skubacat

I'm looking for a cheap but good bc and fins for my hubby. He hasn't dove much since being certified and probly still won't (he'd rather kayak fish), but I'd like to find him some gear so I have a buddy. He thinks he would like a back inflate bc (he likes the Zeagle Rangers although he's never dove one). He is 6' and about 170 so I'm guessing a medium. Also need fins - would love to find some Atomic's size large, but would consider others. OH - also a decent one piece wetsuit, 3mil and a 1mil/skin.

If anyone has anything please let me know

Tina

inshore

P.M. sent

Clay-Doh

Did you find him what he needs? Hopefully he'll get out with you diving, there is a lot of great sites around here. And you'll be welcome to come out with us when it's warm enough for you.

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skubacat

No, I haven't found gear for my hubby yet, still looking. I'm open to suggestions on good bc. I'm also in the market for a new bc for myself, I just really don't know what I'm wanting.
Thanks for the invite, I will definitely take you up on it once the water is warmer.

Clay-Doh

There's a lot of options with bc's, and a lot of price range.

Most people will agree that rear inflate instead of vest type is more comfortable and less restrictive. And when I say rear inflate I'm including the backplate and wing in that category which a lot of people swear by. If he is already leaning that way, he most likely will like a rear inflate.

Also weight integrated is much more comfortable then a seperate weight belt.

Other than that, depends on what kind of diving he's going to be doing. Occasional looking around shallow diving? Or spearfishing, photography, collecting. If he (or you) is just a casual diver, you don't need a bunch of pouches, stainless D-rings, or high thread count fabric. But if you are gonna have extra gear for underwater "hobbies", then those things are something you definitely want.

I have the Atomic split fins and love em, and it took me a while to become convinced they were worth the money. (posted the details of that couple days ago in another thread on here about gear)

Find a dive shop you feel comfortable at, and they can point you in the right direction. All 3 shops in Pcola are good competent shops. I personally prefer MBT, and a good number of others on here do also.

Friday Feb 10th at 6pm there havin a free spearfishing seminar. Even if neither of you ever plan on getting into that, good chance to meet other divers, new and old, and get a good idea of gear with a mix of opinions.

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skubacat

Thanks! Great info.

I know my diving is just recreation, shallow diving. I did a bunch of shore dives last summer. I have no interest in spearfishing. I'm pretty sure that once my hubby tries spearfishing he will be hooked (and I'll probly loose my buddy). He kayak fishes now and is completely, hopelessly obsessed with it. For now though I really think his only interest in diving is so that I would have someone to dive with.
I know people swear by the BP/wing but I haven't tried one. Are they really that different than the back inflate? I assume you buy the plate, wing and harness separate or as a package?? I agree with the integrated weights - a must.

I also have the Atomic split fins. Love the spring straps! I'd like to find a size large for my hubby but don't want to pay anywhere near full price for them since I know he won't use them much.

I also agree with you about MBT. I've been down there a few times and they are always great. I went out on Dalton's boat last summer too, great people!

Clay-Doh

I'm sorry to hear you been on Mad Monkey's (Dalton's) boat. Ha ha, just kidding. He was actually my first roof contract when I brought my crews down here from Detroit right after Ivan, and then shortly after, my dive instructor, and good friend ever since. I gave him the name mad Monkey about 4 years ago cuz when he hollars on the boat he looks li....well...you get it.

If he does get hooked on spearing, you really didn't lose a dive buddy. if you get into underwater photography or videography then it's a perfect combo! You can capture all the cool nature and little stuff he isn't paying attention to, and then capture the action when he shoots a fish.

I've never tried the wing and backplate cuz I've been happy with rear inflate. But the way everybody swears by em I finally decided to at least try it and just talked to one of my friends the other day about borrowing his. So I really have no knowledge whatsoever and can't say. Maybe one of them will chime in. Hope I don't like it, cuz that's more money to spend, ha ha
Check Brnbsr post, he was selling fear, and I think he had some Atomics

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skubacat

OK - I found a smoking deal on some Atomic fins - YAY
But I am still looking for a BC. If anybody has a back inflate please let me know.