Special BCD for larger/heavier tanks?

[crazyitalian]

I'm going to be getting new equipment soon and I'm considering buying a steel 112 or 125. Recently, a friend told me that only certain BCDs will accomodate the size and/or weight of such a tank. How accurate is this?

I've pretty much settled on the Oceanic Probe BCD (although it's not definite yet) and don't want to shell out good cash for it if it doesn't hold something like that.

Let me know, guys. Thanks.

 

[Snowbear]

Have you considered a back plate and wing?

 

[Quarrior]

The Probe is a decent BC, however, given the size of tanks you are talking about, I would think something a little more substantial would benefit you and last longer. Take a look at the BCs here and give them a call. http://www.scubatoys.com/store/bcds/bcds.asp

They won't try to sell you something you don't need.

 

[crpntr133]

It is more of an issue of lift. Will the BC have enough lift for the gear?

I could think of many other BC's that I would rather own. I looked at the Probe since my LDS sells Oceanic. I didn't like all the bulk of there BC's. Way too much pocket that you will never use, way too wide straps, etc. It was just too much.
I ended up going with the Zeagle Brigade from Scubatoys and love it. Very minimal but expandable, in many different ways.

 

[padiscubapro]

I'm going to be getting new equipment soon and I'm considering buying a steel 112 or 125. Recently, a friend told me that only certain BCDs will accomodate the size and/or weight of such a tank. How accurate is this?

I've pretty much settled on the Oceanic Probe BCD (although it's not definite yet) and don't want to shell out good cash for it if it doesn't hold something like that.

Let me know, guys. Thanks.

You never wrote what type of thermal protection you use,but if you need significant size weightbelt to sink ( a steel tank will help that) you will be very negative at depth where the suit compresses.
why not look at the oxycheq A-pac, its a soft adjustable harness system that can acomodate many different sized wings.
I have seen people using bc/wing with large steels with 30lbs of lift in fresh water have alot of difficulty floating on the surface confortably.

http://www.oxycheq.com/A-Pac.html
the BEst wing would be the signature series wing
http://www.oxycheq.com/Wings-SS.html
the 45 lb lift would suit any need

if you want to save a few bucks you can go with the standard wing
http://www.oxycheq.com/Wings-Single.html

If you decide sometime in the future you want to dive doubles you just need a doubles wing, and remove the camstraps..

 

[StSomewhere]

I'm going to be getting new equipment soon and I'm considering buying a steel 112 or 125. Recently, a friend told me that only certain BCDs will accomodate the size and/or weight of such a tank. How accurate is this?

I've pretty much settled on the Oceanic Probe BCD (although it's not definite yet) and don't want to shell out good cash for it if it doesn't hold something like that.

I have the exact same BC. You can add an adapter for approx. $100 to bolt on doubles (basically a pre-bent steel bar), b/c that part of the BC is the same as the Chute 3. The question you need to ask is whether the Probe has enough lift for doubles (my ML is rated at 34 lbs. of lift). You can get a size LG Chute 3 with either 45 or 60 lbs of lift, but thats a back inflate type BC, not a vest like the Probe is.

 

[crazyitalian]

After reading through ScubaBoard, it seems as though there are many who aren't too keen on the Oceanic Probe BC. I read a good review on it at www.scubadiving.com and that was some of my basis (not all) for considering it.

Although I have a few dives under my belt, up until now I haven't been in the market for new equipment, I've just been using my school's. Now that I am looking, I have to rely heavily on internet research and other people's input. Right now I don't have a car and for that reason it's difficult (though not impossible) to check out equipment all over the area. Plus, everything's so expensive down here. Once I get some good input from all of you fine folks, then I can narrow it down and visit certain shops. Instead of all of them.

Besides holding a larger steel tank, eventually I'd like to get into wreck and deep diving. For that reason I want something that's possible to upgrade and/or tinker with and won't become obsolete when I begin to change the types of dives I go on. Right now it's just reef diving in the Keys but it won't be that way too much longer.

Many espouse the benefits of the Zeagle Brigade and others in their line. Is this a BC to seriously consider? Thanks in advance to anybody who takes the time to answer this, and to those who answered my previous post.

 

[crazyitalian]

I have the exact same BC. You can add an adapter for approx. $100 to bolt on doubles (basically a pre-bent steel bar), b/c that part of the BC is the same as the Chute 3. The question you need to ask is whether the Probe has enough lift for doubles (my ML is rated at 34 lbs. of lift). You can get a size LG Chute 3 with either 45 or 60 lbs of lift, but thats a back inflate type BC, not a vest like the Probe is.

Thanks for the info. I didn't see your response until after I submitted my last post. So what do you think of the Probe? Does it work for you?

 

[babar]

also not all the standard bc's have enough length in the straps. Before I went to BP/W. I used a jacket ISt BC. It worked great, but the straps werent long enough to handle an 8" circumference tank

Babar

 

[Viscya]

.....
Besides holding a larger steel tank, eventually I'd like to get into wreck and deep diving. For that reason I want something that's possible to upgrade and/or tinker with and won't become obsolete when I begin to change the types of dives I go on. Right now it's just reef diving in the Keys but it won't be that way too much longer.

You might want to seriously consider a backplate and wings. They are the ultimate in not becoming obsolete...
There are many sources. I use: http://www.oxycheq.com/Wings-Double.html, but single tank wings are also available.