You have GOT TO BE KIDDING!- New Aqualung BC

[Jim Lapenta]

It looks like a designer from dacor or mares (HUB) defected to AL. Next will be the demise of support for US divers regs and then they will be reinvented under a new title or you can trade them in for a limited time on something else.

 

[Diver Dennis]

To clarify, I'm not endorsing this BC but I think before criticizing any product, a person should at least see it and base their criticisms on fact. I don't think that is too much to ask.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Have you tried one of these BCs? Have you even seen one in person? Or can you just tell from the pictures this is a huge blunder by AquaLung?

I can tell from the description above that whoever wrote it is a nondiving idgit or is assuming that his target audience is.

I wouldn't buy anything from anyone who is willing to write and publish such total and over the wall nonsense.

 

[Diver Dennis]

That description was written by SportDiver magazine. Here is what is on the AquaLung website. I don't see anything about elevators or other nonsense...

Features of i3:

Integrated i3 technology for safer and easier control of inflation and deflation
One upper and one lower Flat E-Valve keeps the BC streamlined while offering effective and responsive air dumping
One-way valves prevent water from back flushing into the BC, greatly reducing captured water
The oral inflator is easy to deploy and use. It can easily be removed to provide a access port should you ever need to rinse the inside of your BC
SURELOCK™ mechanical weight release system (patented) offers unsurpassed ease of loading, ditching and security of weight pouches
Two lobe-retaining D-rings that can be held to steady the lobe for easy weight pouch insertion
Two 10lb weight pockets on sizes XS – ML. Two 16lb weight pockets on sizes L - XXL

Two, side-release non-ditch pockets (except size extra small) increase overall weight carrying capacity as well as provide proper trim in the water
A new, integrated Octo-pocket (patent pending), is a convenient way to secure your octopus regulator





A three-dimensional expanding gusset around the backpack (patented) provides increased lift capacity
Outer bladder constructed of Armorshield™ Cordura® for increase wear and fade resistance
Sculpted shoulders using the exlcusive Sea Quest swivel buckle system (patented) provides unsurpassed fit and comfort
Traction pad (patented) built into the proprietary contour back pack prevents cylinder slippage
Over-molded carrying handle makes carrying the BC a breeze. Standard on all sizes
Upper, right-hand, shoulder pull dump as an alternative dumping method
Six stainless steel D-rings to attach all of your accessories
Two large zipper utility pockets with pull cord are easy to open / close
Knife grommets on left lobe accommodate any one of the fine Deep See knives
Depth compensating waistband with 11/2 inch buckle and lobe strap
COLORS:
Black/Red, Black/Silver

SIZE & BUOYANCY CHART:
Click Here

 

[MikeFerrara]

I am really surprised to see so many people criticizing if not mocking a product they have never tried or even seen.
How about being a little open minded??? Or at least giving those companies the benefit of the doubt.

I don't need to actually wear my wifes high heels to work to kow that it just isn't a good idea. Likewaise, I see no need to actually ge in the water wearing a disaster like this contraption to know that it isn't a good idea.

I am sure, when BCD's came out, a few guys were laughing and making negative comments about them. And yet they probably all use
one by now...

No. the first divers to use BC's had to improvise their own. They did so in response to a very real need.

Some people work very hard to come up with new technologies, the least you guys can do is at least respect their work and
try their products before judging them.

cheers.

This isn't a new technology. It's still just valves and air bags. The only thing new about the approach is that they are trying to capatolize on the lack of understanding many divers have with regard to buoyancy control in general.

 

[Diver Dennis]

This is the only contentious statement I see being made by AquaLung...

Integrated i3 technology for safer and easier control of inflation and deflation

Is it true? I don't know because I have not seen the BC.

 

[HowardE]

I used to have a jacket BCD with the side inflate (prepare your flame throwers - it was a HUB). I liked it and got almost 200 dives off of it, before I broke the plastic back plate. It worked (I liked it a lot more once I replaced the dacor 1st and 2nd stage with a ScubaPro MK25/S600). It also had a pull dump on the shoulder, and in the rear. I used those dumps more than the side button for dumping air, but either way -

Like Mike V said - it's great for taking pictures... the hose didn't get in the way.

I now dive a BP/W and I have to mind the hose when I bring my camera up to my eyes.

 

[Diver Dennis]

I don't need to actually wear my wifes high heels to work to kow that it just isn't a good idea. Likewaise, I see no need to actually ge in the water wearing a disaster like this contraption to know that it isn't a good idea.

So you have seen similar systems and know they don't work? What do you base that opinion on? I just want the facts as why I should not buy one. "Just because" is not a good reason.

 

[pakman]

Dennis, I double dare you to buy one...

 

[TSandM]

Dennis, I hear your concerns about premature criticism.

But how many times have I seen posts on this board where divers ADVISE others to inflate their BCs to ascend? It's not rare, unfortunately. And here you have an equipment manufacturer essentially perpetuating that misconception. The advertising material is easily open to criticism, in my opinion.

I personally don't like the idea of the design, because I believe that making something more complicated generally makes it more likely to fail, and I'm happy with a simple system where everything's pretty manual and I can repair/replace a lot of parts on it. But some people prefer to make things easier, which is fine. But don't try to educate divers to ascend by inflating their BC. That's a recipe for an accident.