ScubaLab: BCs - Cressi Aquapro 5
Specifications
| Style | Jacket |
| Warranty | One Year |
| Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.) | XXS-14, XS-17, S-20, M-24, L-34, XL-36 |
| Integrated-Weight System | Yes |
| Dry Weight | 6 lbs., 6 oz. (Size M) |
| Price | $400 |
| www.cressi.com |
Features:
- 420-denier nylon construction
- Special “gravity” ditch weight system
- Lightweight, rigid tank pack with nonslip patch
- Molded carry/lift handle
- Two bellows-type cargo pockets with zippered closures
- Available in six sizes
Performance:
The Aquapro 5 turned in above-average scores in virtually all test categories. It’s a comfortable BC with nice padding and a variety of adjustments, which make it easy to achieve a good fit. The rigid backpack secures the tank for a stable ride at depth. Test divers liked the shape and button action of the power inflator, and the two remote exhaust valves helped them maintain ascent control. Test divers also liked the Aquapro 5’s big, zippered cargo pockets, but found the gravity weight-ditch system, while functional, was a touch complex –– when loading, weights must be folded up into the pouch and then clipped. Ditching in an emergency works fine — just unclip and let the weights drop –– but in a nonemergency, removing weights in water without losing them would take practice. The Aquapro 5 comes with four delrin and two prebent metal D-rings along with a snap hook ring for clipping off hoses.
Bottom Line:
The Aquapro 5 is a comfortable and stable BC. If you like jacket-style rigs, this is a good travel version.
| June 2010 Issue Scuba Lab Review Quick Links |
|---|
| General-Purpose BCs |
| --- |
| While they can be used for any type of diving, general purpose BCs are designed primarily for temperate- and/or cold-water diving with 7mm wetsuits or drysuits. General Purpose BCs tend to offer lots of buoyant lift across their size ranges along with heavy-load integrated weight systems. They often have large cargo pockets and larger D-rings for attaching additional gear. |
| Aeris EX100| Aeris EX200 |
| Aqua Lung Pro QD| Aqua Lung Pro LT |
| IST J-1000 Alpha| IST J-1200 Hydro D |
| ScubaMax Versa 3000| SCUBAPRO Seahawk |
| SeaSoft Sealion| Sherwood Tortuga |
| Zeagle Tech 10| |
| Travel BCs |
| --- |
| Travel BCs are lighter and more compact than General Purpose BCs. Many are designed to fold or stow in handy storage pouches for easy globe-trotting. Travel BCs tend to offer less buoyant-lift capacity and smaller weight pouches to suit warm-water diving scenarios. |
| Aqua Lung Zuma| Cressi Aquapro 5 |
| SCUBAPRO Geo| SCUBAPRO Litehawk |
| SeaSoft Travlite| Zeagle Express/Deluxe |
| Women's BCs |
| --- |
| Women are shaped differently than men, so it makes sense that a women’s BC would be shaped differently too. Women’s BCs are often cut higher along the waist and are more expansive in the chest area. Straps and adjustments accommodate shorter, narrower torsos, and power inflators are ultracompact to fit comfortably into smaller hands. |
| BARE Curve| Sherwood Luna |
| Tusa Selene II| |
Specifications
| Style | Jacket |
| Warranty | One Year |
| Size/Buoyant Lift (in lbs.) | XXS-14, XS-17, S-20, M-24, L-34, XL-36 |
| Integrated-Weight System | Yes |
| Dry Weight | 6 lbs., 6 oz. (Size M) |
| Price | $400 |
| www.cressi.com |
Features:
- 420-denier nylon construction
- Special “gravity” ditch weight system
- Lightweight, rigid tank pack with nonslip patch
- Molded carry/lift handle
- Two bellows-type cargo pockets with zippered closures
- Available in six sizes
Performance:
The Aquapro 5 turned in above-average scores in virtually all test categories. It’s a comfortable BC with nice padding and a variety of adjustments, which make it easy to achieve a good fit. The rigid backpack secures the tank for a stable ride at depth. Test divers liked the shape and button action of the power inflator, and the two remote exhaust valves helped them maintain ascent control. Test divers also liked the Aquapro 5’s big, zippered cargo pockets, but found the gravity weight-ditch system, while functional, was a touch complex –– when loading, weights must be folded up into the pouch and then clipped. Ditching in an emergency works fine — just unclip and let the weights drop –– but in a nonemergency, removing weights in water without losing them would take practice. The Aquapro 5 comes with four delrin and two prebent metal D-rings along with a snap hook ring for clipping off hoses.
Bottom Line:
The Aquapro 5 is a comfortable and stable BC. If you like jacket-style rigs, this is a good travel version.
| June 2010 Issue Scuba Lab Review Quick Links |
|---|
| General-Purpose BCs |
| --- |
| While they can be used for any type of diving, general purpose BCs are designed primarily for temperate- and/or cold-water diving with 7mm wetsuits or drysuits. General Purpose BCs tend to offer lots of buoyant lift across their size ranges along with heavy-load integrated weight systems. They often have large cargo pockets and larger D-rings for attaching additional gear. |
| Aeris EX100| Aeris EX200 |
| Aqua Lung Pro QD| Aqua Lung Pro LT |
| IST J-1000 Alpha| IST J-1200 Hydro D |
| ScubaMax Versa 3000| SCUBAPRO Seahawk |
| SeaSoft Sealion| Sherwood Tortuga |
| Zeagle Tech 10| |
| Travel BCs |
| --- |
| Travel BCs are lighter and more compact than General Purpose BCs. Many are designed to fold or stow in handy storage pouches for easy globe-trotting. Travel BCs tend to offer less buoyant-lift capacity and smaller weight pouches to suit warm-water diving scenarios. |
| Aqua Lung Zuma| Cressi Aquapro 5 |
| SCUBAPRO Geo| SCUBAPRO Litehawk |
| SeaSoft Travlite| Zeagle Express/Deluxe |
| Women's BCs |
| --- |
| Women are shaped differently than men, so it makes sense that a women’s BC would be shaped differently too. Women’s BCs are often cut higher along the waist and are more expansive in the chest area. Straps and adjustments accommodate shorter, narrower torsos, and power inflators are ultracompact to fit comfortably into smaller hands. |
| BARE Curve| Sherwood Luna |
| Tusa Selene II| |
