mid range ($) apsc camera and housing

kelpdiver wrote:

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

I like the idea of smoothing out the rig. I'm still using a lot of the same equipment I started with, or adopted within a year. I use an Oceanic Islander BCD, which only weighs 6 pounds by itself. I do have a chest strap, though I don't know I particularly need it. Just always fastened it since it was there. Since about 2007.

I converted from a 'yellow hose' octo to an integrated one to eliminate one dangler. I've also had to use that integrated hose through a whole dive, and it wasn't pleasant.

I think the integrated octos compromise performance, and there's more non standard buttons to confuse in an emergency situation. Definitely another case where you donate your primary. I personally prefer a high perf octo - on one rig it's an old primary.

Yes, but I'm happier with the lack of an extra hose hanging off me.  The octo is only supposed to be used in an emergency, and it works fine for that.   It's far too short to hand to someone else, so they'll get my regular hose.   On one trip I had taken my regulator in for some preventive maintenance, and I think they put the wrong spring in it.  As soon as I hit the water and took a breath, the reg was pretty much free flowing.  I'd twist a knob and get it to stop - until the next breath.  After a few minutes of that, I switched to the integrated and found out how uncomfortable it is in your mouth, and found that it just didn't flow air as nicely as a typical 2nd stage.

I've seen one or two wings, but never used one nor really understand what they would offer me over my little Islander.

I tried a number of back inflator BCDs from the attractive looking, but poor in water Ranger, to lighter ones. Never found one I liked. Problem for many was the soft back, esp with a single cam band. I see the Islander has what looks to be a more solid tank plate.

It does have a plastic plate back there.

But it is still got a lot of unnecessary cluster (particularly the pockets in front), and most of it is breakable plastic. A lot of failure and break points, and much higher drag.

OK, I have to take issue here, though I'm not one to be banging about underwater.  I've been using the Islander for about 250 dives over 11 years, and it looks brand new.   My divemaster even complimented me on that last fall.   Nothing has broken.

Also, I can't see how the pockets do much of anything negative,   Compared to not having a pocket there would only be different by a couple of bits of fabric and a zipper.

As for drag, it hardly matters when I'm pushing a 9 inch dome, twin strobe arms and a focus light, but yes, every little bit helps.   I worry more about lose stuff catching on things (like those strobe arms) more than drag in the water.

Those bungees on the wing try to mitigate air trappage, but it's a common problem for the BI BCs.

That I'm comfortable with, after 11 years.   The way I dump air is to be head-up slightly or fully, and pull on my integrated air hose.  That opens the top back valve and lets the air out.  Occasionally if I am head-down, I may reach back to the bottom dump valve and let some air out there so I don't have to un-invert.   But in either case I have a dump valve only on one side.   I've made a bit of an unconscious habit of raising my right shoulder before dumping in order to make sure the air has a path out.  Sometimes I'll do a big roll, mostly for fun, but also to redistribute any air in the BC.  In my early days I was having issues with air trappage, but not for years now.

My 3 travel plate systems weigh between 7.6 and 8.3lbs. Dual cams, metal d-rings and buckle, simple weight pockets for 10 lbs on the sides. They break down into separate parts, which can make packing more efficient (particularly for 2). There are some minimalist systems out there that likely drop the packing weight to under 5, but haven't tried yet. I got a good collection already.

Doesn't sound a lot different from my Islander, except of course the usefulness of breaking things down for packing.

I like the weight distribution along the back. For cold water, I use a stainless steel (-7lbs) with a 7lb weighted tank adapter. That's 14 lbs well distributed, unlike single weight point along the waist. The crotch strap is particularly helpful when using AL80s - which get positively buoyant middive. The lack of need for the chest strap is good for the ladies, though I do see your BC has a couple mount points for it to allow for accommodation.

Chest strap connections seem nice - except they are too close to see with my mask blocking the view to them.

I bought my late wife an Oceanic Hera, which is designed for women.  She made maximum use of the adjustments on it too, since she was only 4'11".   It has a chest strap, but I think it is located higher up than on a man's BCD.

Buoyancy / trim is something I'm highly interested in.  By any chance does a wing make it easiest to trim out such that you can swim back-down, looking up?   There are lots of times I want to be looking upward when going under a ledge or in a crevice, but I find it a very hard skill to master.   (Not to mention getting salt water in my eyes.)

In true tropics, I use an 18lb wing that is again very low drag, though barely enough to float it at the beginning of a dive. But I also have a 27, 38, 40 accumulated over time. Easy to pick for the situation, based on weighting, wetsuit, wave levels. If any single part wears out, easy to swap. The wing part tends to be the most expensive, but if you buy the whole set used on ebay, can be much cheaper.

Sounds intriguing.  I pretty much am a warm-water garden diver, used to nice conditions.   Wouldn't know what different rig to use when!