Recommendations for newby BCD?

[TSandM]

A used BC can be excellent value for money, if you know what to look for. The places where BCs fail are in the inflator mechanism, in the flotation bladder, and in the fabric and plastic parts of the BC. The last place is pretty easy to evaluate -- look over the BC, looking for places where stitching is failing or fabric is frayed, and test the release clips to make sure they all work and there is no cracking apparent.

To evaluate the bladder, fill the BC with air and see if it holds it. Also take one of the dump valves off and see how much salt has crystallized inside (salt wears on the urethane). Bladder damage is the biggest problem with a BC, as many models are not made to allow bladder replacement or even repair.

Inflators are moving parts and need periodic service. If I were buying a used BC, I'd have the inflator serviced. The simple inflators we use on wings are easily replaced, and honestly, replacing them is cheaper than having a shop service them.

At any rate, if you can find the model and size you want on the used market, it will likely cost you 50% or less of the new price. It's difficult to get good prices for used BCs, because there are so many of them on the market . . . everybody sells them and switches to a BP/W

 

[k ellis]

I don't know what octo z is. But I already have decided not to get the Air 2 on my Scuba Pro Glide, since I like the alternate air source to be long.

Though its kind of defeating the purpose on open water dives I have an Octo-Z (Just another brand of air 2 only made by zeagle.) and a Octo on my set up. The reason I ended up this way is that I wanted to stream line my gear so I put the Octo-Z on my rig. I then became a dive-master and since I demo the share air in class and quiet regularly I decided to place an Octo on my rig too. Now I paid a good chunk of cash for the Octo-Z and love it to pieces too so I left it on there. Nothing wrong with having a 3rd back up and I find it easier to use should I have an underwater crisis such as a mouth piece falling off my primary (Not happened to date but I have seen it happen) and since I grab my deflator hose all the time it makes it second nature to know where to find it should I need it.

There really is no right or wrong set up either way you go and its like with a BCD. When you ask which one to get some people will tell you go with a BPW (Back plate and wing) others will tell you stay away from them. Same with jacket and back inflate BCDs. there is no right one for everyone.

What you should ask are some of the following.

1. Do you plan mostly local dives or to travel mostly by air to dive locations?
2. Do you plan to only dive in the day time at less then 60 feet?
3. Do you plan on moving into tech diving or cave diving in the future?
4. Do you plan on becoming a divemaster or instructor?
5. Do you see your self moving into new innovations like side mount diving or rebreathers?
6. Do you want to dive with a lot of gear or stream line?
7. Do you plan on cold water dives or drysuit diving? (Would make a difference in that these types of diving require heavier lift capabilities then tropical diving and thus would need larger bladders.)

There are BCDs and BPWs designed for a whole range of diving types and with octos and air 2 types out there they would also have to be considered in what your ultimate goal is.

And when buying used try to stick with people who you know personally. If you dont then you can always ask the seller to meet you at a dive shop so it can be inspected. Nothing wrong with piece of mind right?

 

[FPDocMatt]

And when buying used try to stick with people who you know personally. If you dont then you can always ask the seller to meet you at a dive shop so it can be inspected. Nothing wrong with piece of mind right?

Great idea!

1. Do you plan mostly local dives or to travel mostly by air to dive locations? Travel by air.
2. Do you plan to only dive in the day time at less then 60 feet? No, I like to go deep too, and would like to try night diving.
3. Do you plan on moving into tech diving or cave diving in the future? No.
4. Do you plan on becoming a divemaster or instructor? Probably eventually.
5. Do you see your self moving into new innovations like side mount diving or rebreathers? No.
6. Do you want to dive with a lot of gear or stream line? I don't know.
7. Do you plan on cold water dives or drysuit diving? Yes, eventually.

 

[BDSC]

I really like the BCD's at Sunset House. Found out they're the Scuba Pro Glide. I'm not quite ready to buy my own BCD yet, but when I do, would this be a good choice?

That would be an excellent choice. As a matter of fact two good friends of mine were certified last year and after trying different bc's, they both purchased the Glide. Scubapro makes a great product.

 

[k ellis]

Great idea!

1. Do you plan mostly local dives or to travel mostly by air to dive locations? Travel by air.
2. Do you plan to only dive in the day time at less then 60 feet? No, I like to go deep too, and would like to try night diving.
3. Do you plan on moving into tech diving or cave diving in the future? No.
4. Do you plan on becoming a divemaster or instructor? Probably eventually.
5. Do you see your self moving into new innovations like side mount diving or rebreathers? No.
6. Do you want to dive with a lot of gear or stream line? I don't know.
7. Do you plan on cold water dives or drysuit diving? Yes, eventually.

Based on the answers you have given this bcd is pretty reliable.(Click----> Zeagle Stiletto BCD scuba diving gear at Zeagle Express.<------) Its a proven design that is fairly compact for traveling yet has a durable bladder.

As others have mentioned a lot of divers transition to a Back plate and wing eventually. If you decide this route Try the (Click-------->Zeagle Express Tech Deluxe Kit scuba diving gear at Zeagle Express<------) Zeagle express.

Youll hear alot of people telling you BPWs are the way to go and for many people they are. Honestly though the best advice I can give is decide on a design you like and ask the LDS if you can try them out in their pool. Many will let you do this for free if you are serious about buying from them. I personally never liked the BPWs but alot of people do. When you are ready to try out gear also make sure you ask questions like how to counter the face first actions of BPWs and back inflaters. They can place you face first on the surface to an unsuspecting diver but proper positioning of weights and just the right amount of air (Not too much but just enough to float you on the surface) can make these designs very wonderful pieces of gear.

make sure also to ask questions like if you want to dive in cold water (And I mean cold brrrrr.) then get deflator valves and inflator valves as well as regulators designed to withstand extreme temps. many of the cheaper made designs have been known to freeze up in situations where water is near or below freezing.

You will want d-rings located where they are comfortable to you too. In nigh diving you want your flashlight where you can reach it easily as well. There may be times when you get into divemastering or higher you want to carry extra weight for students underweighted. then the equipment you will need per standards will take up a small amount of space as well. As you can see in this statement some task require the ability to carry large amounts of gear. The key here is to balance what you will need with how you plan to dive when you dont need gear. (A fun dive in the tropics may require little gear while a night dive in the great lakes may require a lot.)

 

[Splitlip]

BCD is a very personal piece of gear. I would suggest trying as many as you can, including back inflates, STABs and maybe a bpw.

 

[lowviz]

BCD is a very personal piece of gear. I would suggest trying as many as you can, including back inflates, STABs and maybe a bpw.

(I think) Matt indicated that he is intending to be a vacation diver. Thus, I agree with putting jackets and back inflates suited for travel at the front of the list. After he is hooked on diving, there will be lots of time to corrupt him.

 

[TSandM]

(BTW, the comment about switching to a backplate was very much tongue in cheek, thus the smiley. Just because I think they're the cat's meow, doesn't mean everybody does.)

 

[BDSC]

(BTW, the comment about switching to a backplate was very much tongue in cheek, thus the smiley. Just because I think they're the cat's meow, doesn't mean everybody does.)

But somebody had to say it!

 

[Ben Prusinski]

I like the Scubapro Go since its light and folds up for traveling. Not crazy about the Air2 option but for now it works. It keeps the gear streamlined but would suck to have to give up my primary in an emergency. Best to go with a cheap octo with the Scubapro Go BCD.