What are your thoughts on Halycon? Is the I330R better than the Novo for your first dive computer? Do you have better hand signals for weight? Let us know below 🤙
I've used a D-30 PSD for my single rig for the past few years. The heaviest thing I've put on it is a 300Bar Faber 12. Surprisingly it looks like when filled to a typical 210 Bar that has about the same buoyancy as the 232 18 litre, ie about -6.5kg. The 30 is fine with that and will still float the rig on its own with 4kg of weight, an aluminium backplate and a regulator set. Certainly if your guy uses a weight belt the DSD-30 will be OK for floatiness, even with a steel backplate. However, with the extra girth of the 18 litre cylinder I'd say the 40 would be a better bet. Mega respect though for someone diving an 18 litre! That thing weighs 22.5kg all on its own; we are bordering on twinset territory here. You might also mention that the PSD versions of these wings also have a shoulder pull-dump built into the inflator, which is occasionally very useful.
The Halcyon stuff that is quite expensive, or somewhat more expensive than others, tends to be hand made in the USA. You can save significant amounts if you don’t mass produce in Thailand, India, China or other known affordable mass production countries (nb: not talking about quality, I’m talking about manufacturing price). Their regs, which are just rebadged scuba pro, is… funnily enough, the same price as scuba pro.
Halcyon regs are actually cheaper than the comparable Scubapro regs. Other than that yes they are more expensive, sometimes as much as 100% more than their competition. But often they trim out better, or more well thought out features.
Regarding the wing size: the smaller the better (as long as it has enough lift). Technical divers who dive a double-12L + several stage bottles will typically use a 40 pound wing. So, a 30 pound should be plenty for an 18L tank. If your wing is bigger than necessary, it will curl around the tank which can get the air trapped. This limits your ability to dump the air when needed and that can be dangerous when you end up going up too fast and you can't dump the excess gas easily. That is why the tec divers I just referred to only use 40 pounds for all of that gear and not a larger wing.
The Aqualung i330R isn't something I'd recommend. I was locked out with an ERROR screen a few weeks after I got it. Called up the dive shop where I bought it from and they told me there was a recall (unrelated leaking issues) and I need to send it back. After several weeks I got a brand new i330R through. A few months later (recently) it again gave be the ERROR screen after a dive. Now I'm trying to get it sorted and it's taking ages. In the meantime I have a dead computer. Lessons I learnt: 1) Avoid Aqualung computers and pony up for better brands such as Shearwater. 2) Avoid rechargeable dive computers where you can't reset them by removing the battery. These are my thoughts, your milage may vary.
Just ordered a Halcyon Adventure pro BC. Also have a Xdeep Ghost which isn't bad and an OMS double twin tank bladder. None of them particularly cheap but all very well made. Hopefully the Halcyon will live up to its reputation.
I love how he's trying so hard trying to answer the question without answering the question. Imo 1. Halcyon gears look amazing. 2. If you determined to dive DIR and want to go into the GUE system, it's really hard to argue against halcyon. 3. In all other cases get Halcyon only if you want some features only the halcyon one provide.
Hey guys… could you do (or have you) a vid on the various dive planner and dive log Apps out there? Ideally in one longer episode with a table of features, pros, and cons at the end? I find a lot want a membership to try all the features, and considering many have “iffy” free features (or even if good ones), there’s no way to know what the full monte would be like. Thoughts?
Hmm if you need an 18 liter tank for your dives i would really advise to look into a set of doubles instead of just buying a bigger wing for a single cylinder. A double 8.5 liter with an 40lb wing is a much nicer setup.
Halcyon isn’t expensive because of their name, they’re expensive because they are made well thought out and designed using durable top quality materials and made in the USA. It’s always more expensive to make things in the USA. The market is flooded with mass produced cheap options. You get what you pay for imo. Spend what you are comfortable spending and what works for your style of diving.
Halcyon regs are actually produced by scubapro. Actually, they tend to be last year's scubapro reg, but then with the fancy blue color. They look nice but are in fact scubapro regs.
#askmark. Mark, what is your preferred corrugated inflator hose length? I am considering purchasing an Apex WTX-30 PSD wing but I am concerned about the 18 inch hose length. My LDS told me Apeks uses a proprietary hose diameter and therefore you cannot replace it with a non Apeks branded hose. Is this correct?
The Halcyon lights are really a cut above. They use fresnel lenses and are incredibly punchy. My instructor’s focus put my 4000 lumen canister light to shame. The question is do you really need that if you’re not doing highly technical dives. The regs are rebadged scubapro. All the rest is not really worth the ‘H’ logo premium imo.
#askmark Hi, I'm looking for a new dive computer. I'm a recreational diver and I'm not going to do tech dives in the future. I would like a computer with air integration. The Suunto D5 or the Eon Core seem to tick all the boxes but a lot of people seem to advice against them because of the algorithm. What's your opinion on these computers ?
