Buddy BCDs

[CotoChris]

<font color='#0000FF'>Continuing my venture in replacing my BCD. The one I have my eyes on now is the Buddy, commando or Pioneer. I've been told that it is a BCD that you either love &nbsp;or hate it! I understand they are durable and have good after sales services, this is a plus point. Now I'm slightly confused on the Ap200 valve or Auto Air. I was told that Auto air replaces the octopus, not something I'm happy about - can one have both?
Also is the main difference of the Commando and Pioneer being the pioneer doesn't look like a potato bag? at £40 difference I hope there are other pros to it.

PS Also spotted the Guardian BCD forum here, but can't find a site with a picture of it.

[Adrian Kelland]

The Ap200 is not an AAS, it can be used to inflate or breath off the bag. The bag air is supplied by the direct feed.

The Auto Air is a DV that works off the jacket direct feed hose, so there is nothing to stop you having a standard octpus 2nd stage on another port. I would certainly prefer to have a longer hose for donation (I dont mean the LONG one here). It is probably easier to donate your primary, and use the AutoAir yourself.

I'm still using one of the first Commandos (~12 years old), with no problems. Although I am just setting up a twin/wing rig for that little extra fun.

Adrian

[Dominic]

Buddy jackets are incredibly tough, reliable, and they have a very good customer service going - to the point that you can even buy spare parts for the autoair DV.

However, I'm not a big fan of the autoair, or the emergency cylinder: See article

The quality and ruggedness is second to none. The only downside is that they're never going to be stylish or minimalistic.

I sold my Buddy Commando only to replace it with a Buddy tekwing. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone...

The autoair is a backup DV, so CAN replace the octopus, most people have it as well as an octopus tho - it's entirely up to you. I prefer the AP200 myself..

[Digger]

They're all round good BCDs, IMO. I would say that you're better off without the Auto-Air. The way they're designed means that there's a purge button right where I'd expect the deflate. I've seen owners of the jacket that haven't dived in a while make that mistake, let alone a rescuer.

I've got to agree on the emergency cylinders, too. No need if you ask me, and could be a source of real problems. I've covered this one all over the forums, and others will disagree, but personally, I really don't like them.

So, with an AP200 and no suicide bottle, they're good jackets that will probably outlast you, and most of the people you know. I've seen some that have been going since before I was born. Which is worryingly indestructible. And that's diver indestructible, too.

[Digger]

And the guardian is featured on Northern Diver's website. www.ndiver.co.uk

[CotoChris]

<font color='#0000FF'>Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments, Dominic your site is has a lot useful info, I've even bookmarked it!
The only situation I can see the 'suicide' bottle being useful is if you have a first stage failure or burst o-ring and your buddy is not so close to you, then you have a few breaths before getting to your buddy. OK in the ideal world your buddy should be next to you at all times but I find in practice that she can be a good 5-10m away, especially in good viz. The important note I understand from you is that the bottle is NOT and alternative air source as such and shouldn't be considered as one. (could it be used to inflate a DMSB instead?)
Looking through the AP Valve site I still can't figure out the main difference between the pioneer and the commando, at Simply Scuba the price difference is £40. If it is style well forget it, I'm no model and who cares?

[Dominic]

The pioneer is slightly more compact - the commando has the shoulder-bits that stick up - and it has a front-mounted control to open the crack-bottle.

Oh, and if you do get a Buddy jacket, I recommend the TD range - it has more useful D-rings than the standard version..

And I'll say it before anyone else does: If you're in a situation where you think a spare supply of air would be useful, get a pony rather than a crack bottle.

Ha! Beat you all!

A crack-bottle dSMB is a different matter, I have one and it's great