SCUBA Divers - Looking for a good, but inexpensive Weight Integrated BCD

[OperationROL]

So my wife and I are looking to purchase BCD's for the first time. We have always rented, but recently have been purchasing our own equipment and only the BCD's are left. I have seen many inexpensive BCD's like the Cressi Start, but they are not weight integrated. We want something simple, relatively light for travel and very cost effective. Any suggestions? Over the years I have seen many of you dive like @Julian and @Scuba_ref so I figured I would inquire here. Let's get your suggestions.

 

[Julian]

I always rent my equipment, so I'm no help at all! Sorry....

 

[Scuba_ref]

@OperationROL I have an older Mares (10 years old) BCD that is not weight integrated - I would buy another Mares in a heart beat. A couple of years ago we purchased a http://www.leisurepro.com/p-aerbj/a..._74CSw&kwid=51889034470x12072271213x152140093 for my daughter and she absolutely loves that BCD. It looks like they have discontinued that model and replaced it with the http://www.leisurepro.com/p-aerat/aeris-atmos-bcd

I'm sorry that I can't be of more help than that. I should mention that on our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to the Sandals resort on Grenada, I got video of an octopus coming out of his hide-away and taking a walk up and onto the reef. Pretty cool!

 

[2nazt]

Zeagle makes some sweet low profile products but can get pricey.

I also like aqualung stuff too here is a travel one from them
http://www.aqualung.com/us/dive-gear/aqua-lung-buoyancy-compensators/zuma

I run an Apeks Black Ice but no means a travel bcd. My wife has an Aqualung Lotus i3.

 

[arew~SX230]

You live in a "cold place" so if you plan to do much diving in your area, weight integrated may not be ideal since you'll need allot of lead to sink a 6mm wet suit.

If you really only plan to dive tropical then W-I makes more sense. I have found that Divers Supply has really good prices and service, they have quite a few W-I BCDs for under $400. Any of the major brands should be durable and reliable. I'm still using a Dacor non-W-I that I bought used from a local dive shop 15 years ago, and my wife is still using her 15yo sea quest W-I both have 200+ dives on them and still look and work like new.

If I were buying new, I would be looking at the travel focused ones, especially since as of 12/24/16 we now have 5 certified divers in the family.

 

[OperationROL]

I always rent my equipment, so I'm no help at all! Sorry....

Up until now we have always rented. However, my wife is always complaining about using items worn, used and "sucked on" by other people. The first step was mask, fins, snorkel, boots. The next step was regulators. I found a really great deal on matching regulators and gauges from a couple that used them once, because they did not feel like "lugging" them around on their vacations. Now, we need BCD's and we're set, but I do not want to pay the piper. Call me cheap.......I say economical! lol

 

[OperationROL]

@OperationROL I have an older Mares (10 years old) BCD that is not weight integrated - I would buy another Mares in a heart beat. A couple of years ago we purchased a http://www.leisurepro.com/p-aerbj/a..._74CSw&kwid=51889034470x12072271213x152140093 for my daughter and she absolutely loves that BCD. It looks like they have discontinued that model and replaced it with the http://www.leisurepro.com/p-aerat/aeris-atmos-bcd

I'm sorry that I can't be of more help than that. I should mention that on our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to the Sandals resort on Grenada, I got video of an octopus coming out of his hide-away and taking a walk up and onto the reef. Pretty cool!

Thanks. That replacement looks like it is about to get replaced so the price may drop even more. I gotta keep my eyes on that. I would love to see that video. Post a link please!

 

[OperationROL]

Zeagle makes some sweet low profile products but can get pricey.

I also like aqualung stuff too here is a travel one from them
http://www.aqualung.com/us/dive-gear/aqua-lung-buoyancy-compensators/zuma

I run an Apeks Black Ice but no means a travel bcd. My wife has an Aqualung Lotus i3.

Thanks for the link. You have caviar taste. This one is nice but out of my range. One day...............

