TESTCENTRE
Wraparound buoyancy
Scubapro Level BCD
COMPANY : SCUBAPRO PRICE : £ 335 WEB : WWW . SCUBAPRO . COM
Scubapro ’ s new Level BCD is very much aimed at the single-cylinder recreational diver . Its conventional jacket-style design and wraparound buoyancy is something most divers will be familiar with , and many prefer , to the back-mounted wing favoured by technical fraternity .
My first impression of the Level was its build quality . The single-bladder jacket is manufactured from a very robust EndurTex 420 nylon fabric . Surprisingly , it weighed in at only 3kg ( minus removable weight pockets ) so it ’ s certainly lightweight enough for travel .
While light on the scales this BC is certainly heavy on features , and while there may be a scarcity of D-rings ( 4 ) for some , this is unlikely to raise hackles among Scubapro ’ s intended market . The cylinder is affixed to a rigid , slimline backplate , the centre of which has a soft rubberised grip to prevent slippage . This is very unlikely to happen in any case , as Scubapro ’ s excellent Super- Cinch tank band system provides a vice-like grip that takes some beating .
Donning the jacket was as easy as it gets , I found . Loosening the adjustable shoulder straps to their fullest , I discovered ample room to insert both arms simultaneously before pulling the straps tight .
The pinch-clip , quick-release buckles were secure in use and simple enough to pop loose .
While this is essentially a unisex jacket , its design , including swivel pinch-clips , keeps is uncluttered . The wide straps are swept around the shoulder rather than directly in front , helped by an adjustable sternum strap . To finish things off a wide Velcro cummerbund and pinch-clip strap ensure a very comfortable fit . These are all features designed to appeal to female divers , with size range from XS to XL . There are five methods of dumping air so whatever orientation you find yourself in , there ’ s an easy option . Pull dumps are located at lower right rear and at the top of the right shoulder , or via a firm pull on the corrugated hose . A small dump lever is also found at the top of the hose , which provides a useful method of controlling a buddy ’ s buoyancy during an emergency situation . The final method is via a button on the balanced power inflator , colour-coded red for inflate and grey to dump . The two large Velcro-closed pockets are capable of carrying a dSMB and a mini-reel or spool when used without the Level ’ s integrated weight system . Their capacity reduced with weights in-situ , as you ’ d expect .
The zippered weight pouches accommodate 5kg of lead apiece . They slipped into place with ease , fastened by 40mm high-security flat buckles . Removal was just as easy , with a one handed pinch releasing the buckles so pockets could be handed up into the RIB .
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