----- Original Message -----
From: "Kent Lind" <[log in to unmask]>
> The Halcyon lift bags have a closed circuit inflator. To inflate you must
pull
> off either your BC inflator hose or your drysuit inflator and plug it into
the
> lift bag.
Yep, I use the drysuit hose.
>
> This system might work perfectly great in warm Florida water where you
have
> lightweight gloves or no gloves at all. However, I'm not convinced it's
the
> best approach for cold water diving because pulling your inflator hoses
off
> and on is not nearly as easy with heavy gloves or mitts.
I wear pretty heavy gloves for the local diving here during the winter and
haven't had any problem with the drysuit inflator hose and inflating the
bag...
>
> I haven't actually tried the Halcyon wings in cold water but I have tried
> pulling inflator hoses off and on and it isn't always easy with heavy
gloves
> and cold hands. I would also hate to shoot a lift bag and then get into
> buoyancy trouble and then not be able to inflate my wing because the hose
is
> off of it.
I agree that not being able to inflate my wings would be less than fun.
That's why I use the drysuit hose. Plus it's easier to pull it off, put it
back on...
>
> The other option would be to install a separate inflator hose on my rig
just
> for lift bag inflation. But this seems like an extra convolution.
I agree. No need to add any unnecessary convolution here.
>
> The OMS lift bags and SMBs are open on the bottom but still have a
no-spill
> design. So that you can fill them with your regulator (or lean back and
fill
> them with the regulator exaust or BC inflator exaust) but they will still
hold
> their gas on the surface. I have never had a problem with inflating a
lift
> bag using the purge on my long hose regulator. I just purge squirts of
air
> into it rather than holding down the purge button.
I have not used the OMS bags. Have used the Carter's and don't care for them
at all.
>
> The old style Carter lift bags can tip over and spill out the air on the
> surface so they need to be used more carefully. That's why I like the OMS
> bags better.
>
> Also, I'm not positive if you can manually inflate the Halcyon lift bags.
> Perhaps someone who has one can tell us. If you are drifting on the
surface
> and have used all your gas, you still want to be able to inflate that
safety
> sausage. You can blow into the OMS sausage and inflate it that way
without a
> regulator. I'm not sure if you can do the same with the Halcyon
You can inflate them manually but it's a pain to do so. The inflator quick
disconnect is small and the orifice is not quick to add air manually.
Overall, I have been pleased with the Halycon bag though.
Thanks...
Mike
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: SouthEast US Scuba Diving Travel list
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mike Wallace
> > Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 7:14 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] Diving DIR/whatever
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > >
> > > The one thing I wouldn't get from Halcyon are the lift bags. I'd go
with
> > OMS
> > > for that. But Halcyon for everything else.
> > >
> > > -Kent-
> >
> > Kent, what do you not like about the Halcyon bags?
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: SouthEast US Scuba Diving Travel list
> > > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Ed Graves
> > > > Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 12:06 PM
> > > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > > Subject: [SCUBA-SE] Diving DIR/whatever(was:Dive report Riviera
Beach)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I'm sure this has been asked before, but who do you backplate &
> > > > wings divers recommend for equipment? Halcyon? OMS? Joe's Garage?
> > > > I fondly remember my first set-up (1972), it had an orange plastic
> > > > backplate (Heathways?), bolted to a steel 72 with stainless
> > > > steel(?) bands. No BC or wings, and oh! so easy to put on.
> > > > Thanks Lee for the memory flashback.
> > > > Ed
> > > >
> > > > ------Original Message------
> > > > From: Lee Bell <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > > Sent: June 8, 2000 4:17:21 PM GMT
> > > > Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] Dive report Riviera Beach
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > David Strike wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > As its my intention to only ever again dive a single cylinder,
(mines
> > a
> > > > > steel), I'm opting for the same lift as my current wings give me -
> > 45lb
> > > > > lift. However, any advice or opinions on this would be greatly
> > > > appreciated
> > > > > before I actually part with the hard earned dosh! :-)
> > > >
> > > > My, oh my. That sounds like a great deal of excess lift to warm
water
> > wimp
> > > > me. Hopefully one of those who use plate/wing combinations for a
> > variety of
> > > > diving situations will be able to help more. My travel wings, with
only
> > 18
> > > > lbs of lift, are as much as I ever expect to need, but this may not
> > apply
> > > > equally well to you or anyone else. With the stainless plate and my
> > tanks
> > > > (neutral when empty compact 80 aluminum tanks), I wear no weight in
warm
> > > > water and only 4 lbs with my 3mm wetsuit (in salt water). 18 lbs is
> > enough
> > > > to float my equipment, including the most lead I ever carry and
enough
> > to
> > > > raise me sufficiently at the surface to meet my needs.
> > > >
> > > > I'm starting to get the urge to have and dive doubles, which will
> > require
> > > > something different, but so far, I've resisted the temptation (and
the
> > > > rather substantial cost for bands, new valves and manifolds). I
don't
> > dive
> > > > deep enough to need them when diving from my own boats and know of
no
> > local
> > > > charters that would be pleased to see me disappear from their deck
for
> > the
> > > > couple of hours that doubles would make possible at the depths I
dive
> > when
> > > > chartering locally. One boat that is becoming a regular for me, is
> > already
> > > > complaining about having to wait while I use no more than about 2/3
of
> > the
> > > > air in my present single 80. Their comments are partly a
complement,
> > partly
> > > > a joke, but also partly serious.
> > > >
> > > > The only advice I have is:
> > > > 1. Find someone who knows the system better.
> > > > 2. Buy only what you need. Excess lift brings excess clutter in the
> > local
> > > > and travel baggage and excess drag in the water.
> > > >
> > > > Lee
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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