Upgrading AL DA Aqua Master

[captain]

These are some tools I made to deal with clips.

 

[rstofer]

It kind of goes like this....

Pete

That's a marvelous link. Thanks!

Richard

 

[rstofer]

These are some tools I made to deal with clips.

Very nice!

Richard

 

[rstofer]

OK, the regulator works! I had a chance to try it in the pool today.

It is apparent that my Deep Sea Supply BP/W isn't going to work. The LCD 30 wing has the elbow centered and given the size of the bladder, there is no way to use the DA Aqua Master.

I have an old SeaQuest ADVi jacket style that MIGHT work. I'll check tomorrow.


So, with modern BCs or other BP/Ws, what seems to work? I don't mind buying another rig if I can get it to clear the can. I know I can buy retro harnesses and horsecollar BCs but I suspect there are better choices.

Richard

 

[spectrum]

That's a marvelous link. Thanks!

Richard

It's a dandy regulator too!

 

[Nemrod]

OK, the regulator works! I had a chance to try it in the pool today.

It is apparent that my Deep Sea Supply BP/W isn't going to work. The LCD 30 wing has the elbow centered and given the size of the bladder, there is no way to use the DA Aqua Master.

I have an old SeaQuest ADVi jacket style that MIGHT work. I'll check tomorrow.


So, with modern BCs or other BP/Ws, what seems to work? I don't mind buying another rig if I can get it to clear the can. I know I can buy retro harnesses and horsecollar BCs but I suspect there are better choices.

Richard

The DSS wing with the centered elbow does not work well with a single hose much less with a double hose. Oxy Cheq is preferred. BTW, no BC, as in none, nada, zippo, works just fine.

N

 

[herman]

There are a couple of problems with modern BC. The biggest one I find is the tank straps are too high so when you correctly place the reg the tank is close to falling out of the strap. I sometimes dive mine with an older Zeagle Scout. It does a fair job and the straps are close to low enough. The other major problem is the fit of the BC. It should be snug and fit close to your body so that the tank and reg stay as close as possible to you, jacket style BC are almost worthless for this reason, they tend to fit way too loose. You can do what a lot of us do, forget the BC all together. Once you get your weighting correct there is really little need for it. If you have an AL backplate that may work, just remove the badder or get yourself an old style packpack. Plenty of the around and you can still buy them new.

Got my 1958 DA/Royal Master wet for the first time today, looks great with it's new yellow hoses and mouthpiece. Another vintage reg returns to diving.

 

[herman]

Nearly scared a poor young DM to death on Bonaire this year diving this way. For some reason he thought no BC would kill you. Photo by SB's Gypsyjim.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

EVERYONE knows that if you jump in without a BC you are gonna DIE!

I miss the days when instructors taught proper buoyancy and weighting.

With a BP wing you usually have the option of mounting the tank lower (single strap near the middle of the plate or STA) than on many BC's and the shoulder straps themselves can be addjusted longer to allow the plate and tank to go lower on your body.

As Nemrod points out, there are several wings around with offset elbows that work great with double hose regs.

I'll try to post a pic of what I use later tonight.

 

[rstofer]

Thanks guys! The information is greatly appreciated.

Richard