Trapped air - Seaquest Balance BCD

[Grey_Wulff]

I have a 2004 Seaquest Balance BC (the older one without the left shoulder dump valve and carry handle) and was wondering if any fellow Balance users have experienced the same problems I have with respect to dumping air.

It seems that sometimes it is very difficult to dump all the air in the bladder using either the power inflation hose held overhead or when pulling the power inflation hose to operate the left shoulder dump valve. Air seems to get trapped in the bladder, the only real cure being to operate the lower left dump valve on the back of the BC. While this certainly does the trick, the BC then invariably floods with a considerable amount of water.

At times dumping air seemed so difficult that I actually had my BC sent back to Aqualung believing the power inflator hose to be faulty. They returned the BC stating there was no fault with the power inflator.

I would be very interested in hearing other people’s experiences with the Balance BC in this regard.

Grey_Wulff

 

[Walter]

The key to dumping all your air is to put the dump valve at the top of the bladder, For some BCs, that means you have to move your body in odd positions. That's simply poor design and Seaquest isn't the only company with that issue. I've even seen some designed so it's almost impossible to dump all the air. I can't remember the brand off the top of my head.

 

[jetfixer]

i have an older seaquest balance that does the same thing. it does appear to be a poor design. my buddy had the same experience. he went to a bp&w and never looked back. I tried a zeagle ranger. it seemed to fit better and no air trappage issues. funny thing is, many people including instructors and dive shop owners i've talked to love this bc.

 

[Walter]

Actually, the Ranger is one of the BCs that does trap air unless you put the area behind and slightly below your left shoulder at the highest point.

 

[jetfixer]

Walter, I've heard that before and I'm sure its been discussed at length on previous threads. These were just my personal experiences being shared about the Seaquest Balance since I dive one. Which BC do you use?

 

[KidK9]

I dive this BC for my recreational purposes, I do love it, and I do get frustrated at times when it traps the air. I believe mine is the 2002 design.

 

[pilot fish]

I have a 2004 Seaquest Balance BC (the older one without the left shoulder dump valve and carry handle) and was wondering if any fellow Balance users have experienced the same problems I have with respect to dumping air.

It seems that sometimes it is very difficult to dump all the air in the bladder using either the power inflation hose held overhead or when pulling the power inflation hose to operate the left shoulder dump valve. Air seems to get trapped in the bladder, the only real cure being to operate the lower left dump valve on the back of the BC. While this certainly does the trick, the BC then invariably floods with a considerable amount of water.

At times dumping air seemed so difficult that I actually had my BC sent back to Aqualung believing the power inflator hose to be faulty. They returned the BC stating there was no fault with the power inflator.

I would be very interested in hearing other people’s experiences with the Balance BC in this regard.

Grey_Wulff

Try the Seaquest Pro QD. It has the right shoulder dump,rear dump and carry handle which you can use to measure how far down the BC fits over the tank. It has wrap around bladder for even lift, good D rings and generous pockets, although sometimes hard to get in to.

 

[matt_unique]

I have a 99' Balance and I have never had the air trapping problems you describe. The dump is on the top of the left shoulder. I lean to the right and use the dump button on the end of the inflator hose. I have dumped air by pulling the hose but I always felt that placed a lot of stress on it.

--Matt

 

[Grey_Wulff]

Thanks for the replies - it seems at least some of you have experienced the same issue with the Balance. IMHO, I think what happens is that the bladder area between the left shoulder valve and the main bladder can get compressed and partially seals the valve off from the rest of the bladder space. Thus, particularly at lower internal air pressures, when you try to bleed air out of the bladder, sometimes nothing comes out. Shoulder rolling, with that shoulder as your highest point, probably then is an effective relief of the problem but, at the end of the day, it is poor design.

To the responder who mentioned the Pro QD, I have used it extensively and find it much easier to release all the air from the bladder. Shame it is not a back-inflation design.

As for putting stress on the Balance inflator hose when you pull it I agree. The standard hose is very stiff and you really need to pull it hard to get the left shoulder valve to work. When I returned my BC to Aqualung to check out the inflator operation, they replaced the standard hose with a much more flexible, easy to pull hose. Evidently, a number of people had already complained about how stiff the standard hose was.

Grey_Wulff

 

[pilot fish]

Thanks for the replies - it seems at least some of you have experienced the same issue with the Balance. IMHO, I think what happens is that the bladder area between the left shoulder valve and the main bladder can get compressed and partially seals the valve off from the rest of the bladder space. Thus, particularly at lower internal air pressures, when you try to bleed air out of the bladder, sometimes nothing comes out. Shoulder rolling, with that shoulder as your highest point, probably then is an effective relief of the problem but, at the end of the day, it is poor design.

To the responder who mentioned the Pro QD, I have used it extensively and find it much easier to release all the air from the bladder. Shame it is not a back-inflation design.

As for putting stress on the Balance inflator hose when you pull it I agree. The standard hose is very stiff and you really need to pull it hard to get the left shoulder valve to work. When I returned my BC to Aqualung to check out the inflator operation, they replaced the standard hose with a much more flexible, easy to pull hose. Evidently, a number of people had already complained about how stiff the standard hose was.

Grey_Wulff

Why do you prefer back inflation? Doesn't that pitch you forward and give you uneven lift?