What BCD would you recommend

[mannyc]

Looking to find out what would the more experieced diver's think is a good first BCD investment. I'm 260lbs, looking for a weight intergrated system, back inflated, something for the recreational diver, but that will last for a good time. I keep getting advice that the knighthawk is the best purchase? Any feed bck would be apprecited.

 

[zaberman1]

i always recommend the bp/w with a steel bp for a single tank and weight pouches if needed.

If you are dead-set on the bcd route, the knighthawk is a great bcd as is the sea quest balance. Substantially cheaper and very new is the aqualung zuma which is really cool, lightweight, easy to travel with, and appears to be structured like the knighthawk or a bp/w. Take a look at it:

Zuma

 

[deich]

I will tell u what i have experience with and that is the Hollis HD 100 fantastic back inflate bc.... I am a big guy like yourself and it is verry sturdy and comfortable... Check it out at Hollis Tech Diving and Commercial, Public Safety and Military Underwater Gear

I also have one for sale in the Classifieds section. I am not sure where Navarre Florida is but, you are more than welcome to give it a try. I am in Fort Lauderdale and am willing to let you try it.

I have recently switched to a BP/W and that is a option to look at a well.

Whatever you get make sure it fits well and if possible dive it before you buy.

 

[StreetDoctor]

Why not a backplate/wing? It's infinitely adjustable, and should last you a long, long time. I dove my first BP/W with less than 12 dives total so don't think you need experience before you try one.

 

[SkimFisher]

 

[ZapDiver]

I think I can guess that the next 100 posts will advise you to go straight to the BackPlate/Wing....

However I truly advise you to first try a Back inflation BD (Like the Knighthawk) and a Jacket style BD and decide in wich one you feel more comfortable. It's my opinion that as a begginer, you'll be more confortable with a jacket than with a back inflation device.

 

[llqwyd]

Agree with Zapdiver... Back-Inflates have a bit of a learning curve (as opposed to a jacket-style) and take some getting used to. A wing/backplate setup is great for a more experienced diver and if you have dives with a back-inflate, they are probably appropriate.

The Blackhawk is a great BCD. How tall are you and how do you carry 260? That is going to make a difference. I personally recommend the Cressi Bac-Jac

 

[SkimFisher]

I get giddy when I see posts like this because it reminds me of the first time I asked this question and got 700 responses.

I don't have much more experience than you do, Manny, but I do have a couple dives in both a jacket-style hybrid and a back inflation. Namely a Zeagle Escape (back) and a Sea Elite Profile Hybrid. I like/dislike both pretty equally to be honest with you - but in the long run I'll probably replace my jacket with a back-inflate like everyone said I would. I ignored that advice based on the fact that I like to try things out for myself. The one thing a jacket style BC doesn't do for me is put my face in the water at the surface - which is the main reason I like mine.

My advice to you would be to do a few dives in each and see what you like. Don't just take my (or anyone's) word for it. Try and see for yourself.

 

[fisheater]

I'm a big diver, too. My first BC was a back-inflate Zeagle (better option than the Black Hawk IMHO). In more 100 dives with it I learned that (a) it was foolish to be totally weight integrated in cold water diving (rig weighed way too much and I couldn't doff and don at depth) and (b) a BP/W was all around superior for weighing less, allowing me better trim and buoyancy control and being far more streamlined, especially on surface swims.

I don't want sound like one of "those" people, but I found a BP/W to be superior. Weight belts are not evil and you'll even save money over a Black Hawk. (and you'll look cooler)

 

[jlt3b]

I'm in the market for a BC, similar to Manny. One of my pet peeves is that it is difficult to directly compare specifications on scuba gear, because websites don't list the same info for the different products (eg, no tables of basic specs such as weight of the product, dimensions, etc etc).

With that in mind, i'm considering the Seaquest Balance versus the Knighthawke. Anyone have any input on the differences and similarities between them (other than both being back-inflate bc's)?