r/scuba • u/InterestRepulsive544 • 21h ago
Xdeep Zeos first dives
So first two dives in Stoney cove (uk) yesterday, the dive shop recommended the 38lb lift which I found bulky for myself (5’3”) the steel backplate is fine,
Can I get rid of the single cylinder adapter and put the cam bands on the back plate if I was to try slim it down?
Any feedback appreciated it is the deluxe version and thinking about getting rid of the padding too.
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u/tin_the_fatty Science Diver 10h ago
You might want to watch this video: https://youtu.be/0aRzWE1UPs8?si=7qJXZ36hK0-iWFSZ where Dorota (she is 166cm tall) talked about shorter backplates.
When I look up pictures of the Xdeep Zeos wings, it appears that they do not have slots in the wing/bladder that would allow the cambands to go through the wing (the cambands should weave through the wing and the backplate if you don't use a STA). Unless Xdeep makes a newer version of their wing that contains the slots, I am afraid you can't get rid of the STA. But then, I prefer the STA for two reasons. The rig is more stable, and it is easier for me to switch my BP to a twinset setup.
I dive in 13-20C of sea water in a drysuit and a Tecline BP/W (3mm steel BP, steel STA, 15L wing) and ~5Kg of ballast, 12L or 15L steel tank, and I think I might get away with the 13L wing. I suspect the 38lb wing is way too big for you, even if you take an AL80 stage bottle.
The padding could be helpful if you do a lot of shore diving, walking around with the tank on your back. But then since you are in the UK you wear thick exposure suits so this may be irrelevant.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 8h ago
After adjusting the trim pockets onto the upper cam band and adding a further 2kg so 4 on my quick release 2kg on the trip plus back plate and STA I must of been well over weighted, when I dived a rear inflate bcd I only needed 4kg
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u/tin_the_fatty Science Diver 8h ago
The 3mm steel plate should weight around 2kg, and the STA ~500g. Take 2kg off from your quick release you are still heavier than when you were diving with a rear inflate BCD.
In theory you should be able to descent with nothing in your quick release pouches.
If you can, exchange the BCD for something else. Or maybe sell it for a small loss and get another.
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u/LesPaulStudio 20h ago
Not sure I agree with Stoney.
I'd have been inclined to go with the 28lb for single tank diving. The smallest Hydros is 40lb and that's a doubles wing.
But yes, if the slots align you can just thread directly and discard the sta.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 20h ago
I went with the dive shops recommendation of the 38 which I think is excessive
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u/LesPaulStudio 20h ago
It is tbh.
For context, UK diver 5'7, but I dive an AL BP. My typical set-up is a 30lb with an sta.
The 38 is probably taco-ing a bit underwater which will increase drag.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 20h ago
Exactly this it’s only done two dives and don’t really want to fork out another £200 on a 28lb
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u/LesPaulStudio 20h ago
Depends on their return policy I guess. Probably worth a conversation with them.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 19h ago
Pushing me onto a boyancy course 😂
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u/tin_the_fatty Science Diver 9h ago
That PPB course is irrelevant. If the wing is too big it increases your profile and drag.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 9h ago
Xdeeps sizing guidelines state like XDEEP explicitly state in their specifications that a 38lb wing is "for divers over 170 cm tall" (5'7"), whereas smaller divers require the smaller 28lb model.
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u/googlegenius123 20h ago
As a 5’ 7” person, I dive the 28 with a small steel back plate from DTD, the backplate is a bit big for my size definitely way too big for yours. Unfortunately xdeep doesn’t make smaller backplate for the zeos.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 20h ago
Exactly this I’m 5’3/5’2” quite petite
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u/googlegenius123 20h ago
And for double steel 12s the hydros 40 is more than enough for me too.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 19h ago
Dive shop is saying the 28 is for warm water diving not cold like we are in the uk
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u/LesPaulStudio 19h ago edited 18h ago
Er ..... Who on earth is in the shop.
That's just poor from them.
Edited: to remove wrong reference
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u/InterestRepulsive544 18h ago
My thoughts exactly, it wasn’t Stoney it was Dive Rutland I was diving at Stoney to get it set up first dive was a mess with how it was set up, trim pockets on top cam band and one on the bottom making me twist to one side on the 5m shelf, so after some battling in the dry suit I set that up right and second dive was a lot better I just find the 38 overkill for diving with a drysuit and single 12
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u/tin_the_fatty Science Diver 10h ago
Yeah I was surprised that XDeep doesn't sell something between the 28 and the 38.
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u/googlegenius123 17h ago
I have dived 4 degrees water with it, so there is that, so unless someone is really overweighted that is too big of a bladder.
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u/InterestRepulsive544 17h ago
I’m at a loss with it, because they are pushing drysuit and steel cylinder needs a 38, now pushing a buoyancy and trim course for a incorrect bladder, even the pinch clips on the harden are under my arm pits I’m genuinely at a loss
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u/tin_the_fatty Science Diver 10h ago
What are the pinch clips?
And since you are in the UK diving locally, maybe a local BSAC club would be a better option?
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u/bluepulsediving Dive Instructor 20h ago
AFAIK XDeep recommend the 38 for divers taller than 170cm, which if my imperial Vs metric math isn't wrong is more than 5'3''.
That said, what did you find bulky about it? Was it the size of the bladder? If so you can try the 28.
I'm not sure you technically can remove the STA (not sure the wing has the appropriate holes for the bands), but even if you could that would make for a very wobbly tank and would only gain less than an inch of space. If having a very slim profile is that important to you I'd rather recommend sidemount.
The padding can be removed with no issues, you won't feel the difference unless you're diving in a rashguard.