TESTCENTRE
Go BCD
COMPANY : SCUBAPRO PRICE : £ 405 WEB : WWW . SCUBAPRO . COM
GO your own way
Scubapro is recognised as one of the leading manufacturers in the industry and also one of the most proactive , with regular releases of new products and improvements to existing lines .
The updated travel-friendly GO is what I ’ d probably describe as a no-nonsense , traditional jacket BCD . That wouldn ’ t quite do it justice , because although it adheres to the common front-adjustable look and feel , it offers so much more in style and comfort . First off , it dispenses with a hard back pack , eschewing that approach in favour of an integral soft , padded ‘ Airnet ’ backpack . This means the jacket can be folded in half for easy packing .
Scubapro ’ s clever double-band system – a ‘ Quick Cinch ’ buckle plus upper Velcro strap – worked together so that my cylinder remained stable , close to my back and very comfortable in use both on my way to the water and once in it . The buoyancy cell itself is of single bladder design , manufactured from tough 210 denier nylon with a polyurethane coating .
There ’ s no inherent buoyancy in the GO , which keeps the amount of lead on your belt ( or in its integrated weight pockets ) to a minimum . The zippered pockets easily accommodate enough weight for drysuit use and they locked very firmly in place with quick-release buckles . Removing them was single-handed and drama-free .
The GO has fairly substantial pockets and although their volume is naturally reduced with a pair of full weight pouches in situ , this is unlikely to be the case when used with less lead and a thin wetsuit in warmer waters . You get six aluminium D-rings for carrying extra kit , plus grommets for attaching a knife .
“ You get six aluminium D-rings for carrying extra kit ”
Even as a long time wing convert , I do enjoy getting back in the saddle with jacketstyle BCDs from time to time , and this lightweight example was a joy . The padded shoulder straps were easilyadjustable , with swivel clips allowing me to position them to best effect . A single sternum strap , Velcro cummerbund and pinch-clip waist strap all conspired to keep me snugly enclosed .
While the model supplied was a large , rather than my usual medium , there was plenty of adjustment either way and I had no problems with the BC or cylinder moving around during my time in the water . Buoyancy is controlled with the standard Scubapro Balanced Power Inflator ( upgradable to AIR2 ), which fitted the palm very naturally and really can ’ t be faulted .
Air can be dumped via a pull on the corrugated hose , a tug on the chunky pull-handle on the opposite side where it ’ s vented over the right shoulder . For headdown orientation the rear , right kidney dump did the trick . A lever located on the top of the corrugated hose also provided the means to dump air fast , a handy option for a buddy to use in an emergency situation . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Scubapro ’ s GO is a lightweight , easily-stowable , soft backpack BCD , which hits the spot for trips away . A traveller ’ s choice for sure , but perfectly usable for UK scenarios .
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