My Customized BCD

I want to tell you about my dive gear setup. Since I started working full-time as a scuba professional, I've been using Hollis dive gear. This is the brand I fell in love with. Every dive pro has their own preferences, so I recommend doing your research and picking a brand that works best for you.

My first Hollis BCD was the Hollis Light Travel System (LTS). The LTS is perfect for travelling divers and warm water destinations. It incorporates key features from the popular HD200 and is a weight-integrated back inflation design with 30 lbs (13.6 kg) of lift.

I recently upgraded my dive gear from the Hollis LTS to the Hollis ST22 system, and I couldn’t be happier with the change. The LTS served me well, especially for warm-water destinations and travel. But as a guide for diving groups in Cozumel, comfort and performance are paramount. That’s why I opted for the ST22.

The ST22 wing has been a revelation. Its design promotes excellent horizontal trim and surface flotation, making my dives more controlled and enjoyable, even when leading groups. And durability? Top-notch. The rugged 1680 Cordura nylon exterior and 420-denier nylon bladder ensure it can handle whatever Cozumel’s waters throw at it.

You have two options when it comes to the Hollis ST22 system: you can order it pre-assembled here, or you can take the route I did, customizing your setup for a more minimalist approach.

For my personal system, I carefully selected each component to ensure I didn't need to add any additional weights when diving. Here's what I chose:

• Hollis ST22 Wing: Designed for warm water dives in aluminum cylinders, this wing offers low lift and maximum streamlining. It provides excellent buoyancy control with its 360-degree tapered profile, making it ideal for my needs.
• Aluminum Backplate 2.0: This lightweight and durable backplate serve as the foundation for my setup. It's laser-cut from EN AW 6061 aluminum and hard-anodized for a marine-grade finish.
• Hollis Solo Harness System: The Solo Harness System is clean, simple, and foolproof. It's designed to meet the needs of demanding pro divers like myself, with stainless-steel D-rings and a latch-style waist buckle for added security.
• Single Cylinder Mounting Plate: This stainless-steel mounting plate allows me to add more weight to my system, and help to keep the tank stable and secure. It's easy to install and comes equipped with mounting bolts, washers, and two stainless-steel cam bands for added stability.

By customizing my system in this way, I've achieved a minimalist setup tailored to my diving needs. Whether you prefer to order the ST22 system pre-assembled or customize it like I did, you can trust in the quality and performance of Hollis gear.

Happy diving!
Your Scuba Instructor Jay