Should I buy this? Need some advice...

[AndrewST]

There is a guy local to myself that is going through a divorce and is selling a Seaquest Black Diamond BC for $250. I checked the price of these things new and they aren't cheap, and this one appears to be in great shape, he had the quick dump weight pockets added already. For those against back inflation, I know it is is back inflation..I prefer that. Should I be jumping on this deal? Help!

 

[rstofer]

What's it worth if you sell it used on eBay?

Richard

 

[Diver0001]

I think if you're looking for back inflate that there are better options that will leave the front and sides of your body free. I suspect, although I've never dived in one, that they must feel very bulky to wear. I have a ProQD and I already find that to be very bulky feeling as compared to a normal bp/wing.

R..

 

[Joe-Diver]

I have one and really like it. It is heavy compared to other BC's, so it's not really a packable travel BC. It's very durable, expandable, plenty of clips and D's, and it's very comfortable to wear. Underwater, it virtually disappears on my body.

They are expensive to buy new, so for $250, if it's in good condition and fits you, is a steal. I paid $275 for mine from a guy here on SB, new and never used, but it wasn't really "new" as it had been sitting for a while, but still had the tags on it.

 

[Pitchblack]

Go with a Zeagle Ranger instead, it's convertable to a clean bp/w setup if you would want that in the future, and it's capable of holding up double steel 18 liters just as it is when you buy it.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Does it fit? Is it what you see yourself diving with in 1 year, in 3, 5 , etc? Do you plan on traveling with it? Is it going to enhance the safety of your dives? Also back inflate is neither here nor there, those who have issues with it are those who do not know how to use one or have been fed a line of bull by someone else. Personally there is just too much unnecessary stuff on these type of BC's. A basic Bpw is much more streamlined, better fitting, and infinitely more versatile.

 

[Doc]

If he needs the $250 to pay for the divorce, by all means, buy it from him and consider it a charitable donation.

If he then, in the future, associates himself with a non-diving female or attempts to make any such new casual relationship permanent (marriage) within the next 7 years following said divorce, punch the BC full of small holes and give it back to him before you take him diving.

Either way, you'd be doing him a favor.

Hope that helped.

 

[RICHinNC]

Some might thing you are taking advantage of a bad situation. It all depends.

I remember when three of us were doing a shore dive in Bonaire. As we went along the reef off in the distance it looked like there was a diver laying face down on the bottom. All three went into a different mode.

One guy just panicked and pointed and made weird sounds...eyes really big.

The other guy, who had just finished the rescue class, went into the rescue mode.

I, on the other hand, thought......hummmmmm......some new equipment!!

 

[elan]

Whatever Jim said, After starting diving BP/W I was wondering why have I bought my back inflate BC in the first place. BP/W would cost the same or less , sits on the back better, more streamlined, more sofistiated and has less crap hanging from it. If you are ready to go with back inflate BC you should closely look at a BP/W system. You can get a used one for the same money or a bit more expensive. But you will have a base for growing and adding more components. BC is just another BC.

 

[AzAtty]

The Black Diamond is one big BCD. I have one in my teaching "fleet," and it's a beast to pack (for comparison, I can fit my bp/w, single tank adapter, jetfins, 5mm boots, and 3mm wetsuit into my travel bag; can only fit the Black Diamond and fins in the same bag).

Jim gave you some good advice on whether you should buy it. You might want to check your LDS for model-year-end blowouts--one of the shops locally was selling the 2008 model for $300 new.