The First Buoyancy Compensators - Vintage Scuba: S01E04

Alec shows the first devices that started the evolution to today's functional, comfortable and reliable Buoyancy Compensators (BCs).
** In this episode of Vintage Scuba **
"SCUDA" - Self Contained Underwater DRINKING Apparatus!
a modern Oceanic Biolite BCD with its key diving features
surface life vests were commonly called "Mae West" or "horse collar" vests, not used underwater
Alec inflates an early "Healthways" surface vest with its CO2 cartridge
a "SwimMaster" surface vest with new zippers, pockets, still with CO2 surface inflation
a "SeaTec" with its new over-pressure release valve
a "Aqua Lung" by U.S. Divers, one of the first true BC's with the new underwater "oral inflator/deflator"
a Sherwood 1970's BC vest with the new "low power inflator" attachment
a BC with a built in scuba tank to power inflate the BC only
a "SeaPro" 1970's jacket BC with built-in weight holder (filled with lead shot & marbles!!!), plus a quick release
Alec knows there are few ideas in diving today that are truly new. They may use better materials, better designed, more reliable, but are not always totally new. That's what makes this series so interesting.
**** Alec Peirce Scuba ****
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[@jimschnurr3512]

Hi Alec: I ran into these about a month ago and have been fascinated ever since. I have really learned a lot since I am a new-old diver getting back into the sport. Thanks, Jim

[@markstengel7680]

Another fine what was scuba decades ago in buoyancy gear. Enjoyed Your Enjoyable Presentation 👍

[@bigfoot1465]

I was certified in Bermuda in 1972 while stationed there for the USN. I was a Parachute Rigger and made my own vest out of an old “Mae West.” It had two CO2 inflators. Also made my own weight belt out of an old seat harness! Thanks it brought back a lot of memories!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Yep! We all did that kind of stuff back then. We weren't special. We just wanted to dive and that meant making some of the gear, maybe all of it!! Alec

[@Jacob-F-88]

Really good / interesting video as usual, thank you Alec.

[@FGO23]

Great video, very interesting

[@UFOGEORGE]

Thank you Alec !

[@soodlorr]

Great info as alway. Love your show

[@terryzig]

When I was a kid my Uncle Clinton Lovelace owned a SCUBA shop In Milwaukee Wisconsin. He of course had an indoor pool and we would swim the whole time we were there every time we visited. I remember the Mae West vests lying about and put one on. Being a typical 6th grader I thought it would be cool to dive to the deep end of the pool and pull the rip cord to inflate the vest with the CO2 cartridge. When I did it froze right to my rib cage and left a nice frost bite burn on my side. I remember just loving visiting him and was always in such amazement at all the gear and promotional displays he had. The smell of freshly manufactured rubber, it should be a cologne for men.

[@terryzig]

I forgot the funny part, after going to the surface, being a normal hammerhead 13 year old I took a big swig of that CO2 from the vest to see what that would be like. Last time I did that one.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Oh that must have been a quick trip up! We have the same love of diving and crazy stories to prove it. Much appreciate your stories and for watching. A

[@terryzig]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Your videos are the best, Thanks for taking the time.

[@moclepocle]

Alec, thank you!

[@oldofftime]

Yeah Boomer, love the playlist so far. You know what you are talking about. I really do appreciate it. Cheers!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Much appreciated Tyler. Lots to learn.

[@oldofftime]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter that's true ... but it rings right

[@Slick85]

Gives new meaning to losing your marbles :)

[@njlooksee]

Wow. This and the mask video are great!! i've been dying to know how they did it back then since I watched the old James Bond movies and watched him dive and knew that their equipment wasn't the same as ours. I also realized I should be more aware of my air use with my inflator. Thank you very much for this!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Welcome sir. We did have fun back in the stone age of diving.

[@Dive_Me_Crazy]

SCUDA, Great for beer.... That's all we drink here in Australia. And I just love the idea of having yet another thing to get tangled up with.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Beer's good. Any drink without pulp works in the SCUDA.

[@DonFassbender]

Beer gets flat at depth tho

[@robbiemify]

Boue Fenzy was earlier than US BCs, made/marketed in France !!!

[@bnies73]

In Switzerland those horse collar style bcd's were called "Schiissideggl" (Swiss german for "Klodeckel"), meaning toilet seat in english.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Wow!! What a great bit of trivia for my vids. Horsecollar or toilet seat. Very logical too. Did you ever hear them called a Mae West vest? If you know who Mae West was you would see the connection - hint: Google her. Thanks for that. Alec

[@bnies73]

I know her. Maybe have seen an old movie once. But not as nickname of that old bcd. That was before my time.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Mae West was big in Hollywood (pardon the pun) so it was natural to label the horsecollar BC a 'Mae West'.

