Equipment Guide

The Backplate is the backbone of the System and builds the (stable) conection between the diver and the Tank Assembly. It should be of Stainles Steel or in some cases Aluminium. A one-piece webbing with 3 D-Rings  is closed on the Waist strap with a weight belt buckle. A separate crotch strap with 2 more D-Rings completes the System. If used in open water the plate needs a soc. Storage pack to store the lift bag. 

Backplate with webbing and storage pack from Scubapro

Hollis

Halcyon

Dir-ZONE

Etc. 

Wings should be of reasnabel lift c apacity (25 Liters are sufficient for almost every kit. Dual bladder design – inner and out shell from heavy cordura or ballistic Nylon. Innerbladder accessable thru zipper. 35” corrugated hose with high volune inflator. No pull dump. Hose attachment in the middle of the wing. One  emergency dump on the left inside without the little plastic ball. 

Wing for Doubles –  from Scubapro

Hollis

Halcyon

DIR-ZONE

etc

Same as for doubles but Hose connection needs to be off center to not interfere with the shoulder of the tank.

Wing for Singletanks from Scubapro. 

Hollis

Halcyon

DIR-ZONE

etc

Piece of stainless Steel bolted behind the wing and featured with to cam straps to hold the single tank. Flat design is preferred to keep the tank as close to the diver as possible and to prevent rolling. 

Singletank adapter from Scubapro

DIR-ZONE

Trim Weight Pockets are simple Cordura Poket with Velcro and additional Buckle to mount lead on the camstraps on single tanks

Scubapro 

Halcyon

Double 12L  or 18L or 80cft with staneinless steel bands - welded with bolts (no screws) around 7cm wide. 

Weight and local law rules

n/a

Manifold with isolator – double readial seal – rubber knobs, DIN – no Burst Discs

no

no

10L, 12L long, 15L, 80 cft with single Valce and rubber knob. DIN – no Burst Discs

Size vs weight and local laws rule

no

Piston Style with swifel Design and Port outlet for better Hose routing and reduced stress on the hoses. Second stage adjustable and easy to open without tools. 

Scubapro Mk 25 / S600

Atomic

7ft / 210cm Reg

22” / 56cm Backup

22” / 56 cm SPG Double

24” / 61 cm SPG Single

22” /56 cm Inflator Wing

22” / 56 cm Inflator Drysuit

35” / 90 cm Stage Reg

6” / 15 cm Stage SPG

solid quality - rubber or Miflex

n/a

Aluminium 40 cft.; 7 L, 80 cft – lightweight (US-Version) with single Valve – DIN – No Burst Disc – Rubber Knob

Stagetanks of various sizes from Luxfer

no

Swifel Design for perfect Hose routing. Lightweight. Second stage easy to open without tools

Stage Regulator MK 25 / G250 from Scubapro

Atomic

rugged and simple - suffient lift for configuration - SREAMLINED

Plenty of Systems on the market, all of them with advantages and disadvantages depending on a variet of circumstances. Solid sytems are available from Scubapro, Hollis, Tecline, to name just a few. 

DIRZONE, SEAC, Subgeaar, Toddystyle Sandwich a.s.o.

Very compact and solid. Second stage needs good attachment point for double ender, cap removable without tools

Scubapro Mk17 / S600

Apeks Tek3

6cft or 14 cft LP out of Aluminium with single Valve and rubber Knob. DIN – No Burst Disc

local law and availability rules

n/a

Cam starp for Plate with Bungee on bottom or 2 staprs for the 14 cft for tank mounting

DIRZONE

Halcyon

Piston – 6 Bar IMP – 2 outlets – one for hose and one for OPV. 

DIRZONE

various as long as they have the specs

Brass with mineral Glas – no gimmicks like thermometer, etc. Easy to read

Scubapro

Halcyon, DIRZONE - come from the same factory anyway

Easy to read. Stopp watch function. Intermediate Depth. 

Computer from Heinrich Weikamp in Gauge Mode or Scubapro Galileo 

Uwatec
Reef
Suunto

Easy to read, flat design

Kompass SK6 from Suunto

Scubapro FS-2

PERFECT fit. Seams sealed. The less zippers the better. Ultra stretch neoprene. Inside with Titanium. Seals on arms and feet. Not thicker than 5mm. 