Hey, I have a set of twin steel 80's and I am diving them with a X Deep Hydros with 40lb lift with no weights. I felt a bit heavy should I upgrade to a 60lb lift wing? And if so which one? X Deep have one?? Maybe the Scubapro X-tex 60? #askmark
#askmark i have been looking at the idive color tech + from ratio. A full tech computer for 500? On paper it should be as good as a teric. I want to know your thoughts on that computer and brand. Cheers :)
#askshaun let’s talk surface interval on the dive boat. What, in your wheelhouse, would be a great option when you’re a bit chilly in between dives? SurfFur is the go to for many, but that’s $180 freedom bucks. Can you give me a good option in the hiking realm that’s water…tolerable? You’re soaking wet anyway. Decent thermal properties, but just a better price tag for the average person. Edited to add: halcyon is a scam created by the founder of GUE. He created this schooling of SCUBA and then created the gear so it’s all standardized and everyone in that school knows how it works. He’s eliminating a skill problem with equipment which is a direct conflict of their teaching principles.
"halcyon is a scam created by the founder of GUE. He created this schooling of SCUBA and then created the gear so it’s all standardized and everyone in that school knows how it works. He’s eliminating a skill problem with equipment which is a direct conflict of their teaching principles." Damn... Your profile pics matches exactly your comment. Kudos for the efford!
Hi guys! I have a #askmark question for a product comparison if I may - could you compare a Mark vs a Shaun please? Key similarities, differences, and specs... Thank you!
Yeah, that's been bouncing around the news for a while. In Brazil and a couple other countries, it's quite an insult. And now it's growing as a sign for white power communities unfortunately. I doubt we'll change our ways because the OK sign for us is a sign that we're caring for one-another
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
What are your thoughts on Halycon? Is the I330R better than the Novo for your first dive computer? Do you have better hand signals for weight? Let us know below 🤙
I've used a D-30 PSD for my single rig for the past few years. The heaviest thing I've put on it is a 300Bar Faber 12. Surprisingly it looks like when filled to a typical 210 Bar that has about the same buoyancy as the 232 18 litre, ie about -6.5kg. The 30 is fine with that and will still float the rig on its own with 4kg of weight, an aluminium backplate and a regulator set. Certainly if your guy uses a weight belt the DSD-30 will be OK for floatiness, even with a steel backplate. However, with the extra girth of the 18 litre cylinder I'd say the 40 would be a better bet. Mega respect though for someone diving an 18 litre! That thing weighs 22.5kg all on its own; we are bordering on twinset territory here.
You might also mention that the PSD versions of these wings also have a shoulder pull-dump built into the inflator, which is occasionally very useful.
The Halcyon stuff that is quite expensive, or somewhat more expensive than others, tends to be hand made in the USA. You can save significant amounts if you don’t mass produce in Thailand, India, China or other known affordable mass production countries (nb: not talking about quality, I’m talking about manufacturing price). Their regs, which are just rebadged scuba pro, is… funnily enough, the same price as scuba pro.
Halcyon regs are actually cheaper than the comparable Scubapro regs. Other than that yes they are more expensive, sometimes as much as 100% more than their competition. But often they trim out better, or more well thought out features.
Regarding the wing size: the smaller the better (as long as it has enough lift). Technical divers who dive a double-12L + several stage bottles will typically use a 40 pound wing. So, a 30 pound should be plenty for an 18L tank. If your wing is bigger than necessary, it will curl around the tank which can get the air trapped. This limits your ability to dump the air when needed and that can be dangerous when you end up going up too fast and you can't dump the excess gas easily. That is why the tec divers I just referred to only use 40 pounds for all of that gear and not a larger wing.
The Aqualung i330R isn't something I'd recommend. I was locked out with an ERROR screen a few weeks after I got it. Called up the dive shop where I bought it from and they told me there was a recall (unrelated leaking issues) and I need to send it back. After several weeks I got a brand new i330R through. A few months later (recently) it again gave be the ERROR screen after a dive. Now I'm trying to get it sorted and it's taking ages. In the meantime I have a dead computer.
Lessons I learnt:
1) Avoid Aqualung computers and pony up for better brands such as Shearwater.
2) Avoid rechargeable dive computers where you can't reset them by removing the battery.
These are my thoughts, your milage may vary.
Just ordered a Halcyon Adventure pro BC. Also have a Xdeep Ghost which isn't bad and an OMS double twin tank bladder. None of them particularly cheap but all very well made. Hopefully the Halcyon will live up to its reputation.
I love how he's trying so hard trying to answer the question without answering the question. Imo 1. Halcyon gears look amazing. 2. If you determined to dive DIR and want to go into the GUE system, it's really hard to argue against halcyon. 3. In all other cases get Halcyon only if you want some features only the halcyon one provide.
