SeaQuest BCD

[KaBoOm]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new diver and just about to purchase my first BCD, regulator and dive computer. I wanted to get your thoughts on the SeaQuest line of BCDs, specifically the Pro QD and the Black Diamond. I had a look at these at my LDS and really liked them especially the Pro QD. Is there any issues with the brand or these in particular?

I'm also looking at the Apeks ATX40/ATX40 Octopus and the Aeris ATMOS 2 Computer console. If you have any thoughts on those, I'd love to hear them, but I will post my questions in the appropriate forums.

Thanks!

KaBoOm

[roturner]

I have a pro QD that I use for training and I like it. It's a stable good quality BCD and it will take a fairly large tank without having to wrestle with it. The newer Pro QD has better weight pockets than the old ones. The main thing I don't like about this BCD is pocket access. Access to the pockets with any kind of thick suit on is so useless that I wonder why they even bothered.....Needless to say you will end up not using the pockets.

I've never been diving in a black diamond but In my mind the black diamond is way overdone for singles and way off target for doubles. If you're thinking about the black diamond because of future plans for doubles then I would suggest looking into a bp/wing instead.

R..

[MSilvia]

Seaquest is a standard... most of the rental BCDs I've seen have been seaquest, and my first one was as well. If you progress into more advanced diving, you might find you outgrow it, but it really should be fine for almost any recreational diving needs. I consider SeaQuest stuff to be reliable and adequate. Nothing special, but not particularly prone to problems, except that I always had trouble getting into the pockets.

I dive a different model Apeks reg myself (DS4 1st stage/ATX50 2nd) and have been extremely happy with them. So much so that I own several and have used them for dives as deep as 145' in 38 degree water without any trouble. I think the ATX40 is essentially the same 2nd stage, but without the diver adjustable cracking pressure control. I recommend it without hesitation, and expect you'll never outgrow it.

I find consoles to be bad for streamlining, and wrist mount all my gauges except for a small pressure gauge. That's a matter of personal preference though. I don't have any experience with the Aeris ATMOS 2.

[mossym]

i have a black diamond, i bought it when i started out, it looked to be the best bc for me, however, nowi want to start diving doubles and i'm looking to get a bp/wings, however, the black diamond has served me faultlessly, it has a lot of lift, lots of drings (dir shudder) and nice deep pockets, although they are a bit difficult to use. It's tough as hell, mine gets pretty well looked after and it still looks like new. IF all you are going to want to do is rec diving then it's tough to beat a seaquest..

[skeet]

I have used both the Blackdiamond and Pro QD and Qd + over the past 3 years, I liked every thing about them but had a little trouble with them being to short for me causing my diaphram to be constricted but I still managed for years. Just purchased a Zeagle Ranger, you can piece together diff sizes to fit anyone( mine is large body with x-large shoulder straps) works great. Have used Aqualung reg untill yesterday, tried out my Atomic Aquatics B2, its great. I give rave reviews for the Aeris computers, I use the Atmos Elite.

[teknitroxdiver]

I have the QD+, and it's pretty nice. The pockets are quite hard to get into, and are very bulky for what little they hold. Also, it's heavy as can be out of water.

[KaBoOm]

I have used both the Blackdiamond and Pro QD and Qd + over the past 3 years, I liked every thing about them but had a little trouble with them being to short for me causing my diaphram to be constricted but I still managed for years. Just purchased a Zeagle Ranger, you can piece together diff sizes to fit anyone( mine is large body with x-large shoulder straps) works great. Have used Aqualung reg untill yesterday, tried out my Atomic Aquatics B2, its great. I give rave reviews for the Aeris computers, I use the Atmos Elite.

Thanks for the replys. I really do like the Pro QD and they have one at my LDS in my size.

What kind of cost am I looking at for a Pro QD in the LDS? I'm in Ontario, Canada, but even US pricing gives me an idea if I'm getting a decent price. Are there options for purchasing online or is that a bad idea for me?

Thanks again!

