Paddler_46
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Disclaimer: We are in no way, shape or form qualified to give a professional review of Diving Equipment. We are newly cerified Open Water divers, with only 11 dives under our belts. With this said, here is our opinions of dive gear we recently purchased at Diver's Supply, and dove with three times, for a total of 3 hours usage.
The BCDs: Sea Elite Tech BCD with 60 lb bladder.
We had rented Dive Rite Transpac II BCs for one of our previous dives and loved them. This BC is a near clone of the Transpac. The only differences we can see are the use of a cumberbund instead of a web belt, the weight integrated pouches and front pockets are part of the harness, rather than options added to the web belt on the Transpac. The BC's are constructed of 1000 denier cordura, have 8 2" D rings whose placement makes it easy to clip down dangling acessories. The bladders are inter-changable with sizes of 60, 85 and dual 85. We don't believe the lift rating on the 60, it is probably more like a 38-40 but this is just a guess. The flow rates from both the top and lower dump were rapid, and did not seem to trap air. Overall we are very pleased with the performance, comfort and features of these BCD's. Cost $300
The Regulators: Dacor Viper Tek & Dacor Viper Octo
We liked the smaller size and side exhaust of the Viper regs. We seemed to experience less jaw fatigue than with a normal sized requlators. Flow rates were good. (but our deepest dive was only 55 ft.) We did have one Reg and one Octo experience air leakage ( bubbles coming out of the exhaust port ). We returned to Diver's Supply and both were adjusted. Not sure if this can be attributed to the regs, but we seemed to experience less dry mouth then we remember from other regs we have used. One nice thing about the Viper Octo is you don't have to worry about "is it upside down?" when passing it to an out of air buddy. Overall we are pleased with our choices of regs, but we are a bit conserned that they were not adjusted properly before we took them out. Cost $400
The Console: Dacor Supreme PSI/Depth/Compas/Temp
Small size. Wish the Pressure guage was a bit larger, and wish the max Depth recorder needle had a knurled knob to use to reset it back to zero (this one you have to have strong thumbnails or a dime). Cost $160
Feedback welcome.
Steve & Margo
Jr. Underwater Adventurers
The BCDs: Sea Elite Tech BCD with 60 lb bladder.
We had rented Dive Rite Transpac II BCs for one of our previous dives and loved them. This BC is a near clone of the Transpac. The only differences we can see are the use of a cumberbund instead of a web belt, the weight integrated pouches and front pockets are part of the harness, rather than options added to the web belt on the Transpac. The BC's are constructed of 1000 denier cordura, have 8 2" D rings whose placement makes it easy to clip down dangling acessories. The bladders are inter-changable with sizes of 60, 85 and dual 85. We don't believe the lift rating on the 60, it is probably more like a 38-40 but this is just a guess. The flow rates from both the top and lower dump were rapid, and did not seem to trap air. Overall we are very pleased with the performance, comfort and features of these BCD's. Cost $300
The Regulators: Dacor Viper Tek & Dacor Viper Octo
We liked the smaller size and side exhaust of the Viper regs. We seemed to experience less jaw fatigue than with a normal sized requlators. Flow rates were good. (but our deepest dive was only 55 ft.) We did have one Reg and one Octo experience air leakage ( bubbles coming out of the exhaust port ). We returned to Diver's Supply and both were adjusted. Not sure if this can be attributed to the regs, but we seemed to experience less dry mouth then we remember from other regs we have used. One nice thing about the Viper Octo is you don't have to worry about "is it upside down?" when passing it to an out of air buddy. Overall we are pleased with our choices of regs, but we are a bit conserned that they were not adjusted properly before we took them out. Cost $400
The Console: Dacor Supreme PSI/Depth/Compas/Temp
Small size. Wish the Pressure guage was a bit larger, and wish the max Depth recorder needle had a knurled knob to use to reset it back to zero (this one you have to have strong thumbnails or a dime). Cost $160
Feedback welcome.
Steve & Margo
Jr. Underwater Adventurers
