I'm looking for a minimalist side-inflate BC

[Nemrod]

Minimalist and "side" inflate in the same sentence, hmmm, is that an oxymoron?

I do agree with the OP, wing/BP rigs are not very good on the surface. Do not over inflate, yeah, as every wave washes over you completely whilst your buddies in a normal BC float up and over. But, there is give and take, diving is not about floating and underwater a wing/BP is hard to beat. Everywhere else a wing/BP pretty much sucks if I may say.

N

 

[oldschoolto]

I think people are over weighted and need to put all this air in the BC... And the Best Minimal BCd is None.. Like the old days..

Jim...

 

[lowviz]

...//... I'll be doing a lot of diving, and in salt/chlorine water. So.. I'll need something that's going to be very durable, and not discolor (I hope).

Salty brownish is fine.

...//... So.. looking for a very durable, very minimal, quick-drying side-inflate BC. We don't have any in my shop. And I haven't seen any come through service that blew me away.

Any suggestions?

Suggestion: Very minimal and stable on the surface is problematic. Buy a used SP (pains me to suggest that) "Classic" BC for peanuts. Play with it....

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I was floating on the surface waiting pick up in choppy water last week for around 15 minutes. I was wearing a back inflate BC and wishing I had my SP Classic BC on. I have it listed for sale, but I'm somewhat conflicted - it is best at the surface.

 

[Diving Dubai]

My advice FWIW

Just buy an entry level BC. For instance at my shop, they use AL waves for rental, because they're simple and stand up to student abuse.

As an instructor you have no need of integrated weights, as you'll be demonstrating weight belt removal etc

What I find disconcerting, is that as a Pro, people will look to you for advice on equipment etc, clearly you don't have the most basic knowledge to be able to form your own opinion (re your reg thread) on your own equipment decisions.

I suspect you actually want a BCD with all the bells and whistles that screams "look at me" which some will do, but not for the reasons you think...

 

[TheShark1]

In my limited experience w students thus far.. you spend so much time at the surface.. and there's not much of a difference underwater. So I think I'm going to go w a side-inflate.

Like I said. Want something that is super durable. And that is as light and as quick-drying as possible. Maybe that is an oxy-moron for side-inflates. But I'm looking for the lightest, quickest drying, most durable, most minimal (freedom of arm movement, etc.) one I can find.

The scubapro classic is what you guys like?

 

[lowviz]

...//... The scubapro classic is what you guys like?

I was put into a Classic because my shop wanted all their students floating on the surface like little rubber duckies, just like the instructor in his Classic.

Dive what your students are diving, such was alluded to by @Diving Dubai. He takes a harder stance that I. This is on the level of "Basic Scuba Discussions", so I'll behave that way here. But IMHO Diving Dubai is right. Learn and dive what your students are diving, you do them a great disservice if you don't. If you don't then they become suspicious that theirs is inferior. Resist looking cool. Your one and only focus is on your students "getting it". It is all about them, not you.

So anyway, to answer your question, my LDS "trained" me in a Classic. They sold me a KnightHawk.

A Classic is neither fast drying nor minimal. It wraps around you, it is bulky. Again, buy a cheap one and play with it. It will give you a great place to make comparisons from and you will come to appreciate it.

 

[buddhasummer]

It's certainly good self restraint practice.

 

[tbone1004]

In my limited experience w students thus far.. you spend so much time at the surface.. and there's not much of a difference underwater. So I think I'm going to go w a side-inflate.

Like I said. Want something that is super durable. And that is as light and as quick-drying as possible. Maybe that is an oxy-moron for side-inflates. But I'm looking for the lightest, quickest drying, most durable, most minimal (freedom of arm movement, etc.) one I can find.

The scubapro classic is what you guys like?

what I said in post #5 and what was said above, though one qualifier. IMHO if you are spending more time at the surface than you do underwater, you are doing it wrong, and if you struggle on the surface with a backinflate/bpw you are doing it wrong. If you are working for a shop, they want you in the gear they sell, so make them give you one, whether it is a rental or not. I firmly believe that if it is good enough for the students, it damned well be good enough for me.

 

[halocline]

I suggest the Mares HUB.