Wing vs Jacket/BCD?

[Paul Oliver]

Buddy Commando

Bought it as quite worn second hand about 10 years ago, still going strong and just being serviced (2nd time since i bought it).

Does me no problems

Dive Safe

Paul

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (camdiver @ Dec. 24 2003,11:22)]Gotta love the DR travel wing, I've heard of some mounting it on an Ali BP for holiday diving.

Mark, I reckon in a year or two you'll have bought one, so you can use the harness all the time

SS Backplate & Recwing.

Alu backplate & trekwing for holidays.

[Moray]

argh....i just fell in love with a wing/BP, available in red to match my semi-dry, but I still can't find matching dive boots for it...argh!

[AdmiralHanson]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Paul Oliver @ Dec. 25 2003,00:34)]Buddy Commando

Bought it as quite worn second hand about 10 years ago, still going strong and just being serviced (2nd time since i bought it).

Does me no problems

Dive Safe

Paul

<font color='#0000FF'>I must admit that I still use my Buddy jackets .... They are great compared to the inflatable bog seat I learnt with !

I've still got my first Buddy jacket, which must be about 12 years old, for training in the pool with.

AP's servicing and customer service is second to none and the jackets serve me well for the type of diving I do. They are 'hard as nails' ... The BCD eqivalent of a land rover.

Having said that, I am thinking about 'winging it' at some point next year .....

[gblades2]

I have been looking to buy a BCD in the next couple of weeks with a 12L cylinder and a pony setup to follow later.
The price of a reasonable BCD at my LDS is around £250-£300.

I have also been looking at the Buddy Tek Wing which I can get for under £180 from kent diving. As I understand the benefits and disadvantages are :-
- does not have pockets
- does not have trim pockets at the back
+ cheaper
+ can be used with a twinset by fitting longer bands

Given the £100 cost saving with the wing option I could use this to get a pocket fitted and instead of a pony setup have independent 12L twins. The twins would be heavier, I would have to breath off one and then switch leaving reserve air on one cylinder, and of course it will be heavier.

Given the above I can't think of a sensible reason to go for a BCD.

Am I missing something?
What do you think of the tek wing?

[gblades2]

One additional question.

Oviously when using independant twins and a dry suit the wing and suit inflation hoses will be connected to alternate cylinders. If I am diving with a wet suit or single tank this is not possible. For £30 extra you can get the wing with a 0.4L emergency cylinder for inflation purposes.
Is this worth it?
You should be neutral approx anyway and you can always manually inflate the wing.

[Simon A]

These small bottles on the Wing/BCD are commonly known as &quot;suicide bottles&quot;. When used on the surface they can be ocasionaly usefull, however if you crack it at depth, the likelyhood is you will be doing a very fast buoyant ascent.
SOme people like them but AFAIK most people recomend avoiding them.

Simon A

[Woz]

<font color='#000080'>

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]These small bottles on the Wing/BCD are commonly known as &quot;suicide bottles&quot;. When used on the surface they can be ocasionaly usefull, however if you crack it at depth, the likelyhood is you will be doing a very fast buoyant ascent.
SOme people like them but AFAIK most people recomend avoiding them.

After being pinned to the roof of the wheelhouse onthe Stanegarth due to my suicide bottle being knocked on accidentally I'd recommend binning them and fitting a blanking plate.

[tiewrapdiver]

Suicide bottles are extremely useful, i got mine propping my bedroom door open.

[MATTBIN]

TekWing - I have one, nice bit of kit. 12L on the ABS backplate, not sure my 10's seem about its limit. Ask Digger he has 12's but I think a steel plate.

Couple of TekWings for sale in private Ads section of YD, I got mine off ebay second hand, bit less that new price and definitely better value than a BCD jacket, more upgradable etc too.

Had I known then what I know now ........

Diving pah!!!

HTH
Matt