Quick rookie question regarding my Oceanic BCD

[TheAlmightyHubbard]

I recently purchased the Oceanic Probe LX. First off, I have only had experience with one other BCD but I've gotta say, I love this thing...

Anyways, it has an "integrated instrument retractor mount." Where is this? I know it doesn't have the actual retractor but where would I mount this?

 

[reefduffer]

I can't give you an authoritative answer, but take a look at this thread, which discusses the same question for the Oceanic Excursion and Islander:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...-oceanic-excursion-gauge-retractor-mount.html
That may give you some ideas.

If you want an answer from Oceanic, try asking in the Oceanic forum, Doug Krause (Marketing) and others do respond sometimes when the mood suits them, and I get the sense that they look at everything posted there, but maybe not elsewhere on SB. Although they have repeatedly passed on answering this one. You could also try calling Oceanic customer service.

Edit: Just noticed that that other thread discusses the Probe as well. Maybe your lucky day.

 

[TheAlmightyHubbard]

Thanks for the heads up.

Found the grommet on the lower left. Now to figure out how to get behind/inside it....

Edit: Got it. Just have to reach in from the rear left below the tank support, where on the opposite side would be a pressure release.

 

[WetCell]

I recently purchased the Oceanic Probe LX. First off, I have only had experience with one other BCD but I've gotta say, I love this thing...

Anyways, it has an "integrated instrument retractor mount." Where is this? I know it doesn't have the actual retractor but where would I mount this?

I have a Probe and it is just fantastic. Comfortable, effortless buoyancy control, loaded with pockets, grommets and D rings. One thing about Oceanic though (my entire kit is from them) is that they are very weak on instructions. I called them about the retractor. They told me that you remove the D-ring (via a screw) and thread the cord through a grommet. You can leave the body of the retractor outside the pocket and connect it to an instrument that has the male connector, or leave the D-ring outside and clip the instrument to it. As you know, there are quite a few grommets. The two at the top of each large pocket are intended for the knife holder.

 

[reefduffer]

.... One thing about Oceanic though (my entire kit is from them) is that they are very weak on instructions. ...

I feel your pain, brother.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/oceanic/190235-updated-manuals.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/oceanic/206539-thumbs-up-oceanics-customer-service.html

OTOH, reportedly their customer service is very good.
They seem to have decided they'd rather have everyone call them with questions than just answer them up front in decent manuals - or more likely, 99+% will just guess how to use the gear and never bother them. Like mail-in rebates.

As a user I don't like it, but it isn't obviously a bad business decision, I guess. It was always the wrong way to handle the problem in my professional career, but I wasn't dealing with consumer products. Maybe they feel so few people read manuals it's a waste to bother producing them.

 

[WetCell]

I feel your pain, brother.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/oceanic/190235-updated-manuals.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/oceanic/206539-thumbs-up-oceanics-customer-service.html

OTOH, reportedly their customer service is very good.
They seem to have decided they'd rather have everyone call them with questions than just answer them up front in decent manuals - or more likely, 99+% will just guess how to use the gear and never bother them. Like mail-in rebates.

As a user I don't like it, but it isn't obviously a bad business decision, I guess. It was always the wrong way to handle the problem in my professional career, but I wasn't dealing with consumer products. Maybe they feel so few people read manuals it's a waste to bother producing them.

Indeed. I was somewhat surprised when I called about the computer connector issue with my DataMask. 1) I got a human immediately, 2) the human was from the US and an experienced diver and 3) he was very frank and honest--totally refreshing!

Please note I have nothing against call centers in India or wherever, but it was great to talk to someone who completely understood what I was saying and what my questions were--almost apologetic for the lame manuals. As an engineer, i usually read the manual last anyway...

 

[reefduffer]

... As an engineer, i usually read the manual last anyway...

Goes to show you, I guess ... As a retired engineer, I regularly download and read manuals for things I'm merely contemplating buying, or which my wife or mother-in-law buys and I might someday get asked to help with.

I thought it was an "engineer" trait. Apparently that's not entirely accurate.
You are familiar with the reply "RTFM" when someone asks how to use something?
Back in the day that's how you were expected to learn. Kids these days ...

 

[WetCell]

Goes to show you, I guess ... As a retired engineer, I regularly download and read manuals for things I'm merely contemplating buying, or which my wife or mother-in-law buys and I might someday get asked to help with.

I thought it was an "engineer" trait. Apparently that's not entirely accurate.
You are familiar with the reply "RTFM" when someone asks how to use something?
Back in the day that's how you were expected to learn. Kids these days ...

Please note that I said "...the last thing". When I get a new toy I find it a challenge to figure it out on my own. With the DataMask, I was convinced that a part was missing off of the data port. It turns out that it is a very weak design and the "workaround" is to balance the mask while holding the connector in place so that three-point contacts can mate during the download!

 

[reefduffer]

Please note that I said "...the last thing". When I get a new toy I find it a challenge to figure it out on my own. With the DataMask, I was convinced that a part was missing off of the data port. It turns out that it is a very weak design and the "workaround" is to balance the mask while holding the connector in place so that three-point contacts can mate during the download!

OK, I can relate. We're robably more alike than different. Although I'll often read multiple manuals as part of a non-trivial purchase decision, I'm not completely AR about it; put something new in my hand, or show me a new piece of software, and I'll try to figure it out on my own, at least as far as accomplishing a particular goal is concerned.

But no manual at all is usually not my idea of what's appropriate. There are sometimes cool features someone spent time and imagination adding to a product, that aren't obvious. Don't read the manual and you deprive yourself of their use.
Or you may find a way to do something, but there's a better way intended by the designer. Probably part of it is that I spent a lot of time and energy over the years writing documentation for things I designed, and I expect the users to RTFM.

Thanks for the discussion, and opportunity to rag on Oceanic again. :cool2:

 

[WetCell]

OK, I can relate. We're robably more alike than different. Although I'll often read multiple manuals as part of a non-trivial purchase decision, I'm not completely AR about it; put something new in my hand, or show me a new piece of software, and I'll try to figure it out on my own, at least as far as accomplishing a particular goal is concerned.

But no manual at all is usually not my idea of what's appropriate. There are sometimes cool features someone spent time and imagination adding to a product, that aren't obvious. Don't read the manual and you deprive yourself of their use.
Or you may find a way to do something, but there's a better way intended by the designer. Probably part of it is that I spent a lot of time and energy over the years writing documentation for things I designed, and I expect the users to RTFM.

Thanks for the discussion, and opportunity to rag on Oceanic again. :cool2:

I am developing the same relationship with Oceanic that I have with Apple--love-hate.