KaBoOM

[teknitroxdiver]

Well, what size do you wear? :D

[KaBoOm]

Well, what size do you wear? :D

XL.... For now.... New Years Resolutions and all!!

[teknitroxdiver]

You can't really see it, but I'm wearing the QD+ in my profile pic, you can see it's not HUGELY bulky, but those pockets are a little fat especially with weights in.

[KaBoOm]

You can't really see it, but I'm wearing the QD+ in my profile pic, you can see it's not HUGELY bulky, but those pockets are a little fat especially with weights in.

That's one of the reasons I liked the Pro QD. The LDS was having a special on the Latitude model, but I don't think it was as high of a quality as the Pro QD. I like the metal D-Rings and such. Less plastic, probably lasts a bit longer too. I'm in this for the long haul, so I'd rather spend a bit more now and get more out of it!

Any thoughts on the regulators and computer I'm looking at?

[teknitroxdiver]

The Apeks regs have been rated as the easiest breathing regs of all, and they're very good for the price. This is what a lot of deco/tec divers use.

The computer sounds good also, I have a poll running in the Computers forum, and most seem to pick it over the other options. I would suggest you look at a wrist mount, and have just an SPG on the HP hose. Or, possibly go with a hoseless computer such as the Atmos elite.

[KaBoOm]

The Apeks regs have been rated as the easiest breathing regs of all, and they're very good for the price. This is what a lot of deco/tec divers use.

The computer sounds good also, I have a poll running in the Computers forum, and most seem to pick it over the other options. I would suggest you look at a wrist mount, and have just an SPG on the HP hose. Or, possibly go with a hoseless computer such as the Atmos elite.

Thanks for all the info. We're probably a little off topic, but what wrist computers are people using? The Atmos elite is probably a bit out of my price range right now. I think I've also decided to take a closer look at the Apeks ATX50. Probably time to visit the LDS and see what all this is going to cost me!

[skeet]

Call Larry at SCUBATOYS.com and give him a chance to help you. He will meet or beat any price and the service is superb.

[teknitroxdiver]

You might see if you LDS has a pool, and if so if they will let you use all the computers that you're interested in, so you can see how you like the interface on them. Most people like Suunto as a #1 brand, and below that it's pretty well evenly spread out. If you have poor eyesight you probably want to steer clear of the watch-size computers, such as the Suunto Stinger. I would suggest that you go ahead and get a nitrox-compatable computer, because odds are you're going to want to use nitrox in the future.

Check out these companies:
www.suunto.com(This site is down at the moment, but it will be back up soon.
www.diverite.com
www.scubatoys.com

I suggest that you compare prices between ScubaToys and your LDS, as ScubaToys has full manufacturer warranties on it's products, so it's just like buying from an LDS, but you probably will save some money.

[mossym]

Suunto are very popular, i have the vyper and love it, and will probably upgrade to the vytec in the future to take care of gas switching..i see suunto's mentioned as much in the threads here as any other wrist computer

[pilot fish]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new diver and just about to purchase my first BCD, regulator and dive computer. I wanted to get your thoughts on the SeaQuest line of BCDs, specifically the Pro QD and the Black Diamond. I had a look at these at my LDS and really liked them especially the Pro QD. Is there any issues with the brand or these in particular?

I'm also looking at the Apeks ATX40/ATX40 Octopus and the Aeris ATMOS 2 Computer console. If you have any thoughts on those, I'd love to hear them, but I will post my questions in the appropriate forums.

Thanks!

KaBoOm

I have the Seaquest Pro QD and love it. It is durable, good lift, great bladder for even lift, nice size pockets and great snap buckles at the shoulder, which makes putting it on and taking it off easier. You might want to look at the air2, reg built into inflator hose, which eliminates the need for an octopus and that long line. For reg I'd look at ScubPro MK25 S600. Gets great reviews.

