Advice on bcd for begginer!

[BICCUS1]

Hi all
I have just passed my open water and advanced out in sharm and was looking for some gear to get me going in the uk.

I think i have the regs sorted i may be going for APEKS ATX200 REG & ATX40 OCT,SUUNTO CB DOUBLE CONSOLE .(unless somebody can tell me different)

I have got wet suit mask fins etc its just the bcd now!

Was looking at buddys (don't know which one yet) and seac sub pro 3000 !

Any help please

Also need torch, knife so any help here also (not a fortune to start with)


Thanks shane

Is it worth waiting for the show in oct to save some cash or not?

[Ian B]

I like Buddy BCDs. We use them at our club for training and most of our club members have one. Get one with Auto-Air, and as many D-rings as possible.

I bought a Buddy Ranger, the one with integrated weights, but prefer to use a standard weight belt rather than having the weights in the jacket.

I sent mine away for servicing recently and it came back with lots of improvements, looking like new, for about £30. Great after sales service.

[beanie]

Originally Posted by BICCUS1

I think i have the regs sorted i may be going for APEKS ATX200 REG & ATX40 OCT,SUUNTO CB DOUBLE CONSOLE .(unless somebody can tell me different)

to be honest a TX40 main and otco are fine (and cheaper)

Was looking at buddys (don't know which one yet) and seac sub pro 3000 !

BUddys are good I had mine for 10 years (just sold it) they last forever (treated with a small amount of respect) and AP Valves have great customer service

Is it worth waiting for the show in oct to save some cash or not?

[/quote]
could be you also get to have a look at a lot of options you might get a apckage aswell specially on the regs

[Dave Crampton]

I bought my partners BCD (Buddy Commando) which is around 10 years old for 77 quid!! I saw Two last night on Ebay. Once it was serviced, 15 quid, its as good as the new one I bought, for £330, FFS. Buddy are almost indestructable.

Dave C

EDIT:

Buddy Explorer TD Auto Air, currently £77
item number: 7101370144

Buddy Comando TD Auto Air, Currently £120 reserve not met.
item number: 7101371566

Buddy BCD, Currently £15 and NO reserve.
item number: 7101866991
This is similar to the one I bought Josie, and at that price, you could throw it away if its crap, or pay for a full Buddy service, and as Caple diver said, get it back like new.

Buddy Comando, Currently £55 and NO reserve.
item number: 7101236752
Now this is the exact model Josie has. Plus, get this, dive with this indestructable puppy and other divers will give you lots of respect saying, look how long that diver has been diving, their BCD is v. old and still good as new. much kudos!!

There are about 7 - 10 other I found on Ebay just by searching for 'Buddy'

Dave C

[beanie]

oo

Buddy and Apeks are both British

[bottle_monkey]

Love my buddy commando comfortable and strong (almost like a soap advert)

Not so sure about auto-air tho (mine doesn't have it).

also if you do buy one I would not dive with the emergency cylinder incase of it getting stuck on (ask woz how much fun that is).

[BICCUS1]

Originally Posted by beanie

to be honest a TX40 main and otco are fine (and cheaper)


could be you also get to have a look at a lot of options you might get a apckage aswell specially on the regs

Thanks for all the replys

There is £100 differance between the atx40 and atx 200 is it not worth the extra? I would like a control for the air on the side of the second stage so it is atx 50 upwards which is only £60 cheaper than the atx200

[Simon A]

Shane,
The apeks atx200 is a fine reg but it may well be far more than you need, I have an ATX50/40 set because I couldnt tell the diference between the way they and the atx200 breathe, however if I was buying again, I'd just go for straight ATX40's.
If your anywhere near Wraysbury your welcome to have a go on mine.

Simon A

[BICCUS1]

What is the differance with the buddys in the auto air and TD ?

shane

[Alun]

As it starts to get to this time of year, you'll be chilly to say the least diving in a wetsuit.

You'll probably need to be looking towards some sort of drysuit orientation course (theres more to them than you'd think) Although I've never been so this is just heresay, I think that Stoney Cove won't let you in the water in a drysuit unless you can prove you can use one. Don't know about anywhere else, I was just told this.