Warm water BC

[Jack R]

Hi Guys,
I am wondering what my choices are for a nice warm water BC is these days. I haven't bought a bc in 15 years so I'm a bit out of the loop. Mine works fine but it's a bit torn and tattered. I have an old dacor camelion now and it is too big and bulky for what I now need.

I am looking for a streamlined bc that can be packed in a suitcase easily. My price range is about $300 give or take a few bucks. (the less the better of course)

I need at least one pocket and I dont want a bc with integrated weights. I am an amateur photographer and like to keep my weights on my body for better stability.

All of my diving is in Southern Florida - West Palm Beach drift diving and in the tropics.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Dryglove]

Check out www.halcyon.net

Click on products

Look under multi function compensators

 

[thethumper]

Jack. Being in West Palm I know it's a bit of a drive, but you should come to Jennie Springs on Saturday. They are having the swap meet starting @ 8am. There will be ALOT of good deals. There will be supplier there that you can try the stuff out in the sping to see if you like it.

Just a thought.

 

[Jack R]

Thanks but I cant get there, I'm heading out of town for the Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[lanun]

what i have won't fit your budget consideration, though, unless possibly a used set-up.

i dive a BP/Wing config. tank, lights, etc hug close to the body for real good streamlining.

for a pocket, i use a zippered pocket slipped on to my waist webbing - though what i put in there is a spool, slate and whistle. i could also squeeze in my mx5 in there.

there's chest d-rings if you have more elaborate photo equipment.

hope this helps.

 

[leadweight]

I use a Transpac 2 with the travel wing. It works nice, but the lowest price on one would be about $350 from Leisurepro and add about $75 to buy from an authorized dealer.

There are all kinds of jackets on sale for under $300 everywhere.

Don't bother with Halcyon, their stuff starts at $500 for a system and discounts are hard to get. If you decide to go the backplate route, it probably can be done for $300 if you use an aluminum plate and a Diverite Trek wing.

You might want to look at a Zeagle Escape or Scout. Both of these pack extra compact. If purchased through Leisurepro or some other non authorized dealer, they will fit in your price range.

 

[FredT]

It is possible to put together a wing system and stay within your budget.

Plate, basic harness kit and a Northern Diver X-wing will come in under your limit. Not by much but under it.

FT

 

[herman]

Look at the Zeagle Scout. Small, light weight, quality construction and fairly inexpensive, around $215 on line. It has a 35 lb bladder back bladder and an adjustable harness system. While it does have a sort of intergrated weight intergration system, 2 pockets on the the back located on each side of the tank, you don't have to use it or you can use it for trim weights. I use one for travel. www.zeagle.com

 

[Jack R]

That looks pretty good. I see that it says "Reinforced 430 denier nylon"

What does that mean? I see it in all the description of BCs up to 1000. Is the higher the number the stronger it is?

It doesnt look like it has pockets.

 

[kitbuga]

been diving the tropics (philippines) since 78. I've dived in blue jeans and no BC, plastic backpack and horsecollar, jacket- and finally stainless steel back pack and wings (ss bp / wings).

i wholeheartedly recommend that you consider the ss bp option because:

1. you save on lead weight. tropical diving means thinner wetsuits hence less buoyancy to compensate for.

2. they're not as heavy as you think: the setup is just over 3 kg. and the ss bp has no inherent buoyancy at all.

conventional BCs weigh as mush or even less. you could be diving wihout a weight belt.

3. low drag, ease of diving, attitude, etc

whichever way you go make sure you make an informed decision and try all alternatives. 200 - 300 bucks is not loose change. Fred T, Halcyon, OMS, Dive Rite are all excellent brands. Heck even a competent machine shop can machine a bp if you have the plans.

finally, ss bp's aren't just for techs. i'm an OW rated diver and i use the ss bp simply because they work best for my kind of diving which is, at its extreme, simply rec diving that's a little more challenging than usual: drifts, 120 ft excursions . . . all within safe limits, natch.

K