What do you look for in your first BCD?

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SpencerJackson

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Scuba Instructor
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Location
Maitland
# of dives
I have always told people that they should buy gear similar to what they have trained in. This way they are most familiar with the fit and function. 1000 miles from home on the back of a boat in choppy seas is not the place to figure out gear configuration. Here are the two BCDs that I suggest to my students with regard to function and cost.

1) Cressi Sub Aquapro 5R
2) XS Scuba Nekton
 
I agree that your first dive on new gear shouldn't be a sink or swim situation (pun somewhat intended), but that shouldn't limit people to whatever the shop they trained with carried.

I and my wife got certed last fall and only have a dozen dives each, but we rented gear for our first few and did a bunch of research every time we got home to find out why we didn't like the things we didn't like about the gear we used and find better options.

Also, every time we buy a piece of gear, and I mean everything from fins and masks to BCs and regs, we find a body of water on our way home and try it out. If you find the perfect gear, it should be easy, simple, comfortable, and predictable to use. As fun and relaxing as diving is, it's easy to forget or downplay the fact that this gear is all we have for life support in a hostile environment.

Always start show and easy with new gear until it's second nature to you, you may be blinded, narc'd, or air starved when you have to find your backup reg or ditch weights, or find a spare mask, who knows. If it's right where you expect it and works like you expect it the first try, those seconds could save your life or your buddy's.
 
While I agree that 1000 miles from home is an inconvenient place to get comfortable with your new gear, I don't agree that you should buy gear similar to what you trained in. The BCD I own is significantly different than what I trained in. But, when I first learned to use it, it was close to home, in calm conditions no more than 20 feet deep. I donned it several times before hitting the water, to ensure I knew where everything was and how to dump my weight if necessary.

When shopping for my first BCD, I looked for several things.

Back Inflation - The BCD I trained in was a jacket and I hated how it squeezed my torso when inflated. After reading the pros and cons of each type, I landed on back inflation being important to me.

Durability - I looked for BCDs that had a proven track record of durability if properly cared for. I have no doubt what I trained in was durable (it better be if it's rental gear), but it wasn't what I wanted.

Weight integration / load capacity- Another thing I learned while renting was that I hated weight belts, so I wanted my first BCD to be weight integrated. I also didn't want to have to deal with integrated weight pouches. If I have to dump, I'd rather just have to buy new lead than another pocket as well.

Other things such as cold water readiness, comfort, customization, D rings, dump valves and how easy it was to clean/flood the bladder were also important.

Landed on a Zeagle Ranger LTD. I wasn't looking at initial cost so much as long term value. Very happy with my purchase so far.
 
That said, the rigs I've picked out are the AquaLung or DiveRite tech harnesses with backplate and wing.

I've tried several jacket BCs and don't care for them, the tech harness just seems like it does everything I want now and should cover me when I move to more technical diving in the future.

I like them, they fit well, they're very rugged, is there any reason not to start with a tech harness for single tank recreational diving? I plan on becoming a dive master and getting into caves and wrecks in the future, but I and my wife also travel and dive tropical reefs a couple times a year too.

Any warnings or words of wisdom on jacket vs tech?
 
I recommend avoiding BCDs and only use BCs.

yep---that's what they were called in the 80's along with air in your tank(not gazzz in a cylinder).....
 
Automobile, car ???
Who gives a rat's patootie??? The question was asked by the author and understood by the reader.

But, to answer the question, in my opinion, fit . . .

the K
 
Why, because a "BCD" is a buoyancy compensating device and a "BC" is a buoyancy compensator, that's why, you obtuse dolt . . . !!!!

Geesh!!!! Didn't you learn ANYTHING in your open water class?????? :shakehead:


Just kidding . . . :D

the K
 

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