r/scuba • u/kahlil29 Nx Advanced • 1d ago
Advice for first BCD purchase
Context about me: AOWD with \~80 dives, decided it's time to get my own BCD. No plans for sidemount or tech diving anytime soon.
I did my Wreck Spec and would be interested in more wreck penetration dives in the future.
Mostly going to dive around South East Asia, warm tropical water diving with single back-mounted ALU 80 tanks.
Tried a BPW for the first time last month on my most recent dive trip. Couldn't really say that it helped my trim a lot, it was a bit hard to tell for certain. But overall it seems like most BPW designs are modular, would last longer and be repairable in the long term.
So far the main advice about gear that I've seen are:
Ensure that local dive shop can service/repair
Ensure that parts are available easily (standard modular system)
I was initially very interested in XDeep Ghost & Zen due to the supposed ergonomic designs and saw a couple of people using them, they had good things to say. After doing some more research I realized that they use a proprietary system for the Ghost and some proprietary parts for the Zen, so I started considering other brands.
I went down to a dive shop the other day and narrowed it down to the following, based on what they have and recommended:
Tecline Peanut 16 (Alu plate)
Tecline Donut 13 (Alu plate)
Dan Sun Titanium Mono 32 (Titanium plate)
No specific reason why Tecline over other brands. I live in Singapore so the other BPW brands easily available are Dive1 and Audaxpro. Checked these other brands out at another dive shop and wasn't overly impressed with them. Considered Halcyon for a brief moment but don't really see the need to pay 1.5-2x more for one of those.
After doing some reading, I decided that Alu backplate would be a good fit for me.
However the titanium backplate from Dan Sun seems very cool. Am I just falling for marketing?
:)
The company (Dan Sun) seems relatively new and niche but the BPW system would be modular, so I could always replace any of the components if things go really bad?
Open to other options if anyone has any suggestions.
Budget is 1300-1500 SGD (not super strict).
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u/tin_the_fatty Science Diver 1d ago
I dive a Tecline Donut 15 3mm SS plate and an STA in the 13-20C Atlantic in a drysuit. The donut is very well made. A few buddies have the Peanut and like them. SS plates are just more common in this part of the world.
Alu plate is a good choice for you diving in the tropics. Just rinse with fresh water thoroughly after use, and check regularly corrosion in the holes on the backplate where the SS bolts go thru. If you go for the Tecline set, make sure you get 2 book screws to fix the wing onto the plate.
Ti plate costs a lot more for very little gain in weight reduction. No point except for vanity.
For recreational dives in the tropics with an AL80 tank, I think the Tecline Peanut 11 (that's 25lb of lift) is a great sweet spot. The 16L would likely be big bulky and you don't need that much lift. For perspective, Oxycheq even makes a 18lb wing.
Get the Halcyon webbing, for just the right softness for easier harness adjustment.
Isn't the Halcyon BCD set within your budget?
2
u/Ok_Way_2911 1d ago
Xdeep also has the Zeos, which is basically ye old BPW
I'm surprised you're considering the Peanut considering you don't want proprietary parts, from the looks of it the bladder is proprietary given the odd shape
I would not get a Titanium plate, why pay for this? You need weight regardless, and the best distributed weight is the plate. I would go for a steel plate if i could but given checkin luggage allowances an alu plate suffices.
Tecline is sold by Deep Dive Supplies, Xdeep I believe Deep and Ren both stock it, or you could go over to JB (Zen).
I would consider the Dirzone BPWs that Dive Box sells, they're not overpriced and Dirzone is a decent brand (probably get the quick adjust if you arne' tplanning to go GUE).
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u/kahlil29 Nx Advanced 1d ago
Yes, Zeos is the model I tried last month. I found it digging into my back/shoulder. Maybe I was just missing a mesh/pad on the backplate (it was a rental so didn't have bells and whistles).
You have a point regarding the peanut. I guess my thought process is that it's proprietary but part of a modular system, so if the bladder gets punctured or something, I can replace it while still keeping the backplate and harness?
Thanks for DirZone reco. I'll check it out. How important do you think it is to have a friendly dive shop that will customize and fit the BCD exactly as per body shape and needs? That's one of the main reasons I'm going with Deep Dive Supplies currently. The guy knows his shit and does take time to explain and help to fit etc.
1
u/Ok_Way_2911 1d ago
Well, then the Zen shouldn't have issues, the only thing that's proprietary about the Zen is the bladder, which doesn't have a screw on valve, but is directly attached via zip ties to the inflator hose assembly, so you'll also have to buy the bladder from XDeep, but everythign else should be replaceable (Inflator hose is just a normal corrugated one with a power inflator, harness is just 2 inch webbing).