[teknitroxdiver]

I would stay away from the Air2. If you get that, then you must (well, you should) have a primary hose that's at least as long as an octo hose, so that you can share it with your buddy if need be. But, with that length of hose, you have a humongous loop of hose out to your right size. IMO, it's much better to have two 'real' regulators. There are tons of threads/arguments about this in the Regs section of ScubaBoard.

[MSilvia]

I would stay away from the Air2.
So would I, and I'd be inclined to stay away from potential buddies who use them as well.

It might look like a good idea at first, but think through how you would actually use one while ascending under control during an air share and you might agree that it's easier and more practical to use an octopus.

[teknitroxdiver]

Yep. Keep in mind, when you're breathing off your power inflator, that's going to make some problems on ascent when you need to hold that inflator above you. Of course you could use the shoulder dump, which works unbelievably rapidly on the Pro QD+ (think a fully-filled bungied wing, almost explosive if you've got much air in it, so it's easy to over-do it), but the point still remains: you don't need to have your inflator in your mouth.

[pilot fish]

I would stay away from the Air2. If you get that, then you must (well, you should) have a primary hose that's at least as long as an octo hose, so that you can share it with your buddy if need be. But, with that length of hose, you have a humongous loop of hose out to your right size. IMO, it's much better to have two 'real' regulators. There are tons of threads/arguments about this in the Regs section of ScubaBoard.

Not to get into a long discussion on ths aspect but I think my primary would be able to help a diver adequatly, it's long enough, and I would be able to breath off my inflator while dumping air using my right shoulder dump on Seaquest Pr QD. If I needed to raise my inflator above my head to dump addtional air from BC I could do that while letting air out of my lungs for a moment or two. I'm not getting all the fuss and trepedation?

[teknitroxdiver]

Well, I suppose it isn't a gigantic safety risk, but having a real backup reg doesn't cost any more, and doesn't add much more drag/bulk/hose than the Air2

[Tanked Monkey]

Thanks for all the info. We're probably a little off topic, but what wrist computers are people using? The Atmos elite is probably a bit out of my price range right now. I think I've also decided to take a closer look at the Apeks ATX50. Probably time to visit the LDS and see what all this is going to cost me!

I am a relatively new diver too (25 dives so far, OW certified May 2004), and just bought my first kit. I have a different BC (BP+W), but the rest or my gear is similiar to what you are considering. I am using the Apeks ATX50 for my primary reg, and AT20 for backup reg. I also use the Suunto Gekko, wrist mount. I did 5 dives last weekend on it for the first time, and it was great. Easy to use. Not too much for my current skill level, and it will grow with me as my experience increases. Like you, I did months of research before buying.

The ATX50 / AT20 will probably last me forever. And as my diving get's more advanced, I may get a more advanced computer than the Gekko, but for now it does everything I want/need (even Nitrox). Then the Gekko will be a great backup that I didn't spend too much $$$ on. The major thing the Gekko doesn't have that the Vyper does is a backlight and ability to connect to a PC. The Gekko has indiglow. If I can't read my indiglow gauge because it's too dark, then I should either have lights or shouldn't be diving in those conditions anyway. And I don't need to connect it to a PC, as I can view the profile on the dive computer if I want to see it step-by-step.

PM me if you want more information. Good luck in your research.

Mike

[pilot fish]

Well, I suppose it isn't a gigantic safety risk, but having a real backup reg doesn't cost any more, and doesn't add much more drag/bulk/hose than the Air2

A reg is built into my inflator hose, so isn't that the same thing? That is my backup reg? I might be missng something here?

[teknitroxdiver]

That sounds like a great rig right there, I've been waiting for someone to mention the BP/W setup. This is a setup involving a back-mounted 'wing', a metal backplate, and a continuous strip of weight-belt-like webbing to hold it on to you. These are very streamlined and comfortable. Take a look in the Buoyancy section and you'll find tons of threads about these.

[teknitroxdiver]

A reg is built into my inflator hose, so isn't that the same thing? That is my backup reg? I might be missng something here?
What I meant was a seperate reg. Yes, I suppose you could call an Air2 a backup, seeing as it is a breathing device to 'back up' your primary.

