LarryHinDC
Contributor
I recently bought a new BC because I wanted something less bulky and lighter for travel. I'm not starting this thread as a place to praise or bash one style or another, I just want to share my experience of how the equipment you use can make a difference.
I've been diving an Oceanic Probe (jacket-style, lots of pockets) for several years, but recently decided to look for something a little travel-friendly. Size was the first consideration, but weight was also a factor. I ended up with an Aeris 5 Oceans (back inflate), which was about 3 pounds lighter and packed much smaller, which was on clearance at my LDS. I took it with me on a recent trip to Saba. I realized two things: One, when you use a lighter BC, you need to compensate with more weight. Not rocket science, but it only dawned on me after the first couple of dives. Second, after several dives, I realized that the reason I was getting about 10 minutes longer down on each tank than I had in December was probably the new BC.
So I guess the moral of this post is that when evaluating equipment, if you can try before you buy, remember to look at your overall performance, not just how it feels and what doodads it includes.
I've been diving an Oceanic Probe (jacket-style, lots of pockets) for several years, but recently decided to look for something a little travel-friendly. Size was the first consideration, but weight was also a factor. I ended up with an Aeris 5 Oceans (back inflate), which was about 3 pounds lighter and packed much smaller, which was on clearance at my LDS. I took it with me on a recent trip to Saba. I realized two things: One, when you use a lighter BC, you need to compensate with more weight. Not rocket science, but it only dawned on me after the first couple of dives. Second, after several dives, I realized that the reason I was getting about 10 minutes longer down on each tank than I had in December was probably the new BC.
So I guess the moral of this post is that when evaluating equipment, if you can try before you buy, remember to look at your overall performance, not just how it feels and what doodads it includes.