New BP/W?

[kurtguy]

I am looking at buying a new BP/W and I was told to pick up an Oxycheq system for about $550 but I am leaning toward the Halcyon Infinity $800. I know it is a couple 100more but from what I have read about it I think the Halcyon is the way to go. Is it worth the extra couple of hundred or should I stick to the Oxycheq? I am planning to move into tech diving specializing in Wrecks so I will need a BP/W system. I will start out with single tank eventually moving to duals.

Also, I am planning a dive off the coast of Kauai in a couple of weeks, any advice on how to get up nice and close with the humpbacks?

Kurtguy.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Why is the Halcyon BP/W "the way to go"?
Do you already own all of your other gear? If not, the extra money you would be spending on the Halcyon system might be better spent on a reg, drysuit, etc.

 

[kjvander]

Also look at dive rite and deep sea supply. Two other good manufacturers.

 

[Jax]

+1 on DeepSeaSupply. Tobin is on the board here as cool_hardware52. He's outfitted an awful lot of divers. He stands behind his products, too.

 

[LenC]

Why do you need a system? Get the back plate you like the best, build a harness out of webing and hardware and get the wing which fits your dive style. Nothing says you can't put a diverite wing on a halcyon plate.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Why do you need a system? Get the back plate you like the best, build a harness out of webing and hardware and get the wing which fits your dive style. Nothing says you can't put a diverite wing on a halcyon plate.

Not all the plates and wings have the same hole spacing, so there is some limitation to mixing and matching. Or at least that was the case when I bought mine, which was quite awhile ago. Anyway do check for things like that if you mix and match.

For the OP Halcyons are nice but as you have found out realtively expensive. You likely would be pleased with a Halcyon, but a DSS or OMS might be just as good.

As far as getting close to the humpbacks you will have to have luck. I remember hearing them sing on my first dive in Hawaii -- so nice.

 

[Rascally Rabbit]

You got some good advise about the Oxycheq their wings are second to none.
Considering that, the question becomes why would the Halcyon be worth more?
Do you favor the Halcyon Harness?
Unless that is the case and you consider it worth the extra cash then you have your answer.

 

[TSandM]

I've heard mixed reviews on the Cinch system. It looks like a nice convenience, but apparently it can be quite finicky about exactly how you unload the system to loosen the harness, so it's not as though you can stand next to your car and loosen it up. Some people have said that as the material ages, it gets sticky.

I have never found it that hard to get in and out of a properly adjusted harness (which is looser than you would think) so spending the extra money on a quick-release system doesn't pencil out for me.

I do think there are a lot of alternatives to Halcyon and Oxycheq, but if I were going to choose one of those two, I'd buy Halcyon, because their customer service reputation is excellent (something one cannot say about Oxycheq). But you don't have to go all the way to the top-of-the-line Infinity system.

 

[Scott L]

+1

Can't go wrong with Halcyon's basic system. You can always add the cinch system in the future if desired for $99.00. The other elements of the Infinity System is superfluous padding, etc., which is unneeded buoyancy.

 

[Teamcasa]

+1 For Deep Sea Supply. Tobin is a man of integrity and will make sure you have what you need.

Kauai? Try and get over to Niihau - the absolute best diving in all of Hawaii. IMHO