Scubapro X650/S600 MK25/MK17

[hamsiss]

There are many distributors and local dealers mares, scubapro, cressi, beuchat, tusa, oceanic, dacor, technisub (aqualung), poseidon.... also so many dive schools.
but no atomic or apeks distribution yet 30 years must have changed many many things
what's KCDI??

 

[Wayward Son]

Karamursel Common Defense Installation. it was located about midway between Karamursel and Yalova on the south side of the bay off the Marmara Sea, west of Istanbul.

As a kid, I did most of my running around in those 2 towns, but we went to Istanbul quite a lot as well as Bursa. I miss the Bursa Kabob this one restaurant there made.

Less often we made trips to other parts of the country.

 

[hamsiss]

I see some kind of NATO organisation I think Yalova has become a city appproximately ten years before, and Bursa Kebap's name is İskender=Alexander )
I wish one day you come back to see your childhood again

 

[Wayward Son]

I would like to. Perhaps one day I will be able to afford to do it. I found it to be a very interesting country & enjoyed my 5 years there.

 

[hamsiss]

It'll be one day I wish

 

[purduerules]

This thread has great info. Many thanks! I am considering the MK17 / S555 or MK17 / S600 for my first regulator purchase. My instructor really likes the S600. Any additional experiences with the S555? I am also thinking about an OMS IQ Pack BC because it provides an expandable approach. [BTW this is my first post to scubaboard, I think this is a wonderful forum that provides a wealth of information!]

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The difference between the S600 and S555 is the adjustment knob, otherwise they use the same internal parts.

I am a big fan of just about any BP wing set up. I really prefer a backplate however to a cross over tech BC like the IQ pack. They just don't allow as much stability with doubles, even with stabilizing plates.

 

[purduerules]

The adjustment knob on the S600 may come in handy. I guess for the BC another option is going with the OMS Comfort harness system with the SS back plate. Are there other advantage of the backplate setup beyond the stability with doubles? (I want to buy gear that I can grow into instead of out of.) I love the diving experience and plan on doing a great deal of diving around NJ.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

An aluminum back plate and standard or deluxe pivot ring harness tends to be very compact, lightweight and travel freindly. I also like the way it distributes the weight during the dive.

A back plate is also very modular in that you can add (or remove) weight pouches, pockets, D-rings, etc as the situation dictates and you can use accessories form just about any manufacturer. Personally, I think OMS pockets and pouches are a little bulky for my tastes and their customer service absolutley sucks. In fact I have never gotten a response from them. Ever.

If you go the BP route, a one piece standard harness is considered more kosher with the hog and hard core DIR divers, but a pivot ring harness is much more readily adjustable as the chest strap can take up the slack that results if moving from a dry suit to a tropical shorty or t-shirt with no need to adjust the webbing itself. The quick release is also nice and despite the nay sayers who scream "failure point", it's virtually impossible to break one and if you did, the other strap and waist belt will still keep the BP/wing in place.

The comfort harness is ok, but I don't like the way it attaches to the plate and you can gain 90% of the comfort with a pivot ring harness and 1/4" neoprene pads around the shoulder straps. OMS and dive rite both sell them for $25-$30, but I sew my own out of old wet suits and sew on velcro from wal-mart.

 

[purduerules]

Good point on the travelability of the aluminum BP. I do plan on some travel, so this may be a better option. My LDS only carries OMS BPs, I hope they will help deal with any customer service issues that may arise. Based on your recommendation I will consider the standard harness with chest strap, and the shoulder and back pads. Many thanks!