Warm Water Travel Setup

[wannafly]

Hi everyone,

I'm a fairly new diver (~40 dives) based in Spain and currently looking to buy my first BCD. Since I dive only on holidays, I am in the market for a lightweight single-tank setup. Since my diving is solely in warm waters I don't think I'll need a BCD prepared to handle more than a 5mm suit for water temperatures slightly below 20°C. So far I'm also not planning to enter tech diving any time soon, although that may change.

I have already read a lot of information here and initially decided on a Zeagle Express Tech with a 24lbs bladder. However, I could only find European stores listing the version with 44 lbs. After reading several threads here I have the feeling that the 44 lbs bladder provides too much lift for my type of diving and probably doesn't pack as nicely as the 24 lbs version. I could buy the ET with 44 lbs just to complement it with a separately bought bladder but that does not seem very cost effective since I don't see how I'll use the 44 lbs bladder.

Therefore I am looking for alternatives now. I don't mind venturing into the bp/w world but I have the problem that many often recommended brands (e.g. DSS) are not readily available in Europe. Simpler alternatives would be BCDs like the Aqualung Zuma or Zeagle Stiletto but I am concerned about their durability and whether they can "grow" with my diving experience.

Thanks

 

[decompression]

Rivemar.com (Spain) carries the UTD sport back mount system, it's a 20 lb donut wing, aluminum backplate, harness and back pad. It's a robust but light system for travel but can easily be added to if you're diving changes. Send them an email and they can answer any questions you have.

 

[Colliam7]

I have . . . initially decided on a Zeagle Express Tech with a 24lbs bladder. However, I could only find European stores listing the version with 44 lbs. After reading several threads here I have the feeling that the 44 lbs bladder provides too much lift for my type of diving and probably doesn't pack as nicely as the 24 lbs version. I could buy the ET with 44 lbs just to complement it with a separately bought bladder but that does not seem very cost effective since I don't see how I'll use the 44 lbs bladder.

Three thoughts on the ET: 1. You can use a 44lb wing for single cylinder diving. The Zeagle Ranger, a very popular BCD, uses a 44lb wing. But, it is far from ideal (in both size and horseshoe configuration), and it simply not something that you should need to do, even if you might 'need a BCD prepared to handle more than a 7mm suit for water temperatures slightly below 20°C'. There just isn't any good reason to go in that direction; 2. The issue with the 44lb wing isn't the 'lift', per se, it is actually the size of the bladder, and the fact that the interior volume is so large (to provide up to 44lb of lift) that the wing 'tacos' up around the single cylinder on your back (because it is only partially inflated), producing a bit of drag, AND the small amount of air needed for single cylinder diving has a relatively big space to move around in, which makes maintaining good buoyancy / trim a bit more challenging; 3. A good Huish / Zeagle dealer, whether in the US or Europe, can obtain an ET with a 24lb bladder. Worst case, is there some reason why you don't want to order from a US supplier who ships internationally? Just curious.

Simpler alternatives would be BCDs like the Aqualung Zuma or Zeagle Stiletto but I am concerned about their durability and whether they can "grow" with my diving experience.

I wouldn't be concerned with their 'durability'. And, a good diver can dive with just about any rig, so virtually any BCD can 'grow' with you. Having said that, I am personally partial to a BP/W BCD for a number of reasons, including the fac t that I find 'growth' to be a bit easier with a modular rig. So, I would encourage you to look beyond the Zuma or Stiletto - both of which are good BCDs, to BP/W possibilities for reasons beyond durability. And, just as with comment 3 regarding the ET, is there a reason you cannot look for a US BP/W supplier who ships internationally?

 

[wannafly]

Thanks for the quick replies!

Rivemar.com (Spain) carries the UTD sport back mount system, it's a 20 lb donut wing, aluminum backplate, harness and back pad. It's a robust but light system for travel but can easily be added to if you're diving changes. Send them an email and they can answer any questions you have.

Thanks for the hint but I didn't find any reviews of this setup on the board and since I can't look at it in store I am a bit hesitant.

And, just as with comment 3 regarding the ET, is there a reason you cannot look for a US BP/W supplier who ships internationally?

So far I did not consider that option because I have no clue about how much I need to pay in shipping cost and more importantly whether I need to pay additional taxes. This is the only reason why I didn't consider any US stores yet.
Although you suggested that "a good Zeagle dealer [..] in Europe, can obtain an ET with a 24lb bladder", I did not manage to find any store that does yet.

 

[runsongas]

DR voyager exp wing, technomar AL plate, and a pair of cam bands is roughly 270 euro on dive inn. Add a basic harness and crotch strap, should be around 310 altogether.

 

[Colliam7]

So far I did not consider that option because I have no clue about how much I need to pay in shipping cost and more importantly whether I need to pay additional taxes. This is the only reason why I didn't consider any US stores yet.

Fair point. Keep the possibility in mind, if nothing works 'locally', though.

Although you suggested that "a good Zeagle dealer [..] in Europe, can obtain an ET with a 24lb bladder", I did not manage to find any store that does yet.

In fairness, Zeagle is in a bit of disarray after the Huish acquisition. Whereas, we used to be able to get exactly what we wanted with a simple phone call to Zeagle in Zephyr Hills, the process is more complicated now. And, I have no idea of what the current footprint of Huish / Zeagle is in Europe, although it appears that the closest Zeagle retailer to you (according to their website) is in Switzerland, which may not meet the definition of 'near'. But, the Zeagle website (Express Tech Deluxe) also indicates that the 'standard' bladder on the Express Tech is (now) the 24lb bladder.

The good news - you have gotten a couple of good suggestions on BP/W options (Rivemar.com; Dive Inn) and, frankly, I would pursue those rather than the ET at this point.

 

[wannafly]

DR voyager exp wing, technomar AL plate, and a pair of cam bands is roughly 270 euro on dive inn. Add a basic harness and crotch strap, should be around 310 altogether.

Much appreciated advice! I checked the store and they also carry the Diverite Travel EXP wing which is even lighter than the voyager and comes in at almost the same price. Since I'm almost exclusively diving in warm waters I think the smaller lift of the travel EXP shouldn't pose a problem. Any thoughts on deciding between the Travel and Voyage EXP? And will I need a single-tank adapter (STA) with either of them?

EDIT: Just in case I'd manage to get my hands on a Express Tech afterall: Is it easier to transport than a bp/w setup, e.g. the one suggested above by runsongas?

 

[runsongas]

the dive rite wings benefit from having a sta as the tank can wobble a bit (the wing does not have a stabilizer built in).

 

[decompression]

 

[bmorescuba]

I am a very large person - tall and not slender. The first jacket-style BCD I purchased in XXL weighed 11.5 lbs dry. Once I started traveling more, I couldn't make the 50lb/23kg cut with my gear, so I looked into travel BCDs. I got the Aqualung Zuma and I've never looked back. 4.5 lbs dry even in XXL. I have not been gentle on the Zuma and it has held up very well. About 1.5 years into owning my first one, the main bladder (wing) developed a leak because I had been using it with classes in the pool so much, and the LDS/AL replaced the whole bladder (wing) under warranty. The new one is much thicker and sturdier. I like the Zuma so much I got a second one for travel that I keep out of the pool. But the first one is still kicking. I bought it mainly for weight, but I enjoy diving in it much more than jacket styles. It took me a few dives to get used to using it on the surface, but I'd never go back now. It's also much, much faster to rinse and dry. I'm sure many of the benefits like weight, trim, and freedom of movement are also true in BPW, but I can only comment on what I know.