SeaQuest Pro QD i3 evaluation...
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formula1mb@aol.com
Contributor
I did attach a single tank adapter so I can use twin cambands and it fit fine-----the plastic backplate has the standard 11" bolt hole spacing. So if you have a set of twins, you can just attach them direct I would think.
In the manual they mention something about a twin adapter kit but never seen anything, tried looking it up and zero----guessing they don't make it anymore.
In the manual they mention something about a twin adapter kit but never seen anything, tried looking it up and zero----guessing they don't make it anymore.
the only non real issue i have seen comes in with a drysuit. with a standard inflator hose you reach up with your left hand and dump air and your drysuit valve dumps well like this but reaching down to the i3 control the drysuit valve doesnt work as well but you can just grab the manual dump valve on the bcd at the neck.
ploppytheslopper
New
Yes there is a kit, It consists of a molded plastic piece which attaches to your BCD backplate. You then thread your existing tank band through together with a new one supplied. and attach your tanks with the tank straps in the normal way.
I sent mine back for the following reason.
The whole thing attaches to your BCD back plate with one 5/16" screw. I didn't like the idea of the weight of twin 10 steelies hanging on one screw, holding a plastic adapter piece to a plastic back plate. I know the plastic is probably very strong and rugged it's just my thoughts.
for that reason i would have a real good look at the kit, before buying it.
If you plan to swap between singles and doubles on a regular basis the threading and unthreading of tank bands is tedious.
I bought the adapter about 9 months ago, from Aquanaut Australia.
I am sure I got a picture of it off the net but can't remember where. i will put my thinking cap on and if I can find it I will post a pic or link
regards and
Live long and dive well.
ploppytheslopper
in the land of Oz.
ploppytheslopper
New
Ploppytheslopper in the land of Oz.
I have had a pro qdi3 for nearly 3 years. A great BCD (The only one I have ever owned, started diving late in life)
I did have a problem a couple months after buying it, The lower rear dump valve stuck on open, which rendered the inflate/deflate function useless.
On inspection I determined that the nylon push rod that operates the valve had slipped from it's seating. the seating is a hole about 1mm deep in a nylon spring loaded block in the valve housing. Not only had it slipped from the seating it had jammed under the block, holding it open. I feel that had it not jammed under the nylon block that the spring loading would have closed the valve allowing oral inflation and manual deflation via the oral inflator.
A failure of this kind could lead to major problems at deeper depths particularly if you are negatively bouyant. (In oz we pronounce it boy-ant)
To this end I always, ALWAYS.....carry an oceanic zippered PSD, It can be used as a safety and bouyancy aid at the surface as well as in a rescue situations. It is inflated and deflated via a mouthpiece similar to the oral inflator on the Pro qdi3. and in a critical situation could be used in a freewater ascent to control bouyancy.
I had the BCD looked at by the supplier, who deemed it to be okay, no probs.
But it's my life not theirs.
Live long and dive well
ploppytheslopper
I have had a pro qdi3 for nearly 3 years. A great BCD (The only one I have ever owned, started diving late in life)
I did have a problem a couple months after buying it, The lower rear dump valve stuck on open, which rendered the inflate/deflate function useless.
On inspection I determined that the nylon push rod that operates the valve had slipped from it's seating. the seating is a hole about 1mm deep in a nylon spring loaded block in the valve housing. Not only had it slipped from the seating it had jammed under the block, holding it open. I feel that had it not jammed under the nylon block that the spring loading would have closed the valve allowing oral inflation and manual deflation via the oral inflator.
A failure of this kind could lead to major problems at deeper depths particularly if you are negatively bouyant. (In oz we pronounce it boy-ant)
To this end I always, ALWAYS.....carry an oceanic zippered PSD, It can be used as a safety and bouyancy aid at the surface as well as in a rescue situations. It is inflated and deflated via a mouthpiece similar to the oral inflator on the Pro qdi3. and in a critical situation could be used in a freewater ascent to control bouyancy.
I had the BCD looked at by the supplier, who deemed it to be okay, no probs.
But it's my life not theirs.
Live long and dive well
ploppytheslopper
Hypertek99
Registered
I love this BC. But I've been only using it for 4 months now. I love how it releases air very easy in any position.
Yup - the best thing about the i3 is the deflator. I have a buddy who never connects a supply hose to her i3 inflator - she only uses the inflator on the connected Airsource 2. But she loves the deflator!
It should be noted that you can always manually vent via the shoulder dump if you want, and the "normal" and/or jet dump too if you have an Airsource/Air2/Alt-air installed.
AnakChan
Registered
I bought the QD i3 2 years ago but just opened and used it in the past week. It's a brilliant BC that's really easy to use. My top fav features are naturally the i3, integrated weight system, & the quick release clips.
Probably the only minor gripe I'd have is too many clips to undo when un-donning the BC, but that's just a very minor gripe.
If I were to do it all over again, I'd probably still buy this BC.
Probably the only minor gripe I'd have is too many clips to undo when un-donning the BC, but that's just a very minor gripe.
If I were to do it all over again, I'd probably still buy this BC.
jcfahy
Contributor
Nice review. I have the pro QD i3 and love it and have also found sceptics regarding the lack of dangling inflator hose. GeckoDiver, the dry weight is 8 lbs and the octo pocket is ticked under the right wing
I have 150+ dives on a non-i3 Pro-QD, which has the same clips. I didn't go easy on them, they still feel solid. Typically undid the right one to don, and the left one to doff.
--
When I bought mine I gave the i3 a lot of thought, as my LDS has a pretty sweet deal on it at the time. In the end I opted for the regular Pro-QD. I did some training dives with buddies using an i3 BCD. The only issue I've come across with the i3 (or similar systems) is during a rescue ascent. Some scenarios will be very hard if not impossible, and at the very least force you to think on how to do things differently. This would definitely be something to address during a buddy briefing.
I do find the lever more intuitive to use than the button arrangement Mares uses.
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