"Travel" BCD appropriate for regular use?

[DevonDiver]

Yeah that sounds pretty sweet Andy.. but is that bc really suitable for working/ diving in, 6 days a week, up to 4 dives a day, for 4 months??

I've completed 1500+ dives in mine, as a full-time instructor working in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. It stands up to anything I can throw at it. There is very little to go wrong with it...and the materials are incredibly robust.

If you opted for an Oxycheq 'extreme' bladder/wing, then you'd have the toughest piece of kit available on the market. The backplate is industructable. The harness... well, it's just nylon webbing (like a weight belt)... so there's no likely damage with that either...and if it did ever fray...it costs about $20 to replace.

I'm starting to think maybe i should get a proper BCD for that purpose, and if i want to carry one around for travelling after, send it home and pick up a travel bcd for the rest of my travels.

BP&W is very 'proper'.

The added advantage (for me) is that I can swap out the wing and dive doubles. That's 2 cylinders on the back, 2 stages and an umbilical torch. I don't know many travel BCDs that could do that....

Have a search on SB for threads about BP&W. It's a migration of tech methodolody and equipment into recreational diving.

The configuration might be a little different to a 'regular' BCD, but there is nothing about it that will stop you being able to DM or teach. It's about as indestructable, flexible and efficient as you can get...

 

[Gregorius]

Okay, so the Zeagle is sounding pretty damn good... is there a recommended configuration for a newbie? Or a site that clearly states what it comes with, and what the add on options are? It all seems a bit daunting to get started with to be honest..

 

[DevonDiver]

Zeagle is a one-piece BCD, that borrows heavily from the BP&W concept - with a rear-inflate bladder. The Express Tech is a compromise between the familiarity of a regular BCD and the trim properties of a wing. That suits a lot of divers who prefer to stick with what they know.

A proper BP&W has the benefit of being modular. That's great for dissasembling when travelling, but also for being able to uniquely customize it to your personal requirements.

 

[halocline]

For backpacking...

BP&W with Aluminium backplate and hog (basic) harness. Remove any unnessary d-rings to save weight.

Correctly fit and size the harness, then mark the points in white pen. Disassemble the kit. Put the Ali backplate into the pouch in your backpack (where the foam insert would normally go. Roll up the bladder and harness small...it'll take no space at the bottom of your backpack.

I agree with this. In fact, you could substitute plastic hardware (d rings, keepers, buckle) for the SS, and you could use slightly softer webbing that would be a little easier to pack, if you were really trying to save weight. The plastic buckle is a pretty big compromise, though. Trident sells a SS buckle that's a little smaller and lighter than the dive rite one. I actually like it a little better. You could also use cam straps with plastic buckles. The plastic stuff probably won't last a lifetime, but don't forget that every high end backpack in the world uses plastic hardware, and those are carrying heavy loads in much more extreme environments than we dive in.

For a wing, you could get the oxycheq 18lb, the DSS tropical travel wing, or maybe one of the oxycheq razor wings if they still make them. Those are the smallest/lightest I know about. I'm sure there are others.

 

[BDSC]

I'm not so sure just getting something when you get to your destination isn't the best idea after all. You say you will be back-packing everything so the lighter the better...right?

You already have a laptop, camera, regs, dive computer, mask, and fins. Not to mention your clothes and other personal items you may need. Already have a wetsuit also and booties you will travel with? It adds up fast. If you are going to do DM training and start on the road to instructor, I'd have to believe that any place you can do this will have a reasonable amount of equipment to choose from. I'd be willing to bet you could either buy something used that is cheap or maybe they would just let you use some of their equipment while working for them. I don't know but I'd look into it before I bought something and started to lug it around. I'd even think about leaving the fins behind. They can be heavy.

 

[orenbvip]

I back pack and dive SE asia every year. This is the first year I've been bringing my own gear. I selected all my gear to be light and easy as possible to pack.

I was able to fit everything in a carry on size bag (the best bag ever)

what I selected it all fits with room to spare!:
Zeagle express tech (added d-rings and ss buckle and crotch strap)
Apex flight w/ octo and all miflex hoses and naked 1.5" spg
force fins
mask, dive computer, light
3xl .5mm suit.

I have enough room for a camera and housing and maybe a laptop,

 

[Gregorius]

hey all...

So i'm still deciding what to do. I think what i really need to do before i decide is a test pack of everything i'll be taking, and the weight i'm at already.. then i'll decide what to lug around.

of scuba gear, i know at minimum i'll take my regs/ occy/ computer & transmitter. Probably wont bother with a wetsuit or booties (thinking about picking up some lightweight fins, and a pair of these to use instead of booties: *cant post url - google Vibram 5 Finger Sprint* - has anybody tried that before?)

I'm also trying to find a local store that has wing style BCs that i can try before i go down that path, but i'm sure i wont have any issues with them.

Thanks again for all the tips, definitely helping me plan for my trip better

@orenbvip, thanks for the tips... if i wasnt taking a lappy and heavy slr i'd take all scuba gear for sure.. its just that i think i'm getting too heavy, and the camera/lappy have to come, no way out of that for me. I like the look of that osprey bag too.. thanks for the heads up on that one.

 

[Gregorius]

Here's the URL for Vibram 5 Finger Sprint:
Vibram FiveFingers: Sprint-Male

I reckon they'd work well with fins... and means i can take them instead of may sandals, and instead of my booties. Bonus!

 

[knowone]

I'd watch out for poachers if you end up in Africa.
I suppose they may be after orangutans with tinea in Indonesia.

 

[DevonDiver]

Here's the URL for Vibram 5 Finger Sprint:
Vibram FiveFingers: Sprint-Male

I reckon they'd work well with fins... and means i can take them instead of may sandals, and instead of my booties. Bonus!

They look seriously uncomfortable to me... Did anyone ever try these?

Not sure if the open foot/top would not rub on the upper pocket of the fin foot space?