreck diving and maybe go to doubles when the time came. But for now I’m a rec diver (not wreck) doing rec things. I have just started doing some video stuff as well as spear fishing underwater hunting.

The BD is a well made, very comfortable and heavy duty BC. It can be made to accommodate doubles fairly easily and has all the attachment points to carry just about anything you could need.

Yes the pockets are almost useless, but I haven’t needed to put anything in them to date.

I am also not a tech diver, but may go that route some day and it’s nice to know that I can find out if that is something I enjoy without having to buy new gear to get into it.

Bottom line – the BD is a versatile bc that isn’t too cumbersome that it gets in the way.

BTW – Since I have no experience with bp/w I will not comment either way other than to say that everyone I know that dives one – loves it. DIR junkies.

 

[jheil82]

I have a Probe LX that I got at the beginning of this year. I have about 25 dives on it and love it. The pockets are a little awkward to get to underwater, but I keep my spare light in the back and can store trash I find underwater in the front pockets with no problems. It is durable and comfortable. For now I wouldnt trade it for anything. But, if I were to get into tech diving, who knows what I would do.