Tech kit - yet another request for advice

[John N]

After some prompting, I've decided to get the kit to do it properly in the UK but I need help in deciding.
I know there's a similar post, but I'm looking for specifics so bear with me please.

I want a set up for all my UK diving with enough flexibility to travel fairly light.  Needs to cope with everything from single to twins to twins & stages (steel & ali)  to whatever else I do in the future.

Wing:
OMS 100lb bungied dual bladder - I've used one and it was comfortable.  Some people disagree with dual bladders, but I may well use it with a wetsuit - any thoughts?  Colour - Red or Black  

Backplate/Harness - The OMS IQ looks handy as I could use it easily with a single/twins and use an ABS backplate for travelling or change to steel for UK.  I understand Buddy twinning blocks/bands can be used to speed up cylinder changes?
Or would it be just as easy with a simple backplate/harness setup?

Twins - A pair of Faber 12 litre lightweights seems to be the thing to go for?  Boots or not?  Any colour but white?

Manifold - MDE, Scubapro, OMS?  Are those barrel O ring types the thing to use?  What about the new European regs?  Are we going to have to change all the valves and the manifold when they come in, perhaps as early as next year?

Regs - two sets (initially), TX50's perhaps, one long hose & wing inflate; one necklaced backup, drysuit/alternate wing inflate, pressure gauge.  Does that sound about right?  How about a backup depth gauge?

Computer: my current computer only covers one Nitrox mix to 50%.  The Vytec is looking favourite - the VR3 is too complicated and expensive at the moment.  I'll probably be doing max 50m with accelerated deco.

My drysuit is a compressed neoprene DUI.

Have I missed anything?  Oh, an additional SMB (yellow) perhaps  

Any suggestions for a reasonably priced, cool yet practical vehicle to carry this lot also welcome.

Cheers.

[Lawrence Debono]

Noooooooooo don't use a yellow SMB unless it's an emergency.

Other than that I like your catalogue.

Ok let me point out some specifics –
1 - Steel or ali??? Go with steel on your back and preferably 232 bars. Stages eeeeehm – I got steel and I’m fine but some prefer ali. Especially the yanks like them. Fabers are a good and light, even their steel.

2 – OMS with dual bladder?? Nothing wrong with that. Actually I wish I bought mine with dual bladders. Black or red??? Black!!

3 – Harness, I got the IQ with no sag pockets and it’s fantastic. You can store a slate, jon line a back up light and a mask with room to spare.

4 – Go with “highland mill works” stainless steel bands. 1st class product.

5 – Manifold I have both OMS and Diverite. The OMS seems more bullet proof. I got the other one because it came with my new twin set. Look for captured O rings.

6 – Regs, go with Poseidon X stream. They rock! An Alpha 7 or TX 50 will do for stages. An R190 by scuba pro will do too.

7 – For instruments get a vitec and bottom timer for back up. If you can afford one get a VR3.

8 – DUI crushed neoprene = you can’t get any better.

You certainly have nice tastes. Do you know what your invoice is going to be like? Quite a few $$$$. Hey why not we only live once might as well get what we want.

Yes you forgot the

9 – Fins. Perhaps S pro jet fins or turtles with spring straps.

10 – Mask. Big view – low volume and a spare one.

11- Knife – One on your wing hose and the other one where you can reach it with the other hand.

12 – A 50 kg capacity lift bag with pouch from Diverite is nice, as well as a sausage with the bottle from AP.

13 – A reel is a must. What I did is took the cage off a Diverite reel and machined a spool of Teflon. DON’T TRUST THE CLEAR PLASTIC SPOOL!!!! They are like glass, they break and they’ll drag you up.

14 – Flash light – HID dive right or Halcyon are great, but get a back up like a UK 4XC or some thing along those lines. A strobe is also handy for boat diving.

15 – Jon line

Enjoy

Lawrence D

[Tim Ingmire]

John,

give Divers Warehouse a call.  The kit you've listed can be got from them with at a special package price as advertised in most of the magazines.  I know they are a long way from you but they are offical OMS importers and will give you A1 service.  Ask for Brett and he will give you all the advice you need over the phone.  If do this, why not collect from them and then spend a day at Stoney on the way back to try out the kit, I'm sure somebody will be able to spend some time in the water with you to make sure you're ok with it all.  If I can I'd be happy to join you at their shop and then dive with you whilst you try it all out.

