Question Replacement for Seaquest Balance

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

My second Seaquest Balance gave up the ghost this year and I'm in need of a replacement BCD with similar qualities. My LDS gave me an Aqualung Dimension to use on a recent trip. It's not bad - it's a back inflate which I prefer, but the trim pockets aren't in the shoulders like the Balance had. And there's a lot more "stuff" to the BC - I prefer the more open feeling the Balance has.

What have any of you moved to after your Balance gave up the ghost?

 

[Still Kicking]

If you want to stick with a BC rather than a backplate/wing (which are rightfully popular these days), I would suggest Aqualung Axiom. I used to use one out of shop rental for teaching and I thought it was pretty decent for a traditional BC.

It's billed as a hybrid (the bladder wraps around) but it has a support harness separate from the bladder so you don't get the jacket-style squeeze when it's inflated. It is much more streamlined than the Balance and the Dimension that replaced it. I dove a Balance a couple of times and felt like I was dragging a parachute.

The Axiom has good trim pockets and reasonablly sized zippered pockets.