Scubapro Hydros Pro Mens BCD w/Balanced Inflator

Overall I've very happy with the Scubapro Hydros Pro. I have waited to write this review as I just got back from a seven day 21 dive trip in Cebu. First I'd say I'm by no means an expert (only been diving a few years) but I'd done over 50 dives this year and over the last few years I have been slowly buying my own equipment; this BCD was my last major purchase for my kit.First the positive and quick shout out to the seller who was responsive both to emails and even gave a phone number where I could call them and shipped the item quickly. The BCD is well made and versatile. am between a large and a medium and because of the gripy material I never felt like I had to pull everything down super tightly it still did not move around me when I was in the water. Quality is pretty much spot on...though on the scubapro band that holds the Inflation and low pressure hose after 18 or so dives the white lettering seemed to bleed into the black portion of the bad making it look a little weird...kind of disappointing if you want to keep you gear looking like new but for me its not a big concern. For packing weight it was a good balance and I really liked that my BCD dried almost completely in the 4-6 hours before the last dive and packing it up that night. It is slightly on the heavy side so just be aware and just to confirm...the backpack is almost not worth having...I left it at home...please some mini d rings or a crotch strap would have been a much better accessory. I got lots of comments from the dive masters and guides which I will admit is kinda nice as a validation that you made at least a trendy (expensive) choice.Cons...I'll be brief because mostly its nit picking. First is the integrated weight pockets...they really seem like they were designed from a computer and not so much from someone wearing it for 21 dives. The weight pouches themselves are very basic...no quick release (have to operate the snap), and no compartments within the pouches so if your using a standard weight on each side it will slide around and give you that uncomfortable little pull from time to time. The colorful compartment they are put in as well seems not the greatest design as its about 25% thicker than needed and kind of hangs off your hips pretty wide. Our DM had a scubapro vest BCD with the same weight pouches and the compartment was much less thick. A lot of the marketing claims the wing is designed so that air is not trapped anywhere...well from my experience it was very similar to other wings in that yes its one air cell but air does get trapped in spaces depending on the position of your body and yes you will have to tilt, lean back and move sometimes to dump air. The buttons on the inflation are very close together...with gloves it could be hard...not a huge issue for me except I occupationally hit the wrong one though I put this on my familiarity with the BCD not the equipment itself.Finally the price...I agree with some that say its over priced...but not by too much and honestly id doesn't matter the price as much if you've done your research and this is the BCD you want. However, my thoughts on it are that this is a serious BCD investment and it might be worth it to consider a back-plate wing system (that is also modular and a "BCD for life", another marketing point of the Hydros) but that is more flexible and gives you more options down the road to experience different equipment configurations. I see myself in the next year or two moving to a back-plate wing system either as a replacement to my Hydros or perhaps in addition to.Safe Diving!

Not sure what is wrong with this BCD, I couldnt maintain a horizontal position neith underwater not on the surface, while wearing this BCD my body was always tilted to the left as if there is an extra weight attached to that side, and when I take a sharp turn to the right to adjust, I hear a gurgle in the air bladders, a few bubbles are released from the BCD and then it turns back again to the left. I tried to change weights but this didnt solve the issue, I tried the BCD in 8 dives one of them in a swimming pool to confirm, the issue was present in every dive. I had to ask for a return, very disapointed, I think it is worth waiting a few months before buying this BCD because it seems to me there is a manufacuring issue, at least in the one I got :-( Scubapro didnt respond to my inquiry/emails around the issue, the dealer tried to refuse the return and then accepted to take the BCD back (for repair) after a few emails. Not inline with Scubapro quality at all. To be also fair I have installed scubapro Air 2 on this BCD but I suppose all scubapro products should be compatible with each other unless stated otherwise. Really not sure whats wrong !