Tis the season to be shopping

[jonny200]

Ive been diving since june and have since completed my advanced with nitrox. ive completed about 35 dives and am soon to be doing my rescue.

Ive bought some regs (apex xtx 200) and also fins and mast (avanti quattros, cressi matrix)

my next purchase will be a drysuit and for me will have to be prob made to measure. Im looking at 0 three or maybe northern diver.

my biggest problem is what to do abt bc. My dive centre reccomends that i go for a bcd. I however would like to go down twinset route as soon as possible. so therefore have been looking at backplate/wing combinations. maybe halcyon evolve or oms unbungeed. What are your guys thoughts on going straight to the wing. or am i better of spending a year or to with bcd.

I just dont want to be wasting money on something i might not use for long

cheers

John

[liamm]

I'd go for the wing straight off, i bought a BCD used it for a year and now its gathering dust.
Might be worth borrowing to compare first.
I'd either do the rescue first or hire a bcd single setp for the rescue course if you do it. It'd be a nightmare in a twinset.

[jonny200]

the club lends kit for this anyway so it isnt too much of a problem

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by jonny200

my next purchase will be a drysuit and for me will have to be prob made to measure. Im looking at 0 three or maybe northern diver.

Go made to measure. Consider what material you want your suit to be, then consider manufacturer. If you decide neoprene's for you pick O3 over ND. You won't regret it. I've owned one - it was always dry and the customer service is second to none.

I have a love-hate relationship with my current suit, a membrane Poplar Bears.

The most important thing to remember is that fit of both the suit and undergarments is EVERYTHING, especially if you want to go down the twins route.

Originally Posted by jonny200

my biggest problem is what to do abt bc. My dive centre reccomends that i go for a bcd. I however would like to go down twinset route as soon as possible. so therefore have been looking at backplate/wing combinations. maybe halcyon evolve or oms unbungeed. What are your guys thoughts on going straight to the wing. or am i better of spending a year or to with bcd.

You'll not be killed by either a wing or a jacket BC.

Twins are better on a wing. They work OK on a decent BC, but a wing is nicer. If you go straight for a wing, make sure it's a small one that's suitable for a sinble tank. A new, larger, bladder can always be added later when the twins arrive. People will say that there are wings that will work with both twins and singles and to an extent they're right. It's just that if you want the easiest diving use the right kit.

[Lazlo]

In your position I'd get a BP/harness and two wings - one for doubles and one for single tank use. A single tank wing doesn't need to be expensive and IMO it's better to have kit that's not a compromise between the two, especially if you don't want to go the bungee route.

[jonny200]

so for example i could buy the halcyon evolve 60 wing and also an eclipse wing and both wings world work well wil the halcyon backplate and harness?

[jonny200]

Originally Posted by MarkP

Go made to measure. Consider what material you want your suit to be, then consider manufacturer. If you decide neoprene's for you pick O3 over ND. You won't regret it. I've owned one - it was always dry and the customer service is second to none.

I have a love-hate relationship with my current suit, a membrane Poplar Bears.

The most important thing to remember is that fit of both the suit and undergarments is EVERYTHING, especially if you want to go down the twins route.



You'll not be killed by either a wing or a jacket BC.

Twins are better on a wing. They work OK on a decent BC, but a wing is nicer. If you go straight for a wing, make sure it's a small one that's suitable for a sinble tank. A new, larger, bladder can always be added later when the twins arrive. People will say that there are wings that will work with both twins and singles and to an extent they're right. It's just that if you want the easiest diving use the right kit.

as for made to measure, i think its the only option, im very big into my weightlifting and as a result its difficult to get suits to fit. so again i think it will be worth a trip down to o3 to get fitted.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by jonny200

so for example i could buy the halcyon evolve 60 wing and also an eclipse wing and both wings world work well wil the halcyon backplate and harness?

Exactly. You'll need a single tank adaptor as well (or maybe not).

[Tricky]

Originally Posted by jonny200

...i could buy the halcyon evolve 60 wing...

I would go for the Evolve 40 - it's well suited to twin 12s and a couple of stages.

[divingniknaks]

If you do buy an Evolve DO NOT buy the 60, it's a small boat.

The 40 is plenty big enough.

You could always consider an alternative of course

Frog Indigo single tank wing complete, Frog Wings and backplates at divingniknaks 0121 707 5783. Frog, Dirzone, Agir Brokk Scuba Diving Gear

Frog Midnight double tank wing only, Frog Wings and backplates at divingniknaks 0121 707 5783. Frog, Dirzone, Agir Brokk Scuba Diving Gear


If you're at the Dive Show then have a look at the stuff in the flesh on Stand 1449.

HTH