 

[OperationROL]

You live in a "cold place" so if you plan to do much diving in your area, weight integrated may not be ideal since you'll need allot of lead to sink a 6mm wet suit.

If you really only plan to dive tropical then W-I makes more sense. I have found that Divers Supply has really good prices and service, they have quite a few W-I BCDs for under $400. Any of the major brands should be durable and reliable. I'm still using a Dacor non-W-I that I bought used from a local dive shop 15 years ago, and my wife is still using her 15yo sea quest W-I both have 200+ dives on them and still look and work like new.

If I were buying new, I would be looking at the travel focused ones, especially since as of 12/24/16 we now have 5 certified divers in the family.

Don't remind me........it is 5 degrees right now. We plan on doing more tropical dives than lake wreck dives. The way I figure, I would use the integrated when in the tropics and could always use a belt with the same BCD when diving up here. The wife refuses to dive with more than a shorty.

 

[arew~SX230]

The wife refuses to dive with more than a shorty.

LOL

In another five years, my wifes gonna need a dry suit in the Caribbean

 

[zipper]

No weight intergration, I use 24# of lead but still use my 35 y.o. Parkway with a full farmer john suit. Thermocline just below the surface here. Used same set up diving in Fla. was a little warm but many cold springs inland and lots of corral that will shred skin.in the ocean.

 

[Scuba_ref]

No weight intergration, I use 24# of lead but still use my 35 y.o. Parkway with a full farmer john suit. Thermocline just below the surface here. Used same set up diving in Fla. was a little warm but many cold springs inland and lots of corral that will shred skin.View attachment 49767in the ocean.

I imagine that the image of you coming out of the water in your setup would make on-lookers wonder how you managed to stay underwater for 30 years - the Rip Van Winkle of diving!

 

[zipper]

Ya probably, My gear was new in the early 80s, been thru a few masks, fins and wet suits since. But i say "if it aint broke"...regulators and bc's will last if maintained. This Rip Van Winkle spent his "new dive gear money" on his Yamaha and mods. I do recall some strange looks walking backwards out of the surf in Hollywood Fla. in full gear while others were in bathing suits. I do not go "down" as much as i used to, mostly just to find moorings for folks whose markers were torn away by shifting ice. Life on a diversified dairy farm has not allowed as much dive time as I would like. I know myself and my gear are antiques but we both still work well.

 

[Scuba_ref]

Ya probably, My gear was new in the early 80s, been thru a few masks, fins and wet suits since. But i say "if it aint broke"...regulators and bc's will last if maintained. This Rip Van Winkle spent his "new dive gear money" on his Yamaha and mods. I do recall some strange looks walking backwards out of the surf in Hollywood Fla. in full gear while others were in bathing suits. I do not go "down" as much as i used to, mostly just to find moorings for folks whose markers were torn away by shifting ice. Life on a diversified dairy farm has not allowed as much dive time as I would like. I know myself and my gear are antiques but we both still work well.

More power to you @zipper we live in a disposable society and everyone always wants to upgrade to the latest and greatest.

 

[2nazt]

Thanks for the link. You have caviar taste. This one is nice but out of my range. One day...............

We just dive a lot and the place we bought did a payment plan including free rentals during payments so it was easy and no interest. I can upgrade mine when I switch to TEC diving lol. I do a lot of spearing and diving so I bought good stuff.


Did you have your regulators serviced after purchase? I would if I bought used to be sure unless I knew the couple I bought them from.

 

[OperationROL]

We just dive a lot and the place we bought did a payment plan including free rentals during payments so it was easy and no interest. I can upgrade mine when I switch to TEC diving lol. I do a lot of spearing and diving so I bought good stuff.


Did you have your regulators serviced after purchase? I would if I bought used to be sure unless I knew the couple I bought them from.

Regulators not yet serviced but will be before using them. I found a local certified service center and will be taking it there soon.

 

[2nazt]

Awesome! Mine is coming due soon for service also.