Thanks a lot for your input everyone!
I somehow had anticipated some of you guys would talk me into going the hog way. I can see I wasn't wrong! Thing is I really like its simplicity, but I'm trying to be practical here. I picture myself trying to get rid of the thing in the water OR climbing up the ladder with the whole rig on. Neither alternative seems attractive at all! With the adjustable it would be as easy as with a regular jacket-style BCD, I guess. If most of my dives where from the shore, I'd probably get the hog harness, but in fact most of them are from a boat on a rough sea
I've read many divers here end up using the hog harness after they've used the comfort models for a time. This maybe my case... in the future!
Frogman159: thanks a lot for explaining your donning technique in detail. This is the kind of info I need!
coldsmoke: the way I decide how much weight I need is I empty my BC on the surface and use just enough weight to be able to sink heads up. If I did it your way, I'd have to fin my way down, which I should avoid in order not to damage my ears any more.
Finally, I'm going to get one thigh pocket, either Oxy or DR. Do you recommend one over another?
I somehow had anticipated some of you guys would talk me into going the hog way. I can see I wasn't wrong! Thing is I really like its simplicity, but I'm trying to be practical here. I picture myself trying to get rid of the thing in the water OR climbing up the ladder with the whole rig on. Neither alternative seems attractive at all! With the adjustable it would be as easy as with a regular jacket-style BCD, I guess. If most of my dives where from the shore, I'd probably get the hog harness, but in fact most of them are from a boat on a rough sea
I've read many divers here end up using the hog harness after they've used the comfort models for a time. This maybe my case... in the future!
Frogman159: thanks a lot for explaining your donning technique in detail. This is the kind of info I need!
coldsmoke: the way I decide how much weight I need is I empty my BC on the surface and use just enough weight to be able to sink heads up. If I did it your way, I'd have to fin my way down, which I should avoid in order not to damage my ears any more.
Finally, I'm going to get one thigh pocket, either Oxy or DR. Do you recommend one over another?