The AirTrim ‘console’ on my Mares Vector
It’s a given whenever I dive with a new group of people that, at some point in the trip, someone will ask me about my BCD. I’ve always been the only one on the boat with an AirTrim system, and it seems most people have never even heard of them, let alone seen them, so it seems like a good idea to share my experiences.
First, a basic introduction to the AirTrim system. It basically provides an alternative way of inflating and deflating your BCD. Instead of the ‘traditional’ pair of hoses that hang over your left shoulder, AirTrim has a two button ‘console’ of sorts fixed to the left side of the BCD, about where the hoses would hang (see photo). The console is large and easy to find without having to look down. It may seem a little flimsy, and I was warned by the sales guy that this was a possible weakness, but in the heavy use I’ve given it for over two years it has proved quite tough.
One of the console buttons fills the BCD with air from the low pressure inflater hose, which attaches as normal. The second button operates an actuator that opens a dump valve on your left shoulder, about where the traditional type of BCD hose would attach. The actuators operate using the air pressure from the inflater hose. The Vector model that I have also has a actuator operated dump valve near the bottom seam, near your right butt cheek. This combination means you can dump air even when you’re in a head down position.
This, of course, is the main selling point of the AirTrim system, and why I bought the Vector. I purchased the BCD very soon after I got certified, and if I had it all to do over again, I would hold off buying a BCD until I had more experience. I had several frustrating encounters with rentals that made me think I really needed to get my own BCD. The AirTrim system appealed since I knew I wanted to get into underwater photography.
AirTrim doesn’t allow you to dump air from any angle, but it does make it much easier, especially with the lower dump valve. If I’m trying to photograph something and need to reduce my buoyancy more than I can accomplish with the air in my lungs, it’s quite simple to dump some air with a minimum of repositioning.
The AirTrim valves releases air rather slowly, which most of the time is a good thing. In places like Komodo, where you need to get down quickly, I tend to use the manual dump valve to release air a lot faster.
Would I buy another AirTrim BCD if I were getting a new one? The simple answer is “yes”. I’m happy with the AirTrim system, but I’d look at other factors when buying a new BCD, and they might outweigh the attraction – as well as added cost – of AirTrim. One thing I don’t like about the Vector is that it’s a little too short on me. It’s not that the BCD itself is too small, in fact it’s a little too loose around the waist at depth. I think the short waist was an intentional design ‘feature’ to put the pockets, weights, etc. close to your center of gravity, and for me that puts the pockets too far up to access comfortably. If I were looking for a new BCD, I’d also like something less bulky. In spite of the issues Dive Rite has had recently, I still think their TravelPac looks like a great rig for a diver that has to get most places by plane.