[@bmradux]

Well.. they certainly got the pockets right on that last BC vest you talked about! These days the pockets are made to look well integrated and good, but only are accessible if the vest is deflated. :P

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Nothing like an old horse collar Mae West to show how good a diver you are.

[@Kebekwoodcraft7375]

Hi Alec great video , a friend of mine in Quebec have a backpack hard shell with the weight integrated it was nice I just can't remember the name of it ,kind of Cousteau styles , I start diving about 30 years ago and quit after 2/3 years but now I am retired and live in Baja's close to Cabo pulmo it come back often in my mind to do it again at least here you can see what is in front of you , keep the mojo Alec and Kevin .

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

There were several hard backpacks that supposedly acted as BCDs. DACOR had a really neat one as did Scubapro. I'll show them on a new Vintage Scuba video soon. Divers often think that the Cousteaus had such a device but their streamlined pack was just a plastic cover over the tanks. It didn't do anything. If the one you saw was black it was the DACOR model; if white it was Scubapros. Alec

[@gr8o2h2o]

WOW! I had a more modern version of that Sherwood BC design that was made by U.S.Divers military version. I was looking for that design for long distance snorkeling safety equipment but I don't think they make it anymore.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

There are still good snorkeling vets made but no more CO2 cartridges. You'll have to orally inflate it. Still a good safety item though. Alec

[@karlmarx7450]

Cool!!! thanks!

[@joseluisrosales9226]

great video! Thanks...and What about the single and double bcds wings?

[@richardjacons6634]

I have been diving in Massachusetts since 1969 with the ol souble hose reulater from U.S. Diver. I have all the Sea Hunt show as well! We had no BC"s back then and most of most dives were in around 40' and with 20lbso weights I was perfect. (slightly positive on the surface and slightly negative at depth. Had a tough time switching to single hose because only the bad guys on Sea Hunt used them! I'm 75 years old now with diabetes so my diivng days are over. :(

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Sorry to hear that Richard but sounds like be both used the same gear back in the stone age of diving. Glad these bring back good memories. Take care.

[@jaydubbs88449]

Alec, your videos made me think - what if a separate "breathing lung" were incorporated into a standard BCD. I think that maybe if there were 2 air bladders in each BCD (one just for buoyancy and one for breathing) you could eliminate buoyancy changes with breathing. If your breathing were coming out of some type of expandable volume (bag) like a BCD instead of straight from the tank, you could adjust your buoyancy for that depth and then once set it wouldn't change as you breath - because you would have one bag that you adjust for depth, and the breathing bag would always fill with the same volume & pressure. The artificial lung would require a 2nd stage intake regulator and a yet to be invented 3rd stage regulator (one for filling the artificial lung and one for filling the diver's lungs). Some smart person would have to design a way for the 3rd stage regulator to communicate with the 2nd stage regulator so that the artificial lung would not inflate until the diver began to exhale (and at the same rate of exhalation). Maybe it's a silly idea but thought I'd throw it out to the internet wolves and see :-)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thats the principle of a Closed Circuit Rebreather Julian.

[@jhare18]

Very Informative.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you liked it

[@TransTurbine]

Good day, when wearing one of these horse collar bcd vests with a twin cylinder harness, what is the proper wearing sequence. How does one properly wear since the bcd has shoulder and crotch straps and the tank harness would have shoulder straps as well. If one had to ditch the tanks, I am assuming you would want to keep the bcd on yet how do you keep the tank harness from interfering with the bcd?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Vintage divers typically go: tank and straps first (so secure to the body), BC on top. The bc straps keep it on the diver loosely during dives and when inflated on the surface give good positive buoyancy. Hope this helps and thanks for watching. A

[@TransTurbine]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Good morning, thank you for the quick reply. When wearing like you said, how would one ditch the tanks/backpack if needed? If the tank straps are put on first, it seems to me the horse collar straps would interfere with possibly getting the tanks on and off in the water, the crotch strap might be a little hard to lace through with the tanks on as well. I have never dived a setup like this yet would like to get some vintage gear. I guess the best way is just to experiment and see the work flow.

