opinons on BC

[emoreira]

I am searching for a BC and I've seen this one :
ScubaMax Altima JX200 Buoyancy Compensator
Any opinions about it ?

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Good price point, but it ends there.

If you trying to go with a Jacket Style BC and keep costs down, at least try to go Wght Integrated. IMO, weight integrated is safer than weight belt and holds the BC down a little more which gives a little better control in the water which is worth the extra money.

Here is an example of an Economical Jacket style, Wght Integrated, BC (Oceanic OceanPro):

[it_mike]

It looks like a good, entry level, jacket BC. The $165 price point would be hard to beat. With trim pockets, it allows you to move some of the weight off your hips, and it advertises a molded backplate, potentially adding stability. The wrap-around bladder seems to have been limited to under the arms, which should reduce squeeze.

If you have to go the jacket route, it looks like a good starting point.

[Damselfish]

Weight integrated isn't better or safer than not WI, it's just a matter of preference and what works for someone's diving.

To OP - you've seen it, but why are you interested in it? Are you looking at this one because of it's price, it's availability to you, something about it's features, or what exactly? Someone might be able to tell you if this one is at least decent quality, and what they like or dislike about it. But there are folks out there who love and hate every BC ever made, and only you can figure out if it suits your diving, fits you, and is the style you prefer. So if you haven't already - which I'm guessing since you give no details of your diving or what you're looking for - I would suggest trying to figure out what you really want in a BC, then see how you can get the best deal on something like that.

But practically speaking, even if this isn't the perfect BC for you, it's cheap. I've seen a few other new BCs being sold for under $200US. In that price range you have little to lose. You will have saved money over renting in no time. And you'll have gained a little experience and have a better idea of what you want. If you don't like it or develop different preferences, you can sell this one and not be out much money. If you were talking about a very expensive BC, it's worth putting in a little more effort to make sure you will like it for awhile.

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Weight integrated isn't better or safer than not WI

I think that we'll have to agree to disagree. We have a pool at our shop and have divers test dive gear before they buy and I have yet to have someone say that the WI is Not better especially from a comfort stand point.
As far as safety, in the unlikely event you were to lose your WB underwater (which I have seen on numerous occasions), you lose the whole thing. Where as since the manufacturers got away from Velcro Weight pockets & went to buckle designs, it is rare that someone loses a pocket and if they were to, it is only a fraction of the weight oppose to the whole thing.

I guess in the end, "different strokes for different folks!"

[Damselfish]

Weight integrated isn't better or safer than not WI

I think that we'll have to agree to disagree. We have a pool at our shop and have divers test dive gear before they buy and I have yet to have someone say that the WI is Not better especially from a comfort stand point.
As far as safety, in the unlikely event you were to lose your WB underwater (which I have seen on numerous occasions), you lose the whole thing. Where as since the manufacturers got away from Velcro Weight pockets & went to buckle designs, it is rare that someone loses a pocket and if they were to, it is only a fraction of the weight oppose to the whole thing.

I guess in the end, "different strokes for different folks!"

I didn't say it is more or less safe. I didn't say it is better or worse. Believe it or not, I actually have WI and love it. But I would not insist to anyone, especially someone relatively new, that what was right for me or in my experience was absolutely right for everyone, that is doing them a disservice. It's no better than insisting a BP/W is absolutely the right answer for everyone. Everyplace is not the pool. Everyplace is not where you dive.

[cwkline]

Good price point, but it ends there.

If you trying to go with a Jacket Style BC and keep costs down, at least try to go Wght Integrated. IMO, weight integrated is safer than weight belt and holds the BC down a little more which gives a little better control in the water which is worth the extra money.

Here is an example of an Economical Jacket style, Wght Integrated, BC (Oceanic OceanPro):

So you think this is safer than my BP/W with a weight belt? I don't see how that could be, please explain.

[emoreira]

The device that gives me more safety is my brain.

[emoreira]

I want to thank to all the people that took time to answer my post and gave it's uninterested feedback.

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

So you think this is safer than my BP/W with a weight belt? I don't see how that could be, please explain.

Safety does also come in a divers comfort. If your BP/W w/weight-belt works for you then great. I believe that my perspective is considering divers as a whole, oppose to the small that do things perfect all the time. IMO, I prefer not to use weight belts, primarily because I have seen way to many divers lose/drop them underwater. Four or five years ago we switch over to WI BC's for our O/W Rental line. The proof is in the pudding, since switching over we haven't had one diver lose weight underwater. Before then we would see divers not tighten the belt enough or accidentally hit the buckle, who knows what divers do, but we would see these things happen. I feel that as the sport/gear progresses, why shouldn't the divers with the gear they use. I dive a BP/W myself and it is the #1 BC in our store, so I am a big fan. My preference for that setup is for divers to go with either WI system or Trim Weight pockets on the back cam straps (non dumpable weight is a whole other discussion). For divers that use a more basic BC I just feel that there are way too many advantages to WI that out weigh not going to that direction.