You've sold me bro! Buying new gear for the first time in forever, and am just beginning my scientific diving career. I'm currently a fat bastard, looking at changing that. I was resigned to having to buy a larger BCD now, than a smaller one later. From what your saying, not only will this system accommodate changes in size and weight, but will grow as my scidive career progresses. Cheers for the great vid!
I have a 12 year old Trans-Pac, it has over 250 dives. Still look good and works geart. Only thing I've done to it is clean it, dry it, and normal maintenance of the inflator. It's been with me on dry suit dives in the Pacific North West, to live aboard dive boats in the Bahamas were it stays wet all week. It just keeps on going. This guy is spot on with his review.
James, Thanks for the GREAT video on BCD's. based on your video, i just purchased the Dive Rite Transpac Voyager XT as my first new BC in about 25 years or so. THANKS AGAIN! I originally was certified in 1980 and then as an instructor in 1983. I am now an Alumnus Instructor with an Agency which we ill not name. Why? Because as an Alumnus Instructor I don't have to pay them dues every year! keep of the wonderful work on your channel and videos. KEEP THEM COMING!
very good info. I have two trans paks. one with rec wing bladder nd one with voyager bladder. Also have two sidemount dive rites. All do what they were designed to do with great ease. Thank you again for your videos.
Hi James- Do you dive with twins on your Rec wing and transpac? I think I'm going to go with this system but, making sure that I would be good to dive twins in the future as I'll be getting into tec diving. Thanks!
@@johnblixt4740 the redwing will handle twin al80s. But if you go to steels they might be on the border of enough lift. It depends on your weight and buoyancy needs. There are bladders with more lift that will work only doubles that might work better if you are going just doubles. Rec wing will handle both within reason. Check with your instructor for more input.
Funny... :-) I build my own version of this 2 years ago - from a TransPac2 and the XT Nomad wing. But, I have a 5 kg backplate between the TransPac and the Wing. I use this same setup for 5, 7, 12, 15 and 2x10L tanks with a single-tank adapter on the back plate with the Dive Rite tank-straps. The sidemount options of the system I use for stange tanks. I just love this set up. I am a tall guy and the Nomad XT wing just gives me a better balance and the triangular wingshape is nice in currents. 100% hit with this review :-) (I dive cold water in drysuit)
I bought a TransPlate for doubles, only to find out it was too heavy for what I needed. As a testament to what James was saying about modularity, I bought a single tank adapter for it, and moved the weight pockets from my TransPacXT to the TransPlate, and swapped the Voyager wing with the Rec Wing, and viola…Awesome single tank setup, and my TransPac XT setup is now mounted with the Rec Wing to my doubles. I love both setups! They work wonders up here in Michigan! Keep the great videos coming, James! Just a quick comment on the crotch strap and D-ring on it for a DPV, both of my setups came with a stainless D-ring on the portion the slides over the waist band. We use our Blacktip Tech DPV’s all the time, with zero issues!
Agreed on the inserted weight pockets. Had a female diver lose her weight pocket in a wreck, fortunately, cause up she went. A dive master had to go back and recover a $50 weight pocket. Plus they add bulk.
Awesome! Sounds like a really good rig! Did I hear you correctly when you said you put 7-0 (70) dives on the rig already? Wow! Also, are you still doing a Hollis BCD review. I seem to remember that being mentioned last year? Good to compare those two. Thanks ever so much. Stay well.
Have it narrowed down to my top two choices for my first bc between the apeks Exotech and the transpac I’ve been watching and reading everything I can find either option will be a fairly large purchase for me but I’m with the school of thought that if you get something quality the first time you’ll save in the long run this video is helpful but would love to see one about the Exotech and even better would be a comparison an contrast of the two. I haven’t found one
Great review! 70 dives prior to review…mad respect! Quick question - seems like more D-rings than necessary. I usually only have two at each shoulder…the extra two on this, can they be removed easily? #askdiversready
Before watching this video, I wasn’t overly familiar with Dive Rite, but it seems there’s is no Transpac Voyager XT, rather a Transpac XT harness and, if you choose to set it up that way, you can combine with a Voyager wing. The video’s naming made looking up this item tricky.
I would recommend a titanium Backplate + wing (mono or double). The heliumdive backplate inclusive DIR harness with titanium D-Rings weights 1.3kg. I use it with a BertecSolution V-weight (modular) when diving doubles and can also travel easy with a super lightweight mono wing.