Wetsuit from Fourth Element

Scubapro Everflex

Trilaminate with diagonal Front Zipper. Teleskope Torso. Two leg pokets with Velcro and additional small pocket on top. Pee Valve. No “Boots” or even worse “Rock-Boots”. Socks with attached sole for ultimate ankle movement. Silicone Seals. Made to measure for most figures as alomost every suit is way to wide when bought from stock. 

Difficult for a long time - but finally there is the perfect suit: Black Pearl Drysuits

Black Pearl Drysuits!

DUI, Santi

Proper fit – fast drying – warm also when wet – transporting moisture to the outside

Fourth Element 

Hollis Lavacore

Perfect fit – allows free movement. No bulk material that blocks the exhaust valve of drysuit. Fast drying – stable in the front to prevent cold thru crushed material 

Fourth Element Halo 3D

Santi, Scubapro, Ursuk, etc

Perfect Fit – inside with titanium. Face Seal

Hood from Fourth Element

White Arrow, Ursuk, Santi, 

When needed for temperature reaons: Perfect fit. Seams sealed, Ultra stretch and good grip. Not more than 3mm. If just for protection – good fitting repairgloves / Bicycle Gloves or similar. 

Wet Gloves from Fourth Element and Mechanic gloves from Mechanix

Not Really

Perfect Fit – good grip and easy attachment to suit WITOUT O-Rings or big rings

Gloves and O-Ring-Less Ringsystem from Sitec

Scubapro

Perfect fit – warm when wet – transports moisture to the outside

Fourth Element

not really

As bright as possible with either a focusable beam or a fixed spot (6°) . For technical dives a canister design is preferred – for all other kind of dives a non canister design is fine as well. Riggid Goodman handle. LED is the standard meanwhile - 1500 Lumen should be he min. Burntime appropriate for dive. Attachment point for temporary storage with Bungeeloop and fixed Boltsnap for permanent storage. 

Ammonite Systems. 

HOLLIS LED 25

Halcyon

As bright as possible with either a focusable beam or a fixed spot (6°) . Forsidemountl dives ano-cable  design is preferred. Riggid Goodman handle.  LED. Burntime appropriate for dive. Attachment point for temporary storage with Bungeeloop and fixed Boltsnap for permanent storage. 

FinSub

some

Simple design without switch. On/Off thru Bezel. LED Design with as long as possible burntimes. Batteries – no recharchables

Subgear SP 30 Prolight

Hollis LED3

Halcyon

Heser

Low volume ad perfect fit. Frameless if possible ad no clear silicone to prevent refections. 

Scubapro Trinidad oder Frameless

Hollis Onyx M1

Neoprene with Velcro – closing on the insde

ISE Maskstrap

lots of alternatives - velcro should be inside. 

Rubber, real Jet-Design and perfect fit are the key points

Scubapro Jet

ScubaproSeawing Gorilla

Hollis F1

Turtle

Stainless Steel spring with round attachment piece and stainless Stell wire – NO RIVETS!

NO Brand we recommend - plenty on the market - needs to be WITHOUT the rivest some use

n/a

Simple without any nonsense gimmicks. Bright color. Made on lace from full material 

The famous ISE Spool (not available at the Moment)

all as long as not mold injected and no "coldwater design"

Open design with no gap to the axle – so the line can not jam. No breaks, Springs, cages, etc

DIRZONE

Hollis, Halcyon,

closed system - inflatable oraly or thru inflatorhose - OPV - bright color - at least 1 meter / 3.3 ft

Halcyon 

no

closed and inflatable thru inflator or oraly - sufficient lift - bright color - OPV - solid attachment point - D-Ring on top for wetnotes.

Halcyon 80 lbs liftbag

no

Proper booklet with attachment point and the possibility to store pens and a survey compass

ISE Wetnotes

Halcyon

No tip. Serrated edge till handle, bright color, sheet with no retainer

Scubapro X-Cut

ISE-Knife

DIRZONE Knife

Z-Knive with cordura sheet

Eezycut

n/a

Simple, rugged without any Gimmicks. Battery and Cell can be replaced by user

whatever - no specific brand

n/a

V-Shaped Weight out of lead that fits between the double tanks. Covered to avoid lead contact – adjustable if possible 

needs to fit - various on the market BTS has some great ones

n/a

Stainless Steel with Stainless Steel Spring. Lightweight and as small as possible. 

Boltsnaps in ½”, ¾” and 1”