Tech crossover gear...

[mitsuguy]

So, get the basics out of the way at first...

I am an instructor (PADI)
I have a nice back inflate BCD already that I like a lot
I do not want to get into tech diving just yet
I have to purchase something from Oceanic, Atomic, Sherwood, or Cressi
I want something that can grow with me

Also, whatever I buy has to be somewhat similar to something a normal open water student would wear...

So I was thinking...

Hollis (which is Oceanic, essentially) HTS: Hollis Harness Technical System reviews and discounts, Hollis

then get the new version of the S25 wing that has the integrated STA...

That would get me something similar to what an OW student would wear in appearance at least, and give me the ability to go to doubles in the future (obviously add a backplate and different wing)

Now, does anyone have any other options, personal experience with this particular setup, or other recommendations???

Thanks!

[rox@ucf11]

looks an awful lot like a regular bcd to me minus the inflation, personally im a fan of the hogarthian rig, a basic one piece harness and backplate plus whichever wing is appropriate for the tanks your using. its modular, extremely cheap and easy to change the webbing, the backplate is pretty much indestructable etc

possibly this harness Hollis Gear: Solo
I would lose that extra dring on the shoulders personally

with probably a steel plate for ocean diving, probably wont be able to teach in it but then again per standards would you be allowed to teach in the setup you linked to?

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

So, get the basics out of the way at first...

I am an instructor (PADI)
I have a nice back inflate BCD already that I like a lot
I do not want to get into tech diving just yet
I have to purchase something from Oceanic, Atomic, Sherwood, or Cressi
I want something that can grow with me

Also, whatever I buy has to be somewhat similar to something a normal open water student would wear...

So I was thinking...

Hollis (which is Oceanic, essentially) HTS: HolHarness Technical System reviews and discounts, Hollis

then get the new version of the S25 wing that has the integrated STA...

That would get me something similar to what an OW student would wear in appearance at least, and give me the ability to go to doubles in the future (obviously add a backplate and different wing)

Now, does anyone have any other options, personal experience with this particular setup, or other recommendations???

Thanks!

I would simply go with a BP or the HTS. Then its add the wing to suit. There is nothing inherently not 'OW student' with a BP/Wing. This is especially true if you add the wieght pouches on the waist band. The HTS looks like a transpac to me and would work fine for entry tec. (and advanced tec for that matter)

As far as standards go - in 2003 which is the last time I was active DM'ing, a BP/Wing was fine. Actually, if memory serves, aside from demostrating skills, nothing was specified. (we used to use doubles in OW with students)

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by in_cavediver

I would simply go with a BP or the HTS. Then its add the wing to suit. There is nothing inherently not 'OW student' with a BP/Wing. This is especially true if you add the wieght pouches on the waist band. The HTS looks like a transpac to me and would work fine for entry tec. (and advanced tec for that matter)

As far as standards go - in 2003 which is the last time I was active DM'ing, a BP/Wing was fine. Actually, if memory serves, aside from demostrating skills, nothing was specified. (we used to use doubles in OW with students)

Yah, pretty much any BP / Wing setup would be within standards, but, the problem is that I want to have gear similar to what students would use... You wouldn't go to a elementary school math class with a reverse polish notation scientific calculator, so you definitely wouldn't want the teacher to have it either... even with skill demonstrations, they still don't really define what you should have other than the basic gear that is included and required... I do plan on the weight pouches, as that will add to the similarity to the weight integrated BC's we teach in... even then, for skill demonstrations, I use a rental BC, as that is what 98% of our students learn in - it just makes it easier on everyone if everything is the exact same across the board...

I was thinking about adding a backplate to the initial order, but at the same time, their singles wings seem to have the built in STA kind of thing (it's not really a STA, but I don't know what it would be called), so I figured to save on cost a little for now, I'd do without the hard plate, until I was ready to invest in a doubles setup...

looks an awful lot like a regular bcd to me minus the inflation, personally im a fan of the hogarthian rig, a basic one piece harness and backplate plus whichever wing is appropriate for the tanks your using. its modular, extremely cheap and easy to change the webbing, the backplate is pretty much indestructable etc

possibly this harness Hollis Gear: Solo
I would lose that extra dring on the shoulders personally

with probably a steel plate for ocean diving, probably wont be able to teach in it but then again per standards would you be allowed to teach in the setup you linked to?

I thought about the solo, and all the others that Hollis offers as well... the last statement you said is the exact reason that I am avoiding your standard bp/w minimalistic configuration... Even though there aren't specific requirements for what you teach in, I try to be student friendly... You definitely wouldn't want your tech instructor showing up in a rebreather if you were trying to learn something standard... I know it's out there as far as a comparison, but hopefully you see where I'm going with it...

[ianr33]

Why not use any old cheap BC to teach in and get a real BP/Wing for your own diving?

If a things worth doing.......................

[DMWiz]

Originally Posted by ianr33

Why not use any old cheap BC to teach in and get a real BP/Wing for your own diving?

If a things worth doing.......................

I was thinking the same thing... If you use the rental equipment for the skills (I assume you mean the pool) why not dive the same in OW?

I would buy a simple BP/W for your own diving.

I must be missing something.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by DMWiz

I was thinking the same thing... If you use the rental equipment for the skills (I assume you mean the pool) why not dive the same in OW?

I would buy a simple BP/W for your own diving.

+2

[mitsuguy]

they prefer us to have gear that the shop sells... and I am not a huge huge fan of rental bc's when diving... I might do 3-4 dives in a single day leading classes and would prefer my own gear (and definitely not a jacket style bc) - it's one thing to do skills in a pool, its completely different diving out in OW...

couple that with the fact that I get an awesome deal pricing wise, keeping with our gear that the shop sells mentality, and I get to buy something I can use in the future... In my own head at least, this way I knock out all aspects at the same time...

is the Hollis gear not considered a "real" BP/W??? I know this runs a fine line with so many people, and it is not as minimalistic as some prefer, but what makes it not "tech"??? As already mentioned, it would be similar or comparable to maybe the trans-pac, which I was always led to believe is very much tech oriented...

what am I missing?

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

they prefer us to have gear that the shop sells... and I am not a huge huge fan of rental bc's when diving... I might do 3-4 dives in a single day leading classes and would prefer my own gear (and definitely not a jacket style bc) - it's one thing to do skills in a pool, its completely different diving out in OW...

couple that with the fact that I get an awesome deal pricing wise, keeping with our gear that the shop sells mentality, and I get to buy something I can use in the future... In my own head at least, this way I knock out all aspects at the same time...

is the Hollis gear not considered a "real" BP/W??? I know this runs a fine line with so many people, and it is not as minimalistic as some prefer, but what makes it not "tech"??? As already mentioned, it would be similar or comparable to maybe the trans-pac, which I was always led to believe is very much tech oriented...

what am I missing?

I think the problem you have it you want something 'tec friendly' but similar to what an OW student could rent. To me, that is for the most part mutually exclusive. I personally wouldn't worry about 'OW student compatable' and get what I wanted. Use the shops BC in the pool and you stuff in OW.

Oh, and for the record - If I were to setup a shop, I think I'd rent BP/Wings for students to use. Its the perfect one size fits all solution. 99% of divers can use one comfortably for 99% of the diving that is done - rec and tec.

[navyhmc]

Totally agree in_cave. I went from a very old but usable wrap-around Tabata to a BP/W with no problems at all. In fact, I wish I had done this years ago. I like the versatility of the bp/w where I can switch from a LP121 to 80 to bouble 120's with minimal hassle.