Tec Diving BCD

[Jeremy Williams]

I didn't see the angst or the railing. The OP asked a question on a social media forum in hopes of getting opinions from people with more experience. That's what he got. If you have contrary opinions, it's fine to share them too (which you have been doing).

Or should we just go with "dive and let dive"...?

Perhaps I do read in more angst than is fair. The internet is a notoriously bad at communicating subtleties. I did post with my opinion because I think it is helpful to hear from someone who doesn’t prefer the continuous harness. And in this case that kinda like the ScubaPro wing. I’m actually out diving. Trying to upload a pic but it isn’t working. Will share later.

 

[johndiver999]

All this over a disagreement over what “standard” means? Anybody know how to say standard in Latin, maybe that would help.

 

[doctormike]

The internet is a notoriously bad at communicating subtleties.

 

[johndiver999]

Those guys kill me!

 

[Jason Hunter]

It sounds like you will be taking the PADI Tec Deep program. For clarification, the courses are Tec 40, Tec 45, and Tec 50.

Scubapro does have their X-TEK line, but I think most of the products are over-priced and of poor design. This opinion is based on diving with the X-TEK equipment line. I think the largest purchasers of the X-TEK line are recreational divers that like the looks...and I feel that is the market Scubapro was going for with this line.

While I don't personally prefer them, I am not against technical harness designs. Unfortunately the Scubapro X-TEK Form harness is just a very poor design. I can't imagine that any serious technical diver had input into this product. It has fixed shoulder D-Rings, wide shoulders so you cannot add items that fit on standard 2-inch webbing, padding that can't be removed if desired, extra thick D-Rings, etc. Look at an Apeks WTX Harness if you are looking for a technical harness design.

The X-TEK back plates are of high quality. They are priced similar to other major brands (Apeks, Halcyon, etc). You can get a basic back plate from a number of retailers for a lot less, but the Scubapro back plate is of high quality and finish.

The X-TEK Pure harness is just 2-inch webbing and hardware. Priced similar to other major brands (Apeks, Halcyon, etc). The buckle is fine, the webbing is fine, but for some reason Scubapro feels the need to add thick diameter D-rings. Other than to look "beefy", these thicker D-Rings serve no real purpose.

I have used the X-Tek 40-lb donut wing for doubles. My biggest complaint on this is they use their standard Balanced Power Inflator which has two covers on the back side. I have had one of these covers come off the inflator while diving. I think it is a stupid design to put on a technical wing. A standard K-style 45-degree Power Inflator is all that is needed and has less failure points.

There are just too many choices for appropriately designed equipment than to settle for the Scubapro X-Tek line. Other than the back plate, I don't recommend any other item from that product line. If you are looking at major manufacturers, you have Halcyon, Apeks, DiveRite, XDeep, HOG, OMS, OxyCheq, and a few others that you can look at. There was a link to DiveGear Express in an earlier reply. That was for a single tank wing which is not what you asked about. However navigate the category and you will see they have a doubles package for less than $500.

I was just looking at the Apeks Gear today.

 

[Jason Hunter]

Thanks for all the info. It is the TecRec 40/45/50. Head down to a school in Vero Beach.

You’ll have given me much to consider. I have been happy with my SP Rec gear but I figured there was other Tec Gear considerations.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[The Chairman]

All this over a disagreement over what “standard” means? Anybody know how to say standard in Latin, maybe that would help.

I think it's "Hogarthius simplicitus"...

Thanks for all the info. It is the TecRec 40/45/50. Head down to a school in Vero Beach.

Welcome to the Tech Forum. Lots of experience on ScubaBoard, and much of it is quite passionate. I actually love the back and forth between @JohnnyC and @loosenit2 because of their passion and their confidence. Both are right. Both are wrong. Yeah, they're starting to "play the man and not ball" a bit, but that's sometimes a part of the discussion in the Tech Forum. Experience means a lot to a diver, but it's not a fail safe by any means. There are some highly regarded divers that don't impress me in the water a bit.

Personally, I have seen many, many tech divers that have not been in Hogarthian gear, so calling it a "standard" is a bit of a stretch. The purist in me finds their over-complicated set-ups to be disturbing. The innovator in me critically evaluates but still applauds the attempts. Unfortunately, I can't remember the last non-Hogarthian diver that ever impressed me as being fluid and competent in the water. Not many Hogarthian divers impress me either, but there are a few. It's still my opinion that back-mounted twin sets should be learned in a Hogarthian style kit. It should be the de-facto standard for many reasons. After you get a few hundred dives in that, then start modifying it to your tastes and develop your style. It's been a while since I've dove my slightly modified Hogarthian rig. I prefer side mount in the caves and Ocean based tech doesn't interest me much. There are some Hogarthian aspects to my SF2 rebreather, but don't be fooled: a rebreather is non-Hogarthian from the start.

In any event, you'll want the blessing of your tech instructor on your gear choices. If you've chosen one, then they should help you to determine what kind of gear they want you in. They'll probably be fine with you showing up in Hogarthian kit, and I would be leery of them if they had much of an issue with that. You'll hear it called "DIR" or old school from time to time and that's OK. I endured lots of abuse since I adopted it around the turn of the century. It's solid. It's simple. It's robust. It's all you need for back-mount. I'm not sure why it upsets people so that we love it, but that seems to be the case. No, I'm not a DIR or GUE diver, though I've appeared in one of their promos. I don't even wear a BP&Wing as my single back mount solution any more, though it's so close to being one that many assume it is. In any event, even when it comes to tech diving, I'm still a Dive and let Dive kind of guy. Unless you ask my opinion about your non-standard setup, I'll keep my judgements to myself. However, if you do ask my opinion, don't get bent when I give it to you. You may not like what you're gonna hear and I'll be fine if you ignore it completely.

 

[divezonescuba]

There is only one PADI tec school in Vero Beach. The course director/instructor trainer/ tec instructor there does not require one piece webbing harnesses. He is a very reasonable competent knowledgeable person.

It is a great facility. People go there from all over the country. I was able to stay in one of the dorm rooms for free. They allow you to do that depending on availability and what courses you are taking. They also sort of feed you there, if you don’t mind what is in the refrigerator. There is a grocery store and macdonalds next door. If you have any juice left over at the end of the day, you can use the on site salt water pool to fine tune your gear.

If you have VA benefits, it’s the only place to go.

 

[electric_diver]

I disagree with JohnnyC

Shoulder pads are useful if you walk anywhere with the tanks on your back. ie From the car to the boat, ladders, stairs shore entries and exits etc. They spread the load on your shoulders.

Having participated in the rescue of a dir compliant individual I consider quick releases on the shoulder to be essential. The arguments about failure points and plastic just don't outweigh the ability to get someone out of their harness quickly.

 

[doctormike]

I disagree with JohnnyC

Having participated in the rescue of a dir compliant individual I consider quick releases on the shoulder to be essential. The arguments about failure points and plastic just don't outweigh the ability to get someone out of their harness quickly.

Not sure what you mean. Every DIR diver that I have seen has had some sort of quick release, and I always carry my own just in case...