Where will the future take us?

[hydropunk]

Noticed this while having a discussion in the shop yesterday: BCDs are slowly moving in a direction where standards (inflator hose over left shoulder, octo under right arm, etc) are being abandoned.

Scubapro has it's Classic+Air which eliminates the inflator hose in favor of a small button that only inflates and is at mid chest level on the left; to deflate you must find a pull tab that is completely out of place, in the middle of the jacket, and it has a tendency to tuck itself away where a rescuer might not be able to find it quickly.

SeaQuest has incorporated its i3 inflation system in the bottom left corner on the side of its jackets, but they both inflate and deflate. Well intentioned, cool, nice ideas, BUT: in a rescue situation, or class situation, will these "small" differences cause any problems? Will a rescue diver know what to do when presented with these 3 different options for inflation/deflation of your BCD? Will these "small" differences translate into "big" problems? Will an instructor be able to adjust his teaching to address how to use the equipment even though he doesnt use it? I wouldn't think that an instructor would buy any BCD with these 'alternate' inflators because how the hell would he teach by example if everyone else is using regular rental gear and he has this new BCD without an inflator hose.

The siphon method is unavailable on these new BCDs.

Split second decisions could turn into 5 second dillemas that we will have to live with... what then?

 

[rstofer]

See, this is just what I have been saying. There is a huge difference between change and improvement.

Richard

 

[Pearldiver07]

I say "time will tell."

Many such "improvements" simply fade away. My feeling is that these will too, as they really don't add any advantage, but besides the OP's issues, they simply complicate operation.

 

[FishOutUvH2O]

While standardization would definitely be optimal, it's obvious that manufacturers aren't going that route. And, not to be flippant, but, I doubt they even consider rescue issues when designing these devices. At best, maybe rescue training courses can change their curriculum or procedures in an attempt to keep-up with new equipment and rescue divers can keep-up with changes through continuing education. The only other method I can think of would be legislation, and you know how well situations improve when politicians get involved.

Unfortunately, this isn't just a problem confined to diving. Can you imagine how difficult it must be for firefighters to keep-up with all the different airbag placements that auto manufactures have come-up with?!?! My wife's car alone has nine airbags. Be in the wrong spot and/or cut in the wrong place and BOOM!

 

[scubafanatic]

.....I'm predicting those 'mutations' will not survive/spread for long in the Darwinian dive world...that's a sign of a dive manufacturer completely bankrupt of ideas !

 

[mustang_5l]

Open circuit will be dead or dying in the next 10 years and CCR's will be the norm. Prices are coming down.

 

[themagni]

The future will have gill filters, artificial gravity BCs, and dive contacts with HUDs.

 

[hydropunk]

HUD Contacts? Patent it now and sell that idea to oceanic... Great one!

Would the contacts replace a mask?

 

[Thalassamania]

The old USD BC-707 also known as the BC II had a right hand lower chest inflator that worked rather well.

 

[hydropunk]

Someone had mentioned to me in the store that there was an old bc that used an alternate inflator system. Were there any problems associated with the BC II?