[KaBoOm]

I would definately prefer to have an octopus at this point, that's what I've been using up until now and it just seems a bit simpler for me. I've decided that the Pro QD is the one I'm going with. There is so much to consider when it comes to the regulators. I suppose there are a ton of great models out there! Same with the computers. I think I'm going to go with a wrist model and a separate SPG for now. My wife will kill me otherwise.

Thanks for all your thoughts! Now I have to decide where to get my stuff. Living in Canada, I want to make sure that I have full warranty coverage!

KaBoOM

[scubapro50]

I just purchased a new (used) BC off ebay last month. For $75 (including shipping) I got a SeaQuest Spectrum 4 BC with an airsource oct. attached that new sold for over $400. I was told (and it's true) that SeaQuest BC's run a little small so it's important to know what size fits you. Before you go out and purchase a lot of new equipment read the thread www.scubaboard.com/t70450-.html about how some SCUBA companies (Dacor/Mares) are not honoring their written warranties on products they have produced and don't want to provide parts or service for them anymore.

[pilot fish]

I would definately prefer to have an octopus at this point, that's what I've been using up until now and it just seems a bit simpler for me. I've decided that the Pro QD is the one I'm going with. There is so much to consider when it comes to the regulators. I suppose there are a ton of great models out there! Same with the computers. I think I'm going to go with a wrist model and a separate SPG for now. My wife will kill me otherwise.

Thanks for all your thoughts! Now I have to decide where to get my stuff. Living in Canada, I want to make sure that I have full warranty coverage!

KaBoOM

If you want full warranty coverage, who doesn't?, then stay away from Leisure Pro. You will not get a mfg warranty with the gear [ SeaQuest, ScubaPro, Oceanic, Suunto] you get from them. If you have any doubts about that, call the manufacturer of the gear you are about to buy and ask them? Just make sure you call before you buy any gear from LP. :)

[pilot fish]

What I meant was a seperate reg. Yes, I suppose you could call an Air2 a backup, seeing as it is a breathing device to 'back up' your primary.

IT IS a separate reg, yes? I also like that if my primary gets knocked out of my mouth I have to just reach over, right in front of me, and use my air2 till I locate my primary, if I want.

[Azza]

You have to evaluate what you are using your gear for, and are those uses going to change over time.
The pro QD is not too bad as far as stability jacket type BCD's go. It has weight integration that takes some weight of your hips, and also places weight closer to your centre of gravity and higher up your body so it is possible to acheive the prone position just about naturally whilst underwater. The prone position is the "ideal" position to be in as you are more streamlined, your finning has no effect on your buoyancy and manouvering is easier.
How many divers have you seen swimming along on a 45 degree angle, finning like crazy and going just about nowhere? Their buoyancy is affected by their finning so they tend to be slightly negative, which increases the effort they have to put into their finning, which in turn increases air consumtion, stirs up the nitrogen in the body, stirs up silt and sand from the bottom and basically makes you have a less than optimal dive... and you feel shattered afterwards.
The Pro QD however has pockets that you cannot get into when weight integration is in and /or the jacket is inflated (like on the surface and trying to get your safety sausage out so the boat can find you) and also squeezes you around the middle as you inflate it more.
These problems can be overcome by using the Black Diamond, which is a rear inflation BCD. This BCD will put you in the prone postion naturally, wont squeeze you around the middle and you can access the pockets. However on the down side they are quite big and bulky and have 50 million D-Rings all over it so you look like you just walked out of a piercing studio.
IMHO your best bet is to go for a Backplate and wing type BCD. They are a simple one piece harness with a stainless steel or ali backplate & wing that doesnt restrict or clutter you, they have rear inflation which again is great for the prone position, you can add weight pockets and general pockets onto the waist strap, the backplate lets you take 6lbs of your weight belt and distributes this over more of your body (again great for the prone postion) and best of all, they are infinitly adjustable. You can move D-Rings to suit and you can add different wings for different jobs. You will never out grow it.
No-one can fault Apeks for regs. The TX50 is a great reg and virtually bullet proof. I use the DS$ with an Oceanic second(smaller reg-great) and have done for years.
I too would recomend losing the console. They are bulky, induce drag and hammer the reef as most people let them dangle somewhat. Also the wrist mount computer is easier to read as you simply turn your wrist and the depth is their. Suunto Vypers are a great computer.
Forget about the Air2 mate. They are a ***** to service, they get smashed about (great considering it is a life saving piece of equipment) and smash about reefs and also you have to take it out of your mouth whilst ascending to dump air. Why task load yourself more when you are laready task loaded? They make no sense and really are just the case of dive manufactureres trying to reinvent the wheel. Ask experienced divers if they ever use them?
What you are doing is right - ask questions before you buy. It might save you a few dollars down the track. I know i got burnt in the early days
Regards
Azza