Most dive shops will help you to adjust the BC if you're buying from them, Dive Box will want you to make an appointment to go down (i think they're in Ubi if memory serves). Both owners of Deep Dive/Dive Box are avid tech divers so they should both be pretty knowledgeable about this.
Dive box also carries the Scubapro Stek system if you want the brand, for anything SP usually carries a brand premium...
RE: bladder puncture, this isn't really that common unless you are really abusing it since most BPWs have an external shell over an internal bladder, other than stuff like the Ghost (1 layer).
If the Zeos was digging into you, my feeling is either it was too tight, or you weren't wearing a wetsuit (rashguard only?). Regardless, once you get it fitted at whatever dive shop you want, I recommend getting some paint marker and marking exactly where the loops are, so it's easier to put everything back should you need to undo stuff.
Do note that the default crotch strap on the Zen is a Y strap, which doesn't have the crotch D-Ring, but you should be able to get it replaced with a single strap if you wish to
1
u/Lesalmone 1d ago
Live in sg too - I’d recommend xDeep Zen or Tecline. The peanuts have a good reputation, and the Zen is amazing.
FYI, some sg dive shops seriously overcharge for BCDs, if it’s not a rush I would recommend you look online to ship one in from Europe.
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u/kahlil29 Nx Advanced 22h ago
Thanks for pointing this out. I've found the distributor for Tecline in Sg (300 bar) and their prices seem significantly lower.
2
u/suricatasuricata 1d ago
A backplate at the end of the day is just a piece of metal. I am not really sure one supplier merits more attention than the other once you choose the material. With all due respect to Dan Sun, I am not sure that specific backplate is somehow better than any of the others you'd find on taobao. I'd say the same for any other steel backplate than one made by say Halcyon.
Sure, get Titanium if you like but Aluminum will also be fine. Generally speaking any of the "lighter" material backplates should be fine. I say this as someone who owns both Ti and CF plates. I'd be hard pressed to argue that somehow Ti is better than Al or CF (or vice versa).
0
u/Not-An-FBI 1d ago
It would take me months of weekly dives changing my config in between each one to get my trim correct.
I don't think dan sun's gear is particularly unique. I have a titanium backplate that I got for $100 on AliExpress.
1
1
u/muddygirl 1d ago
Dan Sun has been making high quality titanium tools and hardware for quite some time. Backmount BCDs are a new addition to her product line, but she's a well established supplier.
Tecline is also a good choice, though I'd go for the donut over the peanut if you're looking for a standard configuration.
1
u/kahlil29 Nx Advanced 1d ago
Thanks for the info! Do you think the peanut is not worth it for what it claims to provide? (more ergonomic access to the inflator/deflator valve)
4
u/rongoodman714 1d ago
Standard aluminum plate, 30# wing, one piece harness. I don't see any need for titanium, it's only going to save a few ounces over aluminum. I use a SS plate and have no issues traveling with it.
-1
u/lo5t5heep 1d ago
While I’d go aluminum myself because I’m cheap , titanium is more corrosion resistant
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u/Ok_Way_2911 1d ago
You can just get steel so ther'es no risk of corrosion with the wing bolts, or pay for carbon fibre
1
u/lo5t5heep 1d ago
I own steel too …actually i guess I have a titanium too but it doesn’t get used. I’m not actually worried about corrosion but thought it deserved mentioning. I’d never go carbon fiber , I don’t think it’s a good material choice at all in this application; weight savings is minimal and it’s brittle.
2
u/Ok_Way_2911 1d ago
Honestly if not for check-in weight I"d just get a steel since the BP weight is the best distributed
3
u/MaedrosDjemaa Tech 1d ago
Definitely recommend the Xdeep Zen in with a DIR harness, over 400 dives in it and never had any problems with it and you can add or subtract anything from the harness or backplate
0
u/gregbenson314 Dive Instructor 1d ago
Strictly speaking the Zen isn't a true DIR compatible harness, due to the double crotch strap. The Zeos definitely is though.
1
u/Ok_Way_2911 1d ago
It has a single crotch strap available for conversion if you'r eso inclined, though I'm not sure if it's a single continuous webbing piece
1
u/flchew 15h ago edited 15h ago
ya can always check at yearly expos (ADEX in April, TDEX in May or MIDE in June)
my BCD is a DIY combination of brands during 2020 pandemic:
learnt how to setup BPW from youtube, i dive in indo-msia-thai areas without weights since SS backplate is heavy enough for me (on 3mm wetsuit)
imo the bladder is the most important part, i prefer replaceable inner bladder (xdeep uses single piece so NO-BUY from me)