Cressi Commander, Oceanic Excursion, Scubapro Hydros Pro?

[CapnBloodbeard]

Gday Scubafamily,

In the market for my first BC purchase, warm and temperate water diving, including travel (I know the weights of them all).

No, I'm not going to buy a BP/W (I can hear the collective disappointment in my life decisions already).

So, looking at these 3. I know the Excursion and Commander are very similiar - Commander is a little lighter, though I notice the air bladder is only 420D vs 1600D on the Excursion.
Commander apparently has the harness system is completely independent from the air bladder in the shoulder pad area too, giving the vest absolute stability on the diver's body, if that actually means anything or makes a difference.

Then Hydros Pro...well, there's a 50+ page thread on it. Some love it, some hate it, I'm aware of its issues though I think most are resolved.

I dived an Excursion today. It was fine...my trim was way off (I was reverse prawning - legs too high) but I've never had that sorted out yet anyway, so I guess that's nothing to do with the BCD....my right shoulder dump wasn't working at all, not sure if any Excursion users have feedback there?

I may have the chance to dive a Commander in a couple of days, doubt I'd get to dive a Hydros....

 

[happy-diver]

Cressi Travelight 2.0 buy and offers on Scubastore

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

Cressi Travelight 2.0 buy and offers on Scubastore

Jacket, no thanks

 

[happy-diver]

Cressi Patrol buy and offers on Scubastore

 

[BoltSnap]

Scubapro Hydros Pro

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

I've dived both the Excursion and the Commander.....they're almost identical, but I didn't like the positioning of the right shoulder dump on the latter, and it had a right butt dump while the Excursion had a left one; I like to use a gopro, so left suits me better. I did like how on the Commander the trim weights can be moved around the tank, but no biggie. Inflator is a little different too.

I think I'll go the Excursion.

 

[FezUSA]

Can only speak on the Hydros Pro as that's what I have and the only BCD I've used other than renting a Cressi for the first few years/ 75 dives or so. If BP/W isn't your thing, and you know you don't want a jacket style, then the Hydros Pro is a great, albeit pricey option. Under the same circumstances I would buy it again. You have the flexibility of diving integrated or minimal. You have a great material with the monoprene and the rest of the design. The wing is big enough for most if not all rec. diving, yet small enough to be streamlined and out of the way. The bottom line is that it just works. Are there others out there competing against it? Sure, but I doubt you'll dive the HP and be thinking you should have bought something else. In fact once you have a few dives done with it and set it the way you want it you will pretty much just forget about it and dive. Which is the way it should be!

 

[inquis]

I don't understand why you would exclude a BP/W but then say the Hydros is a top contender. A Hydros is effectively an expensive BP with a non-webbing harness. They even tout the "modular" nature as an advantage over other (traditional) BCs, though clearly not to the degree of a real BP/W. You still have to find a solution to carrying "stuff", as there are no pockets.

Edit: in keeping with your exact question, the Hydros would be a good choice (again, having some of the BPW advantages). I think there are still better choices, but you didn't ask that.

 

[happy-diver]

I think I'll go the Excursion.

 

[CapnBloodbeard]

your purpose in posting this was.....?

If you're not interested in the continued discussion then do what everybody else does and leave the thread.

I chose to post my conclusions for the benefit of anybody in the future looking up these models.

Can only speak on the Hydros Pro as that's what I have and the only BCD I've used other than renting a Cressi for the first few years/ 75 dives or so. If BP/W isn't your thing, and you know you don't want a jacket style, then the Hydros Pro is a great, albeit pricey option. Under the same circumstances I would buy it again. You have the flexibility of diving integrated or minimal. You have a great material with the monoprene and the rest of the design. The wing is big enough for most if not all rec. diving, yet small enough to be streamlined and out of the way. The bottom line is that it just works. Are there others out there competing against it? Sure, but I doubt you'll dive the HP and be thinking you should have bought something else. In fact once you have a few dives done with it and set it the way you want it you will pretty much just forget about it and dive. Which is the way it should be!

thanks...yeah, it was tricky, the hydros is tempting. I was happy with what I did get to dive, but a couple of minor preference choices in the layout of the BC kept my my way - though if anybody else digs this thread up later I'm sure comments like yours would be helpful.

And while I know the straps have now been upgraded, I was still left with some concerns - especially knowing my area and long shore/pier walks (and the abuse the BC will probably cop on liveaboards).

Ordered mine now, so it's all good. I tried on a few others - absolutely hated the Aqualung ones, they felt extremely cumbersome, and I didn't really like the compromised features on the travel-dedicated models.

Got about 30 liveaboard dives on the Great Barrier Reef booked later this year (though with covid, all plans are always pencilled in!), and my AOW in a week and a half, so I'll be putting it through its paces soon enough. We'll see how happy I am with it then