Today I will be reviewing the AquaTec Atlas Tec BCD. Now here is a thing you all have to be aware of. Aquatec has a strange naming system which goes like this: Name, Name Tec, Name Pro. Here is the difference. Just the name means you only get the basic BCD. If it has Tec next to it, you get a weight integrated version of that BCD, and finally, Pro is the weight integrated BCD with an alternate air sourse power inflator. Now, I've got the Atlas Tec which mean I have the weight integrated. Now, if you have started reading from my first review, you'll be wondering why would I be reviewing an already well known and well reviewed product. Here's why:
Spot the difference? No? WHAT!? Ok, ok, here is a Northern Diver Atlas:
sourced from: www.diveshop.co.uk
Please note: I do not have any affliation with this dive shop. I have simple borrowed their picture because my Sony A350 is rubbish unless the object is well lit, and I cannot do that becaue I currently do not have a studio.
Thats right. AquaTec has actually listerned to its customers and changed the weight integrated system and its quick release system.
The Aquatec Atlas was famous for three things. Being the same as the Northern Diver Atlas at a fraction of the cost. Divers loosing the weight integrated bags while diving, and finally, the power inflator going free flow on the horns. Here's what Aquatec has done. They have changed the weight integrated system, but still offer to replace the bag, if you ever do loose it while diving, through no fault of your own. And they offer a limited life time warranty on the whole BCD, so they will fix or replace your power inflator. And unlike the annoying Oceanic limited lifetime warranty, which you have to registor with in a certain period of time, they come with the limited lifetime warranty just with purchase, as it should be with warranties. But the really great thing I found was that the local distributor actually offered to whole his own class for people to learn and maybe service their own BCD, regulators, etc. The only other company I found that offered to hold its own courses were Zeagle and I was very temped to buy Zeagle just on that fact alone, even if they were roughly 4000kms away. Some people should learn from these examples, cough, cough (I'm looking at those people who promised, but never delievered). I might be sounding very bias right now, but I gain no profit from this. Heck, I even had to buy this stuff myself to just review them. I just really, really like having the option of self servicing, even though I will never self service(yes, after 3 broken laptops and a PC into this self servicing business, I learnt that I wasn't born to self service).
Back to the review, the AquaTec Atlas Tec is a nice large BCD with 4 metal D rings, large pockets with web/net bases so whatever water that has gathered in those pockets will drop out pretty fast when you walk out of the water. The weight integrated system was easy enough to use, but would have liked a manual release button instead of pulling on the tabs all the time. Its also got a nice Stainless Steel Tank Cam Lock Buckle and can be upgrade to carry two tanks. Unfortunately, I seem to find AquaTec's rubber products to be flimsy and could have used some scissors works to trim the long hanging left over threads. Am I asking for too much? Yes, a good scissors work is hard to come by even in expansive handbags, so what am I expecting. One thing that really got me though was the plastic zippers. Sure, plastic doesn't rust and will keep the zipper working well, but it just doesn't have the same feel of a metal zipper. Another thing which people might find hit and miss with is the size of the BCD itself. I, being a fat, short person, usually wear a medium large, but if they only have medium or large, then I'm usually screwed. Strangly enough, this wasn't the case for the Atlas, as the medium fit me (to borrow another manufacturer's phrase) like a glove. Usually a large BCD leaves me hanging off of its 'wings' and the shoulder straps floating where my head should be. Another reviewer(far more experienced than myself), concluded the AquaTec Atlas as 'too average'. Well, maybe his had one too many high end BCDs sent to him, cause from where I'm standing, this BCD is one of the better budget BCDs out there, pacted with features. So, if you are low on cash, might want to have a look into this BCD.
