OMS Dual Bladder BC

[MechDiver]

I am trying to do it right the first time as opposed to making mistakes that i read so many people made when they first started.

Just because a piece of equipment doesn't work for you years down the line doesn't mean it was a mistake. What would suit your current experience level and style of diving now is what you should be looking at, not what may fit a style of diving you may never get to, or wish to do when you find out more about it.

IMO a novice buying a backplate/wing is a good thing. But buying that with an eye on being a "tech diver" next year is a mistake. Most of us have put years into choosing the equipment we use, with numerous changes along the way. But, just because something I had 5 years ago doesn't fit my dive style now, does not mean it was a "mistake" then.

Safe diving,
MD

 

[scottyroz]

Very interesting statement Mech,
I never really looked at it from that perspective. I can easily see what you are saying. Maybe mistake isnt such a good word for it. I am most likely gonna give the bp/wing setup a try when i go to the pool(sometime this week). It appears i would need a tec and a rec setup anyway being a double or a single tank even though it is possible for one wing to do both. Consider me a sponge, i want to learn as much as possible from the knowledgeable people on this board.

 

[sharkmasterbc]

Is there not also an issue with the bungee wing being a power deflation system if punctured ?
I was thinking...I'm on a dive and all of a sudden my wing gets punctured by something...so now because the whole thing is bungeed it actually forces the air out (quite rapidly), I belive this is something I would rather avoid....then again you may like sinking really fast and having to ditch your 1000$ canister or some other peice of gear to become neutral again...dunno

just my 2 bubbles...

 

[scottyroz]

WOW wouldnt that suck. Wonder if anyone that has or used one could shed some light on that?

 

[MechDiver]

so now because the whole thing is bungeed it actually forces the air out (quite rapidly

I don't know if this would actually happen, as I've never dove a bungied wing. Although it sounds good. There is also the issue of trying to manually inflate the wing against the bungee pressure. Again, have no idea if this is real problem.
The biggest thing I have against the bungee idea is its just not necessary.

Regardless, this is getting off topic.

Scotty,
My point was its a very good idea to want to start out with optimum gear. The problem is you don't yet have the knowledge or experience to know what that is for you. You can read lots of stuff, look throught catalogs and shops, talk to thousands of people and never buy anything because you don't have any time left

Buy quality gear that you can get serviced where you are or where you plan on diving. Don't buy cheap because you can't afford what you want. Wait and get it when you can afford it. Nothing out there will probably kill you (well, other than a HUB) but you generally get what you pay for, especially in regulators.

MD

 

[ScubaMarc]

Question about the question and the deflation with bunggies, If a puncture did happen, wouldn't the water pressure act the same as the bunggies and deflate the bc?

 

[scottyroz]

I believe my LDS only carries OMS wings but i will be putting a call in to find out. Is OMS a solid company? I see a lot of talk about Zeagle and others, does OMS compare?

 

[MechDiver]

Question about the question and the deflation with bunggies, If a puncture did happen, wouldn't the water pressure act the same as the bunggies and deflate the bc?

The theory with a non-bunee wing is, if the hole is lower in the wing, the top part would still tend to hold air and provide some buoyancy. With the bungees, they will compress the wing and not allow air to remain. Valid or not, take your choice.

MD

 

[MechDiver]

I believe my LDS only carries OMS wings but i will be putting a call in to find out. Is OMS a solid company? I see a lot of talk about Zeagle and others, does OMS compare?

OMS is not looked upon favorability by many tech divers that I am familiar with.
This is one of those quicksand areas I was alluding to.

Buying gear now a days because its the only thing your LDS carries is not valid. There are alot of posts here about places to buy dive gear online or via email or PM. Halcyon, FredT, Oxycheq just off the top of my head have backplates and wings. They are more aligned to tech gear, but if the bp&w is what you're looking for, that is the same whether rec or tech except for details.

Are you getting a headache yet

 

[CRDiver]

OMS makes excellent equipment, but I've heard they're customer service isn't the greatest. OMS is a preferred brand for many Northeast and Great Lakes wreck divers, and their name is seen far more often than Halcyon in those areas.