[@royfedko9018]

Your video & explanation are very interesting & informative, and I have a couple of comments, one in particular you might find very interesting. I recently acquired some "vintage" diving gear as part of a package which was principally to purchase a twin set aluminium tank set up. Within the bundle were two BC's one a Sherwood with a CO2 cartridge, and it was fitted with a power inflator which was exactly the same as the one that was fitted to the Sherwood that you demonstrated as an after-market fitment. I also found a "La Spirotechnique" BC complete with its own integral air tank. I noticed that the tank yoke valve had a spring loaded pin, in the body, I wonder if you could tell me what purpose the pin serves please?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That is simply a relief valve. When you turn off the tank valve, the pressure must be relieved before it can be removed from the BC. Pushing that pin does that for you. Most of the other BCDs that used an air tank did so by just pressing the BCD inflate button. Alec

[@alaind831]

you missed a BC between the CO2 and the power inflator. When I started diving (35+ years ago), our over the head vest had a small bottle in the front that you filled from your tank before diving, that you manually opened to fill your vest as you dove. Just a mini tank for the vest - later we had a spare breather on it as a backup air tank as we dove until we ran out of air and pulled the double tank reserved that signalled time to go up and decompress! good times.

[@alaind831]

never mind I jumped the gun...

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I may do a tech tip on self inflate BC's. They weren't too common in America. Most came from the UK or Germany. I have a dozen in my collection. Neat idea but very dated and not too practical anymore. Alec

[@connorlynch4125]

Hey, Did you ever make a video of you cleaning the knife in the #4 tech tip Thanks,

[@IreneWY]

How do you breathe and drink at the same time with the scuda?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It's a one or the other valve controller.

[@jdevine42]

That thumbnail pic is the EXACT model I used between 1975 and 1985 where I logged over 300 wreck dives, mostly in NY NJ. I like the new ones better

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Those old BCs were pretty neat. Maybe it's a stretch to call them BCs. They were more like life vests but what they did was give us confidence. Fortunately we did have to rely on them. Thanks for sharing. Glad it brought back a good memory. That's what Vintage Scuba is all about. Alec

[@aminnekoubin]

thank you legend.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I like the part of being a 'living legend' better!!

[@cochinaable]

I remember those CO2 canisters hehehehe never had to use them... oh maybe once ... but didn't really need to do that... I did have to activate the one of my buddy when he had an emergency on the surface... many years ago..

[@Neptune730]

I remember the Scuda.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It was one of those neat scuba devices that wasn't around for long. Alec

[@michaelchristenbury552]

I knew a guy that would actually fill his with rum and coke! He had a serious alcohol problem.

[@josephpadula2283]

At 20:12 you say the bcd with weight built in goes back to early 70’s . Bc’d were not around then .

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I was there, BC's existed in the 70's but not as you think of them today. Think of Fenzy or similar. Aqua-Lung had BC's with power inflating tanks. A

[@josephpadula2283]

Us I know , I meant the BC , not bcc then, with built in weights the way you said built in backpack were not available then .

[@uncatila]

I just got an Aquatec horse collar BCD. It has 3 dumps an inflator hose and a front pocket. 1000 denier outer shell, waste and crotch, , and a horazontal pouch at the bottom for a poney. Amazon $200

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Nice. Suggest testing it in a pool first to ensure it holds pressure before going diving. Enjoy.

[@uncatila]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter it's brand new. I'm experimenting with light beach diving. Il let you know about my tank-endurance ratio.

[@1204trip]

Since the scuda is such a hard find might have to delve into those prototyping skills my grandfather instilled in me and make my own especially since the swallow method makes is easier for me to clear

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

They were pretty neat Robert. I have one or two around and will be listing them for sale on eBay. Would you like one? They work on every regulator and are very simple to set up. Probably worth about $25. Let me know. Alec

[@1204trip]

Alec Peirce Scuba To be honest id absolutely love one sadly my job keeps me pretty penniless hence why I tend to build darn near everything myself

[@noahTUBE]

that SCUDA can get you wasted UNDERWATER, sign me up!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It was good for Bacardi & Diet but you couldn't have a Vodka & Orange Juice. The pulp in the juice clogged the valve. Kidding!! Alec

[@cochinaable]

I had that yellow Seatec vest.... hehehe My buddy had the US Divers BC.... Alec why are modern BCD;s not yellow or orange?

