Question about entry level BC's

[EOT1]

I checked the thread for BC manufacturers and did not see a thread for Cressi-Sub.

I was looking at the Cressi-Sub Aqualight R BCD and was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this item. I was also looking at the Dacor Talon.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DiveMaven]

Have you tried them on?? If they fit, feel good, and are good quality construction, then go for it!

 

[ScubaAdam]

You need to try on the BC and move around in it some before you buy. Make sure it fits you correctly. Make sure you understand how it works and how to maintain it. Don't get stuck just trying to find a BC in certain price range and go with something just because you like the price, but it doesn't exactly fit you correctly. The reason I say all of this is that at almost any moment in diving your BC could be a life saving piece of equipment. You don't want it no preform those life saving duties 100% simply because you wanted to save a couple bucks.

 

[Hawkwood]

Gotta agree with ScubaAdam.

With three of us in the family diving, we have a lot of the same equipment. The BCDs were the one piece of equipment that each of us spent a long time chosing. Although my wife dives the least, her BCD was the most expensive of the three - it was a matter of what fit the best as was the most comfortable - believe me, she tried on every style in a number of stores.

 

[EOT1]

Are there any particular brands to stay away from in your experience?

 

[ScubaAdam]

Stick with a major brand and you should be OK, but they all fit different so you need to spend time trying them on. Also, if you haven't looked into the back inflation BCs you may want to rent one and dive with it once. After diving with a back inflation BC one time I was hooked. I personally own a Zeagle and love it.

 

[spectrum]

I checked the thread for BC manufacturers and did not see a thread for Cressi-Sub.

I was looking at the Cressi-Sub Aqualight R BCD and was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this item. I was also looking at the Dacor Talon.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

There is no such thing as an entry level BC. They are all safe and durable.

It comes down to form, lift capacity, weight integration and other features that various divers need or do not need for their diving.

What you need to consider is fit, local service and features that support your best guess of what your diving will be for the forseeable future. In any event you will not be married to the thing. As much as we all encourage buying the right gear the first time in reality rental fee avoidance and resale combined are not likely to leave you in a bad situation. This is not to discorage renting a few available models to decide what works for you.

Whatever you decide on you are encouraged to dive it before buying. Even a careful evaluation in a store pool can be telling.

An additional consideration is service while travelling. As you get away from the Sherwoods and ScubaPros of the world having repair talent and parts on hand in an exotic locale becomes less likely.

Pete