SeaQuest BCD

[pilot fish]

I would stay away from the Air2. If you get that, then you must (well, you should) have a primary hose that's at least as long as an octo hose, so that you can share it with your buddy if need be. But, with that length of hose, you have a humongous loop of hose out to your right size. IMO, it's much better to have two 'real' regulators. There are tons of threads/arguments about this in the Regs section of ScubaBoard.

Not to get into a long discussion on ths aspect but I think my primary would be able to help a diver adequatly, it's long enough, and I would be able to breath off my inflator while dumping air using my right shoulder dump on Seaquest Pr QD. If I needed to raise my inflator above my head to dump addtional air from BC I could do that while letting air out of my lungs for a moment or two. I'm not getting all the fuss and trepedation?

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Well, I suppose it isn't a gigantic safety risk, but having a real backup reg doesn't cost any more, and doesn't add much more drag/bulk/hose than the Air2

 

[Tanked Monkey]

Thanks for all the info. We're probably a little off topic, but what wrist computers are people using? The Atmos elite is probably a bit out of my price range right now. I think I've also decided to take a closer look at the Apeks ATX50. Probably time to visit the LDS and see what all this is going to cost me!

I am a relatively new diver too (25 dives so far, OW certified May 2004), and just bought my first kit. I have a different BC (BP+W), but the rest or my gear is similiar to what you are considering. I am using the Apeks ATX50 for my primary reg, and AT20 for backup reg. I also use the Suunto Gekko, wrist mount. I did 5 dives last weekend on it for the first time, and it was great. Easy to use. Not too much for my current skill level, and it will grow with me as my experience increases. Like you, I did months of research before buying.

The ATX50 / AT20 will probably last me forever. And as my diving get's more advanced, I may get a more advanced computer than the Gekko, but for now it does everything I want/need (even Nitrox). Then the Gekko will be a great backup that I didn't spend too much $$$ on. The major thing the Gekko doesn't have that the Vyper does is a backlight and ability to connect to a PC. The Gekko has indiglow. If I can't read my indiglow gauge because it's too dark, then I should either have lights or shouldn't be diving in those conditions anyway. And I don't need to connect it to a PC, as I can view the profile on the dive computer if I want to see it step-by-step.

PM me if you want more information. Good luck in your research.

Mike

 

[pilot fish]

Well, I suppose it isn't a gigantic safety risk, but having a real backup reg doesn't cost any more, and doesn't add much more drag/bulk/hose than the Air2

A reg is built into my inflator hose, so isn't that the same thing? That is my backup reg? I might be missng something here?

 

[teknitroxdiver]

That sounds like a great rig right there, I've been waiting for someone to mention the BP/W setup. This is a setup involving a back-mounted 'wing', a metal backplate, and a continuous strip of weight-belt-like webbing to hold it on to you. These are very streamlined and comfortable. Take a look in the Buoyancy section and you'll find tons of threads about these.

 

[teknitroxdiver]

A reg is built into my inflator hose, so isn't that the same thing? That is my backup reg? I might be missng something here?

What I meant was a seperate reg. Yes, I suppose you could call an Air2 a backup, seeing as it is a breathing device to 'back up' your primary.

 

[KaBoOm]

I would definately prefer to have an octopus at this point, that's what I've been using up until now and it just seems a bit simpler for me. I've decided that the Pro QD is the one I'm going with. There is so much to consider when it comes to the regulators. I suppose there are a ton of great models out there! Same with the computers. I think I'm going to go with a wrist model and a separate SPG for now. My wife will kill me otherwise.

Thanks for all your thoughts! Now I have to decide where to get my stuff. Living in Canada, I want to make sure that I have full warranty coverage!

KaBoOM

 

[scubapro50]

I just purchased a new (used) BC off ebay last month. For $75 (including shipping) I got a SeaQuest Spectrum 4 BC with an airsource oct. attached that new sold for over $400. I was told (and it's true) that SeaQuest BC's run a little small so it's important to know what size fits you. Before you go out and purchase a lot of new equipment read the thread www.scubaboard.com/t70450-.html about how some SCUBA companies (Dacor/Mares) are not honoring their written warranties on products they have produced and don't want to provide parts or service for them anymore.

 

[pilot fish]

I would definately prefer to have an octopus at this point, that's what I've been using up until now and it just seems a bit simpler for me. I've decided that the Pro QD is the one I'm going with. There is so much to consider when it comes to the regulators. I suppose there are a ton of great models out there! Same with the computers. I think I'm going to go with a wrist model and a separate SPG for now. My wife will kill me otherwise.

Thanks for all your thoughts! Now I have to decide where to get my stuff. Living in Canada, I want to make sure that I have full warranty coverage!

KaBoOM

If you want full warranty coverage, who doesn't?, then stay away from Leisure Pro. You will not get a mfg warranty with the gear [ SeaQuest, ScubaPro, Oceanic, Suunto] you get from them. If you have any doubts about that, call the manufacturer of the gear you are about to buy and ask them? Just make sure you call before you buy any gear from LP.

 

[pilot fish]

What I meant was a seperate reg. Yes, I suppose you could call an Air2 a backup, seeing as it is a breathing device to 'back up' your primary.

IT IS a separate reg, yes? I also like that if my primary gets knocked out of my mouth I have to just reach over, right in front of me, and use my air2 till I locate my primary, if I want.