[@spokojnyMamut]

16:07 I build DIY rebreather from the same Sherwood colar ;)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I hope you didn't breathe any of the Carbon Dioxide from the cartridge!! You must be old like me. Take care. Alec

[@spokojnyMamut]

No ;) I'm not such crazy to breathe from cartridge. I had bought that collar in 2002 for about ten dollars, and used it as BCD for year or two. It was placed between steel backplate and tank - worked as wing bcd.Later (when bought better bcd), I cut bottom part of colar and put scrubber inside. Scrubber was done of thick wall pcv pipe. Also, weld upper part (above my neck). That way I get breathing loop with two counterlung. Breathing hoses were attached to socket of valve and inflator. At end, small oxygen tank was attached at bottom. There was even not regulator at bottle. I had open valve manually to add oxygen in loop.I did few nice diving with 50 dollar rebreather. Of course - it was oxygen device, so I didn't dive deeper than 5m (15ft)

[@mdovideo1414]

The first one looks like one of those yellow snorkeling vests

[@Mrich775]

Funny enough I the scuda would still have a place, for long deco stops; I've been known to stash a camelbak with my o2 bottle in caves to get some calories and hydration during long stops.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I heard other long deco practices like this, from snacks to books (plastic) to magnetic chess boards. It would be cool to have one in a hot climate.

[@Mrich775]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter books are great and no need for plastic, get some 99c novels and put them in a freezer bag, theyast long enough for one dive to read!

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

How did divers in The Silent World dove so easily without BCs?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Same question as Cutting Edge Retro but here it is: It was not easy, they just made it look easy by not showing a lot of up and down diving. They were pro divers so they used lots of little tricks to control buoyancy. Some I cover in my Vintage Scuba playlists: hint rocks are involved!!

[@jedla01]

Hey Alec, I love your videos, but honestly, Kevin should do something with his video shooting technic. I am little bit dizzy at 2:36 already :)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Believe it or not he's getting better. I used to get seasick watching him video me!!

[@DonFassbender]

Get that poor boy a tripod ;)

[@respt46]

Hi Alec. I've seen some brand new horse collar bcs with factory power inflators and I'd really like to get one. Is there a reason why modern or new divers should NOT use them? Are they suitable for the same kind of dives as modern bcs? Thank you in advance.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I've not see those but they might be OK if your dive buddies and boat charter accepts them. Realize that you will also need a tank backpack to hold the tank and to supply straps to strap the tank on. And you now need to be sure that you put the weight belt on dead last! You have the straps of the horse collar which go around your waist and through your crotch (to keep it from floating up around your head) PLUS you have the tank straps over each shoulder as well and also around your waist. With all of those straps, your weight belt must go on last to be sure it isn't 'strapped' to your body. Technically, other than all the practical disadvantages of the Horse Collar, it worked and will still work well as a BC. Thanks for watching. Alec

[@respt46]

Alright thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just go ahead and buy one then. There aren't many of them and I don't want to miss my chance. Thanks again.

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

Sometimes when I travel I use my old horse-collar b c d. What I do is I hide my horse collar in my dive bag and I setup my backpack on the tank while on the dive boat and I wait for the divemaster to freak out about me not having a b c d it's kind of fun my weird sense of humor

[@lebeauleon7282]

You know It s vintage when there is a PADI poster

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Ha, that just happened to be in the classroom. Now these are really dated. A

[@The1mbeany]

The last thing I want to do underwater is drink water wonder why the Squda never took off lol

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

May have something to do with what silly divers put into it!

[@hypejunkie9663]

Hey Alec peirce can you do a video on backplates?

[@TomKnudsen]

Hi Alec, thanks for showing and describing this to us. I was watching this video after yours kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmHdhKGkiJV8bdE and got to wonder; It seems to me the double regulator with venting in the back is better thant the system we use today, could you elaborate on this when you get to the regulator part.. You do not get boubles that blows up your hood and you could in fact have a camera like gopro on your mask. Why did they move away from that system Alec?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

While it may seem like a good idea, bubbles at your back, and is even touted today by photographers as such, in fact it wasn't very good. The big noses were a darn nuisance by blocking your vision, flapping around your ears all the time and getting in the way of easy movement and large camera systems. And, modern regulators do NOT put bubbles in your face - unless of course you are looking upwards, towards the surface - not too common for photographers. The 2 hose regs were not easy breathers, they were expensive to maintain, not overly reliable, not conducive to modern diving techniques (safe seconds, SPGs, BCDs, etc). They were cool! But best a part of scuba history. Thanks for watching Tom. Alec

[@TomKnudsen]

+Scuba 2000 Thank you for answering, cannot wait for the next episode

[@UFOGEORGE]

Thank you Alec !

[@cuttingedgeretro9164]

How did divers in The Silent World dove so easily without BCs?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It was not easy, they just made it look easy by not showing a lot of up and down diving. They were pro divers so they used lots of little tricks to control buoyancy. Some I cover in my Vintage Scuba playlists: hint rocks are involved!!

[@cuttingedgeretro9164]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Interesting subject. I literally don't know how to dive with no bcd on. Taking a rock, going down sounds dangerous to me. Sounds like no control over ascent rate, makes it decompression safety stop difficult too