Reg setup

[Amber]

I just bought my first/second stage and my octo yesterday and my mother is buying my guages. I do not have a bc yet so I'm going to be renting one untill I buy my own. The sales rep at the shop said that the entire power inflator hose comes with the bc..but since I don't have mine yet, will the one I rent have it? I don't see how it can since I would have to hook it up to the pressure port.
This is confusing me since all I've seen bc's come with is the part where your hose hooks up to the bc and that part is also attatched to the reg itself.

 

[nickjb]

When you buy a BC it usually comes with the hose. You are right in that this has to be fitted into your first stage. Rental BCs usually don't come supplied with the hose although it depends where you rent from. Most decent rental shops should offer a hose if you ask nicely.

To save repeated fitting and unfitting of the hose you could buy your own. The nipple is (mostly) standard. This hose should cost around $30. You can then leave this fitted to your regs. When you buy your own BC you will then have a spare (useful).

 

[RICHinNC]

Worry not. The only time you could have a problem is if you have your own regs and it is set up for an integrated air source like the Air Source 2, or the configuration on the SeaQuest Pro QD. Otherwise you should have no problem with rental gear. You will find though....after just a few rentals you could have saved up the money and bought your own. And, check the gear very carefully,....dont be afraid to tell your lds you dont like a certain bc or the condition of the bc. Its your life.!!

One suggestion....when you do go for your bcd....stay away from any bcd that has the integrated weights held in by a cord that is threaded. I have seen ladies on boats that the cpt made them hand the weights up first before getting up the ladder and then it took them forever to re-thread the weight pouches. Make sure your system has either velcro or the new clip system. You will hear a lot that velcro sucks and wont hold.....that is true if you dont clean your gear after each dive and let junk accumulate in the velcro.

Good luck and dive safe.

 

[redacted]

LP hose for std BC usually under $20.00 new. Better yet, while you are waiting for the BC of your dreams, grab a used one for now. Used BC's coming out of training/rental stock often under $50.00. If you get one from one of the volume seller of SCUBA, you can probably add an LP hose for under $15.00 if he doesn't offer to throw it in for free. E-mail the seller before you bid and ask how much more for the hose if you win. It will be a very basic BC faded from chlorine, but it should do the job (confirm also in e-mail that it is fully functional and does not leak). How many rentals do you get for $50.00? And when you're done with it, you could recycle it thru ebay or keep it as a spare.

 

[MikeFerrara]

RICHinNC once bubbled...

One suggestion....when you do go for your bcd....stay away from any bcd that has the integrated weights held in by a cord that is threaded. I have seen ladies on boats that the cpt made them hand the weights up first before getting up the ladder and then it took them forever to re-thread the weight pouches. Make sure your system has either velcro or the new clip system. You will hear a lot that velcro sucks and wont hold.....that is true if you dont clean your gear after each dive and let junk accumulate in the velcro.

Good luck and dive safe.

Why did they pull the cord. The cord is only for emergency ditching. The weights on a Zeagle, for instance, are easily removed and replaced through a large zippered opening. If I had to use a weight integrated bc (which I don't) this is the system I trust the most. IMO, velcro doesn't belong on weight systems. In fact the plastic clip system were developed in response to all the divers who were losing their velro pouches. I have found dozens of these pouches all over the quarry bottoms and have slowed rapid ascents for divers who have lost pouches. Even if one pulls their Zeagle rip cord it can be rethreaded in moments. It sounds like this diver was unfamiliar and incompetant with her equipment.

 

[Amber]

Thank you, that's what I thought.

 

[MsParamedic]

I have a Zeagle "Escape" with the ripcord and love the custom fit I got from it. I also have the red ripcord. I just cam back from vacation and never had a problem handing up my weights. You are correct, that unzipping the pockets and grabbing for the yellow bag was all it took. We all know how sand can be--seems to take up permanent residency in velcro!

Pat

 

[RICHinNC]

Facinating....I can only go by what I have experienced...and on three different boat dives I have seen the rip cords pulled and it took them much more than just "a few minutes" to re-string them.

It could be they dove so seldom that they were not used to their own equipment......or.....it was rental equipment and they were not ....and didnt take the time....to become familiar with it.

It did not appear to me at all that they knew they could go through the pockets to get the weights. Interesting.

 

[livestodive]

Tell the LDS to "give" you one and you will replace it when you buy your bc. If they won't do that look for another lds. Thats something they usually have a few extra of.

Charlie

 

[Dectek]

livestodive once bubbled...
Tell the LDS to "give" you one and you will replace it when you buy your bc. If they won't do that look for another lds. Thats something they usually have a few extra of.

Charlie

Especially if you are buying the BC from that shop.