Ranger BC

"Brian" wrote

> Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. Local dive shop carries
> other brands like Seaquest. They won't say much about anything not in
> there shop. Anyways I've been searching around everywhere and the Ranger
> seems like a very good choice. What is your guys thoughts?

> I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
> year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
> I also want to dive wrecks.

Before I converted to a plate and wing, I used a Sea BCD. It was
comfortable, reliable and adequate for the diving I was doing at the time.
As I recall, they market the Ranger as a technical BC. If that's why you're
interested in it, I suggest you shop some more. There are, in my opinion,
better alternatives for technical diving, particularly for the cave diving
you mention.

See if you can find a shop in your area that carries plates and wings. You
may have to find a technical shop, but in an area with a lot of caves, you
should find the preferred equipment for diving them someplace. I guess the
best known brands are Dive Rite, Halcyon and Oxycheq. Do some internet
research, talk to some of the local cave divers and see if you can find a
shop or diver willing to let you try a plate and wing system and help you
set it up properly.

Then buy whatever you like best for the diving you plan to do.

Lee

In article <SsXZd.19988$YD4.911@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com> ,
"Brian" <brian@tech-home.com> writes:

>I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
>year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
>I also want to dive wrecks.

Welcome to the sport of SCUBA diving. Enjoy!

Brian, if you eventually get into cave diving you will pretty much have
to get a backplate-and-wing type of BC. Rather than throwing away money
on a jacket style BC that you will discard in a year or two, go for the
backplate-and-wing now.

Halcyon has a reputation for excellent equipment, but is rather pricey.
http://www.halcyon.net is their site -- there is a dealer listing on
the site.

DiveRite also has good choices. http://www.diverite.com
Or see http://www.diveriteexpress.com for a supported on-line source.

And there are others.

DO NOT by the "delux" harness from DiveRite or anybody else.
The "standard" harness is the simple, trouble free, one-piece shoulder
straps ans waist belt that works, and is preferred by virtually all
cave divers and many open-water divers too.

Avoid wings with elastic, "bungee" cords that "eliminate massive air shift".
If you have "massive air shift" you are using a wing that is two large;
get a smaller wing. The problem with the bungees is that they will force
deflate a wing that has even a small air leak. This seldome happens
in practice, but it is potentially dangerous if it does.

OMS (http://www.omsdive.com) who makes these "bondage wings" (as they are
sometimes disparaginlgy called) also makes normal wings.

Buy a wing that provides just enough lift to keep your bouyancy neutral.
If you dive in different circumstances you may need differnt wings
for the different circumstances -- cold water may require more lift
to offfset the weight needed with dry suites or thick wet suites;
single tank vs doubles call for different amounts of lift and differently
constructed wings.

The beauty of the backplate-and-wing system is that you can change just
the wing without replacing the rest of the rig.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Brian wrote:
> Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. Local dive shop carries other
> brands like Seaquest. They won't say much about anything not in there shop.
> Anyways I've been searching around everywhere and the Ranger seems like a
> very good choice. What is your guys thoughts?
>
> I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
> year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
> I also want to dive wrecks.
>
> Thanks
>

The ranger is a good BC, I dove one for a year or so. what I didn't like
about it was the way it let a tank "flop" around on your back ( a
problem with a large number of soft jacket style BCs). I did a number of
dives in the 'Teck' BC as well - the ranger is a better all around BC,
but it is a little lite on lift (44#) for big doubles.

If you do get into tecnical diving neither the ranger or the teck will
do, you'll almost certainly go with a backplate and wing. You might as
well get that now. Avoid anything Halcyon, just because <BSEG>. avoid a
Huge wing (anything over 60# lift is rediculos) Ignore those who say
elastic will kill you.

Brian wrote:
> Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. Local dive shop carries
other
> brands like Seaquest. They won't say much about anything not in there
shop.
> Anyways I've been searching around everywhere and the Ranger seems
like a
> very good choice. What is your guys thoughts?
>
> I'm going to be a recreational diver that may look into cave diving
in a
> year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri. I also want to dive wrecks.


I use a Ranger. It is fine BC for recreational diving. I divemastered
for a while and it took lots of use and abuse. I started using one
years ago because of their integrated weights. Zeagle quality is quite
good.

IMHO the Ranger's use ends at the recreational level. There is not way
I would put a set of double 80s on it for deep ocean let alone double
steels for a cave.

If you are going to do more technical diving including cave a back
plate and wings are the way to go. Even though my diving is on the
recreational side my next BC will be a back plate and wings. I like the
simplicity especially now that there ia a way to have the weight on the
harness belt instead of separate.

As for cost, the pricing for a Halcyon vs Zeagle is quite comparable.

However, if you think you are going to do some cave/wreck diving do as
one poster has said check out their gear. Then check another, then
another.

Cheers,

Allen

In article <SsXZd.19988$YD4.911@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com> ,
"Brian" <brian@tech-home.com> writes:

>Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. ...
>
>I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
>year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.

Here is yet another idea -- find a qualified (certified) local cave
diver -- better yet a cave diving instructor. Take a look at the gear
he/she uses, explain your plans and ask for advice.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

Thanks alot for the replies. I didn't know about the wing style BC's. I will
start researching them more now.

I don't mind shopping at local dive shop (whre I getting certified) But they
seem stuck on certain brands. Like I got a henderson gold core wet suit and
they didn't like the fact I didn't get there Scuba Pro brand. Obviously
they will only sell me what they carry and that may not be the best value.
As I finish up open water this month I will start taking advanced classes in
night/wrecks etc. I just wanted to get my own BC before I went on the open
water cert. dive. But I would rather wait to buy only one that fits me the
best. I plan on going in there this friday and ask around. This is a
expensive hobby and I'm trying to buy equipment that will last and do
everything I plan on.


