Mares new BCs

[janapetr]

Has anyone had an opportunity to try the "Airtrim" BCs of Mares? The Diamond (2001 catalogue) looks great. And so would the price I quess.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Hello janapetr,
I haven't looked at the Airtrim just yet, but I'm boarding a plane for DEMA tomorrow, and would be happy to take a closer look for you. What kind of diving do you do? Any extra gear you take along like lights, reals, safety equ. etc? The more info you can give me the better I'll be able to share my opinion.

 

[janapetr]

I do not carry anything special I think - a slate, a knife, two lights, a camera, a deco buoy. I am thinking about that little reserve tank 0,4 l. I dive within recreational limits, cold water.

About Aitrim I liked the idea of not having to hold the inflator up each time you need to deflate it. However, it seems to be a new system and who knows whether it proves.

Thanks for having a look.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Looks like you carry enough with you to want to have some versatility in how you carry it. Therefore you will most likely need a few different options, and therefore quite a few places to attach things.

As for pull dumps which is what I gather you are talking about, I absolutely love them and have been using them for years. Simply pulling on your inflator opens a valve on your shoulder, making it much more effiecient to dump. I'll take a look at the rig at DEMA, which I am leaving for shortly, I'll get back with you in a few days.

 

[Bubbles-old]

I just ordered the Dragonfly Mares BC which is an Air Trim model. I like the way it is supposed to function as well plus its diversity for gear attachment. I am a XL and the shop only had a large so I haven't been in the water with it yet. The guy who used the same system on a HUB BC really liked it. They've been around a while now so I think the science is dependable, it dumps air via positive pressure meaning you can't use the release button unless air is hooked up. There is a typical shoulder pull in case you get into a bind. It could take a couple weeks to get to me but I will post a review after I swim a few times with it.

 

[50sdiver]

Mad Mario
How would a positive pressure device work to dump air from the BC? The idea seems nice but how does it work?
50's diver.

 

[bottomdweller]

The Dragon-Fly looks pretty nice, did you consider the Synchro-Power Tech.

 

[Mario S Caner]

50's diver, I haven't used the system yet, so I really don't know how well it works. Is there anyone else with first hand knowledge of the system?

 

[Madder_Than_Hell]

I've been diving with the Mares Dragonfly for the past few week. I really like the double inflation system, (part back and jacket inflation) It is very easy to maintain neutral buoyancy with it. Although on the surface if you fully inflate the BC it tends to push me forward. Just a slight leaning back does the trick. I've heard of spontaneous dumping of the weights, but have never had that problem with a Mares BC. I did have that problem a few times with the IDI Ballistic. Didn't take long to get rid of that one. I did try the Techno Power Sync. It just seemed bulky, and the commerbund never seemed to fit properly. The XL seemed like a small, when the rest of the BC felt like a XXL.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Hello Madder_Than_Hell, welcome to the boards. I was just wondering wht type of specific problems you had with the IDI B.C. I've heard some good and some bad on them, but never had one in the water... just curious I guess.