[KaBoOm]

Thanks for the reply Azza. I'm taking a road trip today to hit at least three shops between here and Toronto to compare some prices and see who carrys what. I'm definately going with the SeaQuest Pro QD+. I know I'm getting a quality product because no one really said otherwise and when this many people chime in, it's a miricle! I'll look at that Black Diamond too because I understand the concern about the pockets. Apeks is the reg that I want and at least one of the LDS has quite a few in stock. I'm also going with the wrist dive computer. Larry at Scubatoys.com has them for a great price, so I'll be calling later!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts on this, it sure makes it easier to be able to bounce this kind of stuff off so many different people!

KaBoOM

[Buoyant1]

Snip... I was told (and it's true) that SeaQuest BC's run a little small so it's important to know what size fits you. ...snip

I can actually vouch for the size comment...I was at a local shop and saw an XXL Seaquest..so being a big dude... I tried it to see if it was any different than the XL's I've used...across the front, it seemed to be the same size as most XL's I've used...but it did seem a bit LONGER on my torso.

SO if you're going online, be careful size wise!

[stoiclown]

How tall are you & how much do you weigh? I have the SQ Pro Unlimited & love it, my uncle & dive buddies use the Pro QD. My brother has the SQ Black Diamond, & also loves it. I haven't had much trouble getting into the pockets, it does take some getting used to. I keep a dive lite, 50 lbs lift bag in my pockets. I used the lift bag as a surface signal while I was drift diving.

SQ has a new BCD called the Pro XLT that is based on the Pro QD but has an adjustable waist band, more lift, & the pockets are designed different. Might be worth checking out. I took a look at it @ my LDS along w/ the Black Diamond. The new XLT has the same pocket layout as the Black Diamond. Both look like great BCD. The Pro will keep you more vertical @ the surface, but if that doesn't bother you.

I use the Air 2, w/ a longer primary hose. I like it because it's one less hose, & it can be removed & placed on another SQ BCD. I also use a Suunto Vytec w/ wireless tranmitter. So I only have 2 hoses.

The reason I asked about yur size is that I am 6' 4" & weigh 240 lbs. Originally my LDS tried to steer me into an XL, but as I am lossing weight I went w/ A Large. So depending on how big you are you could size yourself out of your BCD.

[wunat]

I have a ProQD+. A good BC. Can't really think of any negative characteristics on it performance-wise. But it is a bit bulky and heavy.

I have switched to BP+Wing and is using it more. I love the performance it provides. Might want to take a look.

My ProQD+ is currently sitting as a spare.

Ciao,

[Charlie99]

The Pro QD however has pockets that you cannot get into when weight integration is in and /or the jacket is inflated (like on the surface and trying to get your safety sausage out so the boat can find you) and also squeezes you around the middle as you inflate it more.
How a BC fits and works for you is a very personal thing.

