I purchased this BCD at the end of last year (on sale for $300), and just got back from using it for the first time.
It has integrated quick release weight pockets on the side, as well as trim weight pockets located on the back. It has 2 air releases, one at the shoulder and the other down by your hip. It has what Sherwood calls a 3D air cell that makes it a cross between a jacket BC and a back-inflate. It has zippered pockets on each side and lots of clips and D-rings.
That's most of the features, now onto the review. I'm new to diving, and had only used rental gear. The only BCDs I'd used were jackets and I never found one that I was comfortable in. I would tighten everything up so the tank wouldn't shift underwater, and then when I would need to inflate the BC, it would squeeze the life out me. If my weight was a little off, I would have a hard time keeping level and upright. It was just a struggle to stay level, neutrally buoyant, stable (not rolling from one side to the other as the air in the BC shifted or weight belt/tank shifted.) I was quickly tiring of jacket BCDs.
I found the Tortuga on sale and ordered a medium and large for my son and I. I figured between the 2 sizes, we would be able to fit ourselves easily. We both ended up liking the medium so i sent back the large. My son is like 5'7" and 160 and I'm 5'8" and 195 so the medium does have a lot of range. The large would have worked, but the integrated weights were a lot more forward on it, and it felt more comfortable with the weights more on the side, so I went with the medium.
It's pretty big and bulky, but looks and feels really durable. We cruise a lot, so thats definitely a drawback, but I really don't mind. I don't carry many clothes on cruises, so I've got some room to spare. It fit really well and felt snug with the tank strapped on. I didn't feel any shifting and the weight pockets held the weights firmly as well. I used 13 pounds of weight and split it up. I had 2.5 lbs trim weight in back pocket and 6 pounds in each releasable pocket. I never felt ANY weight or air bubbles inside my BC shift while diving. It felt really comfortable.
I was also concerned with how upright I would float and how well the BC would feel when inflated. It felt as comfortable as I'd hoped. I never felt squeezed, and floated upright without having to struggle at all. I just remember getting on the boat after the dive and thinking that I didn't even think about any concerns that I'd had with the BC while inflated. It just felt natural, or like it wasn't even there. That's pretty much what it felt like through the entire dive, like it wasn't even there.
Well, thats about it. I really liked it, and recommend it to anyone that might be in the market for a new BC and unsure about whether they would like a jacket or a back inflate.
It has integrated quick release weight pockets on the side, as well as trim weight pockets located on the back. It has 2 air releases, one at the shoulder and the other down by your hip. It has what Sherwood calls a 3D air cell that makes it a cross between a jacket BC and a back-inflate. It has zippered pockets on each side and lots of clips and D-rings.
That's most of the features, now onto the review. I'm new to diving, and had only used rental gear. The only BCDs I'd used were jackets and I never found one that I was comfortable in. I would tighten everything up so the tank wouldn't shift underwater, and then when I would need to inflate the BC, it would squeeze the life out me. If my weight was a little off, I would have a hard time keeping level and upright. It was just a struggle to stay level, neutrally buoyant, stable (not rolling from one side to the other as the air in the BC shifted or weight belt/tank shifted.) I was quickly tiring of jacket BCDs.
I found the Tortuga on sale and ordered a medium and large for my son and I. I figured between the 2 sizes, we would be able to fit ourselves easily. We both ended up liking the medium so i sent back the large. My son is like 5'7" and 160 and I'm 5'8" and 195 so the medium does have a lot of range. The large would have worked, but the integrated weights were a lot more forward on it, and it felt more comfortable with the weights more on the side, so I went with the medium.
It's pretty big and bulky, but looks and feels really durable. We cruise a lot, so thats definitely a drawback, but I really don't mind. I don't carry many clothes on cruises, so I've got some room to spare. It fit really well and felt snug with the tank strapped on. I didn't feel any shifting and the weight pockets held the weights firmly as well. I used 13 pounds of weight and split it up. I had 2.5 lbs trim weight in back pocket and 6 pounds in each releasable pocket. I never felt ANY weight or air bubbles inside my BC shift while diving. It felt really comfortable.
I was also concerned with how upright I would float and how well the BC would feel when inflated. It felt as comfortable as I'd hoped. I never felt squeezed, and floated upright without having to struggle at all. I just remember getting on the boat after the dive and thinking that I didn't even think about any concerns that I'd had with the BC while inflated. It just felt natural, or like it wasn't even there. That's pretty much what it felt like through the entire dive, like it wasn't even there.
Well, thats about it. I really liked it, and recommend it to anyone that might be in the market for a new BC and unsure about whether they would like a jacket or a back inflate.