Thank you James for the clarification, you answered my question about which type of BCD to get. Now I need to decide which bcd is it the Dive Rite HydroLite or the HOG - the one with softpadding, any idea?
Looking to buy my first backplate/wing setup starting with the Dive Rite Voyager XT bladder and Transpac harness! There are two sizes available 12” and 16” with elbow. What does that mean, and how do I go about choosing a size? I’m 6ft tall with an athletic build for reference if that aids your answer! Thanks James! Hope to dive with you someday!
OK, I noticed you use dual straps on your tank; Is thst a tech thing? As long as I can remember any gear I have used had 1 strap, which I felt trepidations about having come from IT, where you backup the backups.
I don't know that's it's necessarily a Tec thing, but I think it's normal for anything except the jacket style BCD. Most of the people I see diving with their own gear run either a BPW or similar one piece unit like the Hydrolite and none of us are Tec (that I know of). Maybe Tec inspired, but not solely for Tec or professional divers.
I started out using a jacket BCD with only 1 cam band then switched to a BPW with 2 I don't really see the advantage as it's supposed to add stablility, but if the tank is strapped to a solid plate the extra band doesn't do much. I'm looking to set up a lightweight BPW for travel and I will only be using 1 band.
Question, I have a Ocesnic Probe. Due to a horse bucking and then a tsilbine T 2 hinged i haven't dove in msny yesrs. The bc has hung in a dsrk closet since. Over 7 yesrs. Used only twice in fresh water here in Florida. My problem is the crap the parts are made from ( the nut that holds the inflator hose to bc ) has deteriorated where the washer on the back side is so i had a air leak. My question is can this be repaired ? The bc itself is like brand new as far as fabric goes. Anyone have any information that could helm me.
James, as you started diving in the UK, did you ever dive with APDiving Tekwing? How would it compare to say this Diverite TransPac as I see a number of similarities (and also quite a few differences).
I'm trying to decide between a soft plate and light aluminum plate for travel it will be only single tank diving. So far most of our travel has been boat diving due but also looking for something that has enough stability for a shore dive with a walk from the parking lot. My wife will have the same system as me just to keep things simple. Any thoughts? Where can I buy specific components such as the plate and shoulder pads? I am trying to make the system as light as possible so therefore I will be buying all the D rings and tri glides in aluminum and I already have my own webbing so I don't want to spend the money on the whole harness just to get a few of the components.
I feel like I know the answer but I’d rather not guess. If I’m looking to get into or building up to diving ship wrecks (I’m stationed in Hawaii, driving distance from Pearl Harbor) is this a good option? It sounds like dove rite is the company I want to go with. It sounds like they have exceptional customer service, but I can’t seem to find a retailer so I’ll have to order online. Thanks for any tips!
I have the travel pac which I think is discontinued, about to take it on a big trip, Liveaboard and I’ve not used it much yet, just two shallow dives. Had to replace the short hose :( misplaced mine, and I just installed weight pockets. Otherwise it’s similar right?
I'm just curious, no hate but a quick question: why is it bad ass to stay horizontal in the water resp. why is it "bad" or "not that bad ass" diving a bit upright? Don't take me wrong, I know a lot of (dir) tech divers and all of them go crazy for staying perfectly horizontal in the water...... I've tried it, well, it's not that hard but after some time I get a massive neck pain, in particular using my cam. I'm looking and filming mostly forward, however, it's not very practical then staying horizontal...... Cheers
You’re more streamlined, less work in the water which should mean a better SAC rate. You won’t kick up silt if you’re close to the bottom. You have to be in perfect trim and buoyancy if you’re penetrating a wreck or swim through. It’s an all around better position.
@@Robert_H_Diver OK, but I would still like to hear from James about his arms position, maybe for one of those 5 minutes or less segments which are so only once or so.
@@Robert_H_Diver Well, I wouldn't say it's an all around better position cause it's definitely not I've u want to look or film forward 😉. If I'm penetraiting a wreck I can switch easily to a more horizontal position, but all in all, if I want to enjoy a reef or film it, it's definitely a pain in the ass beeing completely horizontal but everyone should do what's right for him 😉👌. Cheers.
@@toriless the position of your arms depends on you. I like mine extended, it helps with my trim and it comfortable. You may like yours crossed and tucked into your chest. Try what’s comfortable and what works for you.
