TESTCENTRE
terminates with Scubapro ’ s new K-style ergonomic inflation / dump valve .
There ’ s a flattened recess a third of the way down the corrugated hose ; this is home to a silicone band that keeps the direct feed tidily in place . A pair of stainless steel eyelets are situated at the bottom of the doughnut for drainage , while a single eyelet at the top releases any trapped gas during descent .
The 3D formed S-Tek backplate is very nicely machined , with smooth finished edges ; Scubapro have obviously thought long and hard to get this just right . The upper slots are angled to allow the one-piece webbing harness to lie flat against the shoulders and ditto with the waist slots .
Holes are provided for trim weights or an Argon cylinder , if required , with a good , solid carry / lift handle up top . Centred on the bottom of the plate is a crotch strap to keep movement to a minimum . It also features a substantial D-ring for clipping on a DPV .
Just like the manufacturer ’ s Hydros Pro BCD , the S-Tek utilises quick-drying and neutrallybuoyant Monprene ( available in a variety of colours ) for shoulder and waist cushioning . The backplate itself also has an inner covering of the same , which I found particularly comfortable when wearing a wetsuit . It also provides a fair amount of ‘ tack ’ to prevent any slippage when in use .
Nuts and bolts
If you ’ ve ever struggled trying to tighten or release wing nuts with cold or wet hands , then the backplate ’ s recessed sockets will prove a revelation . The simplest ideas are always the best and this is a gem .
Insert your standard wing nuts into the supplied hollow-shelled plastic ‘ ergo-nut ’ mouldings ( resembling a cooker knob ) to instantly achieve better grip and torque . Once sufficiently tightened , they sit below the flat back of the plate so there ’ s zero chance of damage to your suit .
The harness shoulder buckles and D-rings ( 50mm pre-bent stainless steel ) are easily adjustable to suit torso length , and there ’ s a choice of two modes to ensure good all-round fit . In extender mode ( my preferred method ) pulling or releasing the waist strap tightens or slackens the shoulder straps for easy on / off . Fixed mode employs a pair of stainless steel tri-glides situated behind the backplate ’ s webbing on either side of the waist . This provides a ‘ fixed ’ and very secure way to keep the setup in place but as I found , slightly more effort to get in and out of . The two shoulder straps also provide a sliding clip to tidy up any loose webbing that may otherwise cause a nuisance to leave a clutterfree chest area . While there ’ s an optional adapter for single cylinder diving , I used the S-Tek exclusively with doubles .
It ’ s been a long while since I twinned up a couple of tens , so long in fact that I had to turn Test Centre upside down to locate my
“ It ’ s been a long twinning bands . Loading the hefty weight into the boat reminded me why I don ’ t favour that while since I twinned configuration , but the one advantage was that I needed no extra lead when diving . up a couple of tens "
It did turn out to be a good combination in the water however , very well-balanced with no undue movement as I twisted , turned and inverted . The inflator responded well and a quick pull on the hose when in slightly vertical orientation dumped air as it moved freely around the doughnut cell .
The kidney dump worked equally as well , while on the surface I found there was buoyancy to spare . For my next dive with the set-up , I substituted tens for more manageable twin sevens and added a few extra kilos of lead on a weight belt .
If you prefer your weights integrated then the Hydros Pro ’ s Monprene weight system is also compatible with the S-Tek , as an optional extra . While twinset diving in the UK would primarily facilitate the use of a drysuit I did however , give the S-Tek a runout with a semi-dry .
In this mode – unlike a drysuit - the wing would be my sole source of buoyancy . It provided a nice horizontal position without any ‘ bunching ’ of air tipping me one way . Comfort-wise there was no discernible difference at all . Neil Hope
SCUBA SAYS
Scubapro ’ s new S-Tec Pro System is aimed very squarely at the serious caving , technical and expedition divers who will appreciate its innovative features . It also provides over and above the needs of any recreational divers who may consider exploring such disciplines in the future .
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