I have an older velcro pocket Pro QD and have no trouble getting stuff in and out of the pockets, even with 8# of lead in each weight pouch. I keep EMT shears, a PCa 7.2Watt light, and a small sausage/dsmb and 30' of line in the right pocket; and gloves, a knife, whistle, and combo slate/signal mirror, and sometimes a 200ml juice pack (for mid-dive refreshment) in the other pocket. Also a snorkel into left pocket when diving on Florida Keys boats that require it. Everthing in the right pocket is clipped off to a pin-mount D-ring with a bungee loop.

At 6'0", 185#, both the M/L and L size fit me reasonably, but I went with the smaller M/L size. I like the ProQD enough that I bought a second one when duplicating most of my gear a couple years ago.


KaBoOm, you really need to try BCs out for fit. In the water if at all possible.

Charlie

[Derek S]

I have a ProQD+, great BC, it just can't touch a BP/W in terms of comfort, flexibility, ect.

So needless to say, my ProQD+ is collecting dust hanging up on my gear rack after only 5 fresh water quarry/lake dives. I may put it up on E-Bay soon as I don't think I'll be using it again.

[aquasport]

I have proqd and its a great bc but its bulky when you have to pack.

[GottaDive!]

I've had my PRO QD+ for about two years now. It is the one I certified with and I am quite comfortable in it. I am 6'1" and 245 lbs. and I take the XL size. This thing is as rugged as can be. I've logged nearly 100 dives in fresh and salt water and it looks as new as the day I bought it. I highly recommend this BC.

[stormrider]

I'm considering to upgrade from my current BC (SeaQuest Pro) and am choosing between the Balance and the Black Diamond.

I'm based here in the tropics, so added weights are not an issue for me. I only use two 2-lbs lead weights which I usually place on each side inside the Pro's pockets. I'll do the same with my next BC.

I love my current BC, but am contemplating on an upgrade.

What are the pros and cons of the Balance and the Black Diamond?

Thanks.

[jmps]

I'm considering to upgrade from my current BC (SeaQuest Pro) and am choosing between the Balance and the Black Diamond.

I'm based here in the tropics, so added weights are not an issue for me. I only use two 2-lbs lead weights which I usually place on each side inside the Pro's pockets. I'll do the same with my next BC.

I love my current BC, but am contemplating on an upgrade.

What are the pros and cons of the Balance and the Black Diamond?

Thanks.

I have the Balance and like the freedom it gives. It is pretty minimal and that is the way I like it. It now comes with a pull dump on both shoulders which helps if you have air trapped on one side or the other since it is not a doughnut wing. The Black Diamond seemed more than I needed but I never tried one. The Balance does have a lot of lift that you wouldn't need in the tropics. You might look at other less lift BI BCs if that concerns you at all. You might also look at the Aeris Reef Rider. I did like that but it didn't hold enough weidht for my 7mm cold water diving up here in Chicago and I wanted something for both cold and warm given my current budget.

[roturner]

I love my current BC, but am contemplating on an upgrade.


Why?

R..

[Code Monkey]

I absolutely love my Pro QD. Have had it for 6 years and 160 dives now and, assuming that I ever have to replace it, I will replace it with another.

[mack50md]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to get your thoughts on the SeaQuest line of BCDs, specifically the Pro QD and the Black Diamond. I had a look at these at my LDS and really liked them especially the Pro QD. Is there any issues with the brand or these in particular?

I have a Pro QD+. 50 dives on it and no problems. Good for heavy wetsuits and cold water. Plenty of weight capacity and plenty of lift. Not a great traveller. A bit heavy and bulky. Bought a Genesis Tropic a year later to travel with to warm water destinatons.

[razor218]

i have a pro qd + and find it a great bc.brought it off the dive shop owner who had it for 2 years and i used it as well in that time.still looks great and preformes great.the black dimond is a great bc and a few instructors who work for us have it.if you are looking at using doubles in the future the seaquest raider is the way to go.easy set up for singles or doubles and it looks coooooool as well.gota look cool as well,lol

[willardj]

I have a SQ Predator I got back in '95 still works great. SQ makes very good BCD's. I use it just about as much as my OMS bp/w.