I just found a diverite dealer about 30 miles from me. Guess I will be
checking the BC's out and rent one for the day to see how I like it.

Again thanks alot
--

---------------------------------------
Brian A. Dye
brian@tech-home.com
http://tech-home.com
---------------------------------------


"Charlie Hammond" <hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com> wrote in message
news:9t_Zd.1807$jg2.887@news.cpqcorp.net...
> In article <SsXZd.19988$YD4.911@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com> ,
> "Brian" <brian@tech-home.com> writes:
>
>>Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. ...
>>
>>I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
>>year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
>
> Here is yet another idea -- find a qualified (certified) local cave
> diver -- better yet a cave diving instructor. Take a look at the gear
> he/she uses, explain your plans and ask for advice.
>
> --
> Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
> (hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
> All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.
>

If you are going to get cave certified, you are going far beyond
recreational diving. The equipment requirements are very different, so
you ought to learn more about it. Also, don't think you want to do cave
diving because that's all there is in Missouri. The Gulf is not all
that far away, and trips to other locations might be cheaper (and more
fun) than the gear you need for caves. Some divers like caves, some do not.

Brian wrote:
> Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. Local dive shop carries other
> brands like Seaquest. They won't say much about anything not in there shop.
> Anyways I've been searching around everywhere and the Ranger seems like a
> very good choice. What is your guys thoughts?
>
> I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
> year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
> I also want to dive wrecks.
>
> Thanks
>

I do very much understand I need Alot more training before I go about a cave
dive.
I've explored caves above ground and can only imagine how much more
difficult it would be underwater. It's just a goal I want to slowly work up
too.
But I'm taking it step by step. Just want to make sure I buy gear now that
will last for what I plan on doing.
I plan on taking
Nitrox
Night Diving
Boat diving
Stress\Rescue

Hopefully I will get these out of the way this summer.


Also I hear there is a nice place near St. Louis an old iron mine. I saw
some very nice pictues and hope to visit this next year.
--

---------------------------------------
Brian A. Dye
brian@tech-home.com
http://tech-home.com
---------------------------------------


"Dr. Yak" <DrYak@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:dD6_d.57290$755.29429@lakeread05...
> If you are going to get cave certified, you are going far beyond
> recreational diving. The equipment requirements are very different, so
> you ought to learn more about it. Also, don't think you want to do cave
> diving because that's all there is in Missouri. The Gulf is not all that
> far away, and trips to other locations might be cheaper (and more fun)
> than the gear you need for caves. Some divers like caves, some do not.
>
> Brian wrote:
>> Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. Local dive shop carries
>> other brands like Seaquest. They won't say much about anything not in
>> there shop. Anyways I've been searching around everywhere and the Ranger
>> seems like a very good choice. What is your guys thoughts?
>>
>> I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a
>> year or two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
>> I also want to dive wrecks.
>>
>> Thanks
>>

In article <zG5_d.23410$YD4.18167@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com> ,
"Brian" <brian@tech-home.com> writes:

>I don't mind shopping at local dive shop (whre I getting certified) But they
>seem stuck on certain brands. Like I got a henderson gold core wet suit and
>they didn't like the fact I didn't get there Scuba Pro brand. ...

I prefer to buy from a [reasonably] local shop. I'll even pay some premium
to be able to see, touch and sometimes even rent before I buy. But sometimes
they just do not have what I want, or they insist on full list price while
on-line sources have much lower prices. If the local shops don't like this,
they had better learn that they are a BUSINESS that I use, not a CHARITY
that I support. I consider myself lucky that the shops I do partonize
have a good attitude in this regard -- or maybe I've just selected to do
buisiness with those that have a good attitude...

>I just found a diverite dealer about 30 miles from me. Guess I will be
>checking the BC's out and rent one for the day to see how I like it.

This an *EXCELLENT* idea. All the advice posted here, mine included,
is worth exactly nothing -- or maybe less! -- if you just plain don't
like the gear we're suggesting. Take some time to talk with the dealer.
Explain where you're heading and ask the dealer's advice. But also keep
in mind that a DiveRite dealer will have a natural tendency to boost what
he sells, just like all the other dealers.

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

"Brian" <brian@tech-home.com> wrote in message
news:SsXZd.19988$YD4.911@newssvr12.news.prodigy.co m...
> Very new to scuba taking classes as we speak. Local dive shop carries other brands
> like Seaquest. They won't say much about anything not in there shop. Anyways I've
> been searching around everywhere and the Ranger seems like a very good choice. What
> is your guys thoughts?
>
> I'm going to be a recreational diver that May look into cave diving in a year or
> two. Lots of caves in Missouri.
> I also want to dive wrecks.
>
> Thanks
>
> --
>
> ---------------------------------------
> Brian A. Dye
> brian@tech-home.com
> http://tech-home.com
> ---------------------------------------

For specialized diving I like the advice that you contact the local people who do
that kind of diving and get their advice, since you'll have to conform to their
methods anyway.

For recreational single tank diving I like my new Zeagle Escape. It's a lightweight
version of the Ranger with a 35 lb wing, compact and well balanced. I've only made
three dives in mine so far, but have been quite pleased so far. It will fold up
nicely for travel. I'm hoping it will retire my backplate/wing.

Adam