You seem to have chosen very logically BTW.  I guess the DIR boys will be along soon to give you some other options.

Cheers,

Tim

DW's no: 01274 307555

[Dominic]

Wing - the red one! Don't be another boring fart who thinks he looks cool because he looks like the bloke who delivers Milk Tray

BP - if you only want ONE bp, get an alu, since it's so light it travels anywhere. If you're willing to buy two, get an alu for travel and a steel to reduce the amount of lead you need. I wouldn't buy an ABS myself - alu ones are about as light and much stronger

Manifold - I'd go for either MDE or Agi Brokk ones if I were buying right now.. They'll probably be outdated when the new regs come in, but that's easily fixed by getting a J of Oxygen and then just getting air top-ups at your local shop

Regs sound good to me.. consider DS4s rather than DST's since you're using a twinset

[John N]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Lawrence D @ Mar. 05 2004,04:18)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] Noooooooooo don't use a yellow SMB unless it's an emergency.

Hehe, that's what I meant by additional  

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] Regs, go with Poseidon X stream

Tried and didn't like.  Plus servicing hassle/cost.  I use ATX200 at the moment which is fantastic - bit too pricey to buy two sets though and the first stage doesn't swivel which can be a pain.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] Do you know what your invoice is going to be like? Quite a few $$$$.

I know, I was thinking about selling my car  

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] Fins. Perhaps S pro jet fins or turtles with spring straps.  

I have quattros and am happy with them.  Plus Woz brand spring straps of course  

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] If I can I'd be happy to join you at their shop and then dive with you whilst you try it all out.  

Thanks for the offer Timing, might take you up on it.  Once I've decided what I need I will get some prices.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I wouldn't buy an ABS myself - alu ones are about as light and much stronger

I've read (about the Dive-rite ABS) that it's actually stronger than Ali.  Only has a 1" crotch strap though which is not 'Right'

[Dominic]

Bloke in my club uses Poseidons. Just had them serviced.

He paid £135

[Doug Parker]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dominic @ Mar. 05 2004,11:57)]
Bloke in my club uses Poseidons. Just had them serviced.

He paid £135

He's dealing with the wrong people then.

I don't pay that for 5 sets to be serviced, but i don't always go through the front door.

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] i don't always go through the front door

Fnar fnar

[Mark Chase]

OMS wing go for red

Remember you will need a single tank adaptor for an OMS rig and a home build for indipendants. Sure I cant tempt you with a TDB???


I would recommend geting a standard SS backplate they are only 2KG so not that big a deel for traveling but it makes the weight distrubution beter than an Ali.

Manifolds MDE with out a doubt

TX 50s great regs no worries there. Get the main reg set up to Max + (11) on the interstage presure and they breath great.

Tanks steel light weight Faber 12's less hassle than Ali's on the testing and lighter out of the water.

Vytec is a good computer up to 50m but it takes some getting used to as the deco is displayed on the gas you are breathing at the time rather than across all the deco gas. Planning the dive and tables for bail out is esential. Doing deep stops on the Vytec can add greatly to the 6m stop. Running up to 20% He Trimix wont affect the deco comitment in a negitave way so its OK for 50m mix dives too. You will love it untill you get the VR3 then you will look back and think how the hell did I put up with it

Most important bits of kit you avent mentioned are a good torch, a good back up torch and good deco reels. Reels are a personal thing but I would get a ratchet reel for my main one as they are great for doing stops. My one is a cheep Northan diver / buddy thing costs 39.00 but it is the best I have used so far.

ATB

Mark Chase

[John N]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] Sure I cant tempt you with a TDB???

Not sure, what are the benefits other than the price, it's British and they're just down the road from me?

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Most important bits of kit you avent mentioned are a good torch, a good back up torch and good deco reels. Reels are a personal thing but I would get a ratchet reel for my main one as they are great for doing stops. My one is a cheep Northan diver / buddy thing costs 39.00 but it is the best I have used so far.

I have a buddy Pocket Reel, although I suspect some people would suggest an open reel.

Torches - scary prices for some of the high end stuff.  Any recommendations for reasonable choices?