Oceanic BC's

[comet24]

I need a new BC as my old IDI Advantage is pretty much worn out.

This weekend at the quarry I helped one of the ladies carry her BC down to the water and liked who comfortably it was walking with. This was never a concern until I become a DM and find myself diving a lot at the quarry which requires a good walk. Well this one was a Oceanic and had a smooth plastic plate with a thin pad over it. This one was made for women though. Do the other Oceanic BC have the some plate.

Anyone have the Excursion as this is the one I am looking at online at scubatoys.com

[Phestr]

I have the Excursion, and it is awesome. Nice for a bit of a walk (one of our dive sites is down a 40 ft cliff to the entry), and very stable at depth. It does have the plastic plate/padding. The only problem with it is that the only pocket is a fold out jobby accessed by a zipper. Alot of d-rings, though. I'd highly recommend it.

[comet24]

Thanks. I noticed the pocket thing but most BC I have looked at have the same problem. Which will take some adjusting as I but my hood and gloves in one pocket now and my SMB/reel and slate in another.

Hows it float at the surface. I am used to my current BC wanting to put me face down which wasn't a problem until I started spending time on the surface with the DM stuff.

[Phestr]

I don't spend much time on the surface, but I haven't noticed it pitching me forward too much. Either it doesn't, or a compensate subconsiously. Next time I go out, I'll pay attention to it (prob this weekend), and report.

[NorthwoodsDiver]

Have the Oceanic Outrigger BC and love it. I was in the market for the Excursion but got such a good deal on the Outrigger that I could not pass it up. It has a great structure to it with a nice padded backplate which makes walking with it very comfortable...the downside is it makes the BC heavier and bigger so it would not travel well. If you are concerned about the forward push of a rear-inflate bc, the outrigger module can be deployed to give you balance on the surface...some claim this to be a marketing gimmick but I have tried it and it really works. I don't spend much time on the surface so I replaced mine with a standard velcro strap(they have a kit for this for about $25). Putting less air in your BC while on the surface will also help relieve the forward push of a rear-inflate bc. My only other complaint is the limited amount of weight the BC can hold. I need 32 pounds of weight with my 7 mil farmer john, boots, hood and gloves, so I either need to add a small amount of weight in a weightbelt or I put a few pounds in the zip pockets. I believe the Excursion has the same limitations.

[jacewindu]

i have the excursion too. i can't say enough how much i love this bc. i have noticed the slight roll forward on the surface, but it's nothing a even poor swimmer couldn't handle with a flick of the ankle.

i have a medium which needs to be sinched up almost all the way for me, so at depth occasionally it will roll slightly to one side. not a problem, i just shift a little and it's fine. it provides plenty of lift, and the options for weights make it easy to trim your position.

my one complaint is the pocket, which i normally don't even use. normally i'll just strap/clip something i need to the many d-rings on the bc and i'm good to go.

in short i highly recommend the excursion (buy from scubatoys, like i did!)

[Suther2136]

I'm in the market for a BC as well. Just got my OW cert, seems everyone loves the back inflate are there no takers for the jacket style? That what I learned on so the back BC's are a leap for me.

[Phestr]

Not really a huge leap. There really isn't much difference, beside the lack of squeeze. The way I figure it, the back inflate is only one step from the BP/W config, and hundreds of wingnuts can't be wrong, can they?

[jacewindu]

i went straight to the back inflate from a jacket (which i also learned on) and it was no problem whatsoever. some people may find floating at the surface slightly more difficult, but for me it wasn't a problem. i like not being squeezed, tho it was kind of neat to actually "feel" how much air was in your bc with the jacket style - not, however, something i'll miss much

[uzzell20]

my gf has a dacor bc with what sounds like the same handle, its nice to carry but they state the bc is mainly used for travel dive though she uses it for all of her diving