Thanks for answering, as expected it was a lot of fun seeing you gasp at such heresy! And of course I‘ll always go the proper scuba road, promise. 😄
Is Skippy there ever going to get certified?
Hey guys… could you do (or have you) a vid on the various dive planner and dive log Apps out there? Ideally in one longer episode with a table of features, pros, and cons at the end?
I find a lot want a membership to try all the features, and considering many have “iffy” free features (or even if good ones), there’s no way to know what the full monte would be like.
Thoughts?
Hmm if you need an 18 liter tank for your dives i would really advise to look into a set of doubles instead of just buying a bigger wing for a single cylinder.
A double 8.5 liter with an 40lb wing is a much nicer setup.
Halcyon isn’t expensive because of their name, they’re expensive because they are made well thought out and designed using durable top quality materials and made in the USA. It’s always more expensive to make things in the USA. The market is flooded with mass produced cheap options. You get what you pay for imo. Spend what you are comfortable spending and what works for your style of diving.
Regarding the computer, just ask yourself if you want Air Integration on your dive computer. For me, the answer has always been a strong yes.
about half of all diving incidents are due to running out of gas, lol. AI seems common sense to me
@@djknauss1 I prefer a analog tbh, relying on a strong signal seems less common sense to me.
Halcyon regs are actually produced by scubapro. Actually, they tend to be last year's scubapro reg, but then with the fancy blue color. They look nice but are in fact scubapro regs.
Rubbish
I'm looking into buying the tusa conquest 11 BCD and I was wondering how you feel about hybrid BCDs and if you think this is a good choice?
#askmark. Mark, what is your preferred corrugated inflator hose length? I am considering purchasing an Apex WTX-30 PSD wing but I am concerned about the 18 inch hose length. My LDS told me Apeks uses a proprietary hose diameter and therefore you cannot replace it with a non Apeks branded hose. Is this correct?
The Halcyon lights are really a cut above. They use fresnel lenses and are incredibly punchy. My instructor’s focus put my 4000 lumen canister light to shame. The question is do you really need that if you’re not doing highly technical dives. The regs are rebadged scubapro. All the rest is not really worth the ‘H’ logo premium imo.
#askmark Hi, I'm looking for a new dive computer. I'm a recreational diver and I'm not going to do tech dives in the future. I would like a computer with air integration. The Suunto D5 or the Eon Core seem to tick all the boxes but a lot of people seem to advice against them because of the algorithm. What's your opinion on these computers ?
Hey, I have a set of twin steel 80's and I am diving them with a X Deep Hydros with 40lb lift with no weights.
I felt a bit heavy should I upgrade to a 60lb lift wing? And if so which one? X Deep have one?? Maybe the Scubapro X-tex 60?
#askmark
I'm impressed with the amount of sign language Mark knows!
I Googled it before the show, to be honest...
#askmark i have been looking at the idive color tech + from ratio. A full tech computer for 500? On paper it should be as good as a teric. I want to know your thoughts on that computer and brand. Cheers :)
#askmark any tips or recommendations on houses color?
Only two things you can do with a dry bag, keep things dry and crap in it. Lol.
#askmark Is there a way to estimate the lift capacity needed for a wing? Thanks!
#askshaun let’s talk surface interval on the dive boat. What, in your wheelhouse, would be a great option when you’re a bit chilly in between dives? SurfFur is the go to for many, but that’s $180 freedom bucks.
Can you give me a good option in the hiking realm that’s water…tolerable? You’re soaking wet anyway. Decent thermal properties, but just a better price tag for the average person.
Edited to add: halcyon is a scam created by the founder of GUE. He created this schooling of SCUBA and then created the gear so it’s all standardized and everyone in that school knows how it works. He’s eliminating a skill problem with equipment which is a direct conflict of their teaching principles.
"halcyon is a scam created by the founder of GUE. He created this schooling of SCUBA and then created the gear so it’s all standardized and everyone in that school knows how it works. He’s eliminating a skill problem with equipment which is a direct conflict of their teaching principles."
Damn... Your profile pics matches exactly your comment. Kudos for the efford!
Hi guys! I have a #askmark question for a product comparison if I may - could you compare a Mark vs a Shaun please? Key similarities, differences, and specs... Thank you!
#askmark - have you seen that BBC news report on the 25th, that claims that the old OK sign now means I hate you!
Yeah, that's been bouncing around the news for a while. In Brazil and a couple other countries, it's quite an insult. And now it's growing as a sign for white power communities unfortunately.
I doubt we'll change our ways because the OK sign for us is a sign that we're caring for one-another
Halcyon awesome gear kick ass warranty. I love my halcyon gear like much better than Dive Rite