Time to buy a jacket BCD or can I keep my Zeagle Tech

[divingtigger]

I bought a Zeagle tech a couple years ago when I dove a lot. Now I don’t dive as often as I’d like, maybe once or twice a year. Last week in Mexico I was having problems at the surface. It seemed like my BCD was trying to keep my face in the water. This was more apparent in the Cenotes as compared to the ocean. I was having quite a problem with this in the Cenotes.

So should I sell my Tech Pack and buy a jacket (if so what should I look at) or try to make my BCD work and just deal with the problems at the surface?

Thanks

 

[dkatchalov]

Don't try to solve skill problems with gear.

There must be a reason for your BC pushing you face down in water. You could try placing some weight on your cambands to aid your trim on the surface. You may not have adjusted your BC correctly. Your tank may be too high, thus pushing you over.

Also, I have no idea why you'd go from a Zeagle Tech (which I hear is a great BC) to a poodle jacket. It doesn't really matter what your BC does to you at the surface, it is what it does underwater that matters. And you will find that a back inflate will always trim out better underwater than a poodle jacket.

 

[SteveAD]

Any back inflate will have a tendency to face plant you if you over inflate it. The Tech has 65 pounds of lift. Diving in the cenotes you were probably wearing a 3mm wesuit and <15 pounds of lead. Inflating more than 1/2 way would be excessive. If you want to get higher out of the water, lean back BEFORE you inflate then you can inflate all the way and it's like floating on a raft.

 

[medical1]

Sounds like you are over inflating the BC enough for the BC to want to pitch you forward. Try inflating it a less on the surface and kicking your feet up at the surface. With very little practice you can float on your back. I use a Zeagle Ranger to teach with & I can float on my back all day

 

[marchand]

I'll trade you a ranger bladder for that tech bladder, that should solve your problem

 

[dkatchalov]

To add to these comments, I had to learn how to float on my wing like a raft when I switched to a bp/w and I found it to be very easy and more streamlined and relaxing on the surface compared to swimming when you are upright. Floating and swimming on your back on the surface is a piece of cake with a back inflate, you just have to learn how to do it (its easy) and get used to it.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I have had this happen with my Ranger in the tropics. Just too much air in the bladder. Let some out and all was good.

 

[divingtigger]

Thanks guys, I really like my Tech and that's probably the main problem. I never dive with full suits any more just shorty's that and I only had 9 pounds of weight on. I guess I just need to get out more and use the equipment I got.