Hi all! I'm new to the site. I am going to Bonaire for the first time on the 12th of Aug to dive with 3 friends of mine. We can't wait!

The question: Has anyone here used any of the Halcyon BC's and what do you think of them? Three of us were given the opportunity to take the Halcyon Eclipse on the trip. We have heard great things about the Halcyon product, but I wanted to see if the same was true from divers that weren't actually trying to sell us one...if you know what I mean....;-) Thank you! Dave

I always use an eclipse and alu or steel BP for diving with single tanks. I'm absolutely addicted to this wing so make sure you bring it and enjoy your dives!

Thank you Anne-Marie.

I was told from the dive shop that is letting us use them that they are, hands down, the best BC you can use. Freedom of movement, trim,low drag, etc. We are using the wings with a Stainless steel BP so I was told we'll be 6lbs negative without extra weights.

Can't wait to try it! Thanks again. Dave

Last time I brought my aly bp because of weight allowance with KLM but I also prefer the steel ones.
Make sure the webbing is adjusted correctly. This is important since it really adds to your comfort. If you are not sure on how to do this, let me know than I'll send you some tips and trics.

Our DM told us that the Halcyon is a one person BC....because of the webbing adjustment. Any tips you have would be appreciated. Thanks!

I JUST got back and had taken my Halcyon Eclipse and SS Backplate. I bought mine in January and ABSOLUTELY don't see myself EVER using anything else ever again!!! It is VERY comfortable (even though I am STILL attempting to perfect the fit of webbing).

My ONLY complaint is that mine seems to suffer from inferior Halcyon sewing job on the outer shell. I need re-stitch mine in several places (I first noticed on FIRST trip out after purchasing it!) I meant to send it back but I have been using it too much!

I was hesitant to take the SS Backplate (6 lbs) but couldn't force myself take my old Zeagle Ranger BC instead. I was not disappointed.

I dove with T-shirt and Swim trunks all week (82 degree water temp.) Dives ranging from 45 minutes to an hour long, 24 in all during week. Never got cold, but that's me?

I used an additional 6lbs in tank band trim weight pockets so I didn't need a weight belt. I felt I could easily swim that configuration to surface if need be and could reach them to ditch if need be.

My XL ScubaPro Jetfins weigh in at 3 lbs each (I had to move them from one bag to another to meet 50lb airline limitation) I am not sure what they are in water +/- though?

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have further questions.

Try this site for adjustment tips:
http://dir-diver.com/en/equipment/backplate_adjustment.html
The webbing needs to be adjusted to your size.

Thanks Mark!

Anne-Marie, you're the best.

Thanks Anne-Marie.

I have seen that site before and understand how to thread it and how to adjust it.

What I meant was I am still tweaking it and fine-tuning it. My tank still rides sort of high even though upper tank band is as high on tank as possible (right at crown of tank neck).

It is just a minor adjustment here or there as time goes on as it fits nicely other than Tank height. My ScubaPro regulator and Din/Yoke adapter is tall enough that it touches back of my head. I am slowly adjusting it downward. It is only the final tweaking adjustment that I am still in process of doing.

At this stage it is easy to overshoot and go too far.

I have dove them as well as jacket types and other back inflates. The best BC ever, hardly. They are a huge pain to adjust, never did get the one I was wearing adjusted to suit me. They must be taken off to do any adjustment, not so with my back inflate. If you swing from no wetsuit to a heavy one, the constant pain of adjusting them not worth the effort. Ask around and you will find most that use them only dive one way or have several different setups. Most of the other so called benefits are of little real value. Like replaceable harness, it's rare to find a diver that has actually worn out a BC. They are no doubt the way to go for double tanks but for single tank diving, IMO they are not worth the trouble.

Thanks for your input Herman.

I use one all the time. If you are having to adjust it very much, you have the straps too tight to begin with. The shoulder straps don't need to be very tight at all. The weight rides well on your hips and the shoulder straps just provide some stability. I started out years ago with mine snug. Over the years I continued to loosen it up. I use the AL backplate and the little 18# travel wing for warm water locations.

(Message edited by bandit on July 31, 2006)

Hey Dave,

My husband purchased his Halcyon last year before going to PNG. After making a few adjustments he decided he loves it!! After wearing a used, but good, vest style BC for 6 years, he was ready for a change. Now he uses less weight around his waist due to the weight of the plate. If I wore this BC I wouldn't have to wear any weights, but I would choose a lighter plate so I would have weights to ditch if I needed to.

L

I use the 18# wing and an ABS backplate (OMS). This weighs almost nothing and packs for travel EXTREMELY well! True, I have to wear a few pounds of lead though. And I agree with Herman, this setup is only used for warm water travel destinations. Ah, if I could only use it more...
I love it though! As easy as a conventional BC? Not at first, but then it fits like part of you and that's that! I've not had any problems with stitching or elsewhere--I was impressed with the simplicity and construction of the wing.

If anyone has adjustment or weight distribution problems with his wing/backplate BC, please don't hesitate to contact me when you're on island, I'm more than willing to help.

I can also supply the hardware that goes with it or thread a new harness.

Best,

Benji

They can be a pain to adjust at first if you are use to traditional jacket style BC's, but once you get use to it making adjustments doesnt take long at all.

My next trip to Bonaire is in December and I'll be diving a tropical drysuit...based on my weight requirements up here in this suit, I'm looking at about 14lbs total weight needed. If I would dive with a jacket style BC I bet it would be 18+....having the weight of the BP dispersed over your back and the wing right above that automatically puts you in a decent position trim wise. A couple fine adjustments and you'll be looking like Benji in the water.

Jason

I have a SS backplate from Dive Rite (Transplate Harness) and love it. It has the benefits of benig a rigid plate with negative bouyancy and also has the benefits of quick release and adjustments (as well as the increased comfort factor of having just a little padding underneath the shoulder straps which comes in handy in those warm water conditions like Bonaire where you're diving in a minimal, if any, wetsuit). I've also seen that OMC has a similar product, but haven't tried it out myself. http://www.diverite.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=T3200