When buoyancy compensators (BC’s) were first introduced, divers rejected the idea of needing any life jacket. Alec explains why the “Fenzy” became the first commercially successful BC due to its self inflating system.
*** In this episode of Vintage Scuba ***
– a “Fenzy X4” buoyancy compensator and life jacket
– oral or power inflated by a steel cylinder at 2,900 psi
– called an ABLJ “Adjustable Bouyancy Life Jacket” in Europe
– developed by Maurice Fenzy in 1961
– weight with steel cylinder: 7.3 pounds / 3.3 kg
– was US Navy approved and ANU listed
– inflatable to depths of 200 feet plus emergency breathing air supply
SCUBA TECH TIPS playlists
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▶︎ Series 4: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzEmTMig18QPZUeotCLbh0ic7ygFwRYcj
▶︎ Series 1, 2 & 3: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzEmTMig18QPtP2-4sINDYMP8yNJkFgzc
VINTAGE SCUBA playlists
▶︎ Series 4: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzEmTMig18QPETSm9lps61wQpju5rdgSR
▶︎ Series 3: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzEmTMig18QM6MUtwcT3jMO2tRfjAPh2H
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▶︎ Series 1: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzEmTMig18QP3E8OVncZtnoSa8fuZN6LX
SEA HUNT REMEMBERED playlists
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▶︎ SEA HUNT COLLECTOR website: http://seahuntcollector.com
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Wohaaaa. Old times come back. We now use argon for drysuits and maibe with big argon tank …. in the bc also with redundable from a bresthing cylinder or stage in the second bladder of the wing.
Great vid. I never got to use one. The one I used was the yellow horse collor but it had a co2 cartrage. And a inflator hose. I lurned to dive with in 1975
I remember those! I started diving with them in the late 70s early 80s. Maybe the french version ? aaaaah good times.
British Buddy BCDs can still be bought with an emergency cylinder!
What part of Kent did your dad come from? I’m in Kent
Hay I am British!!!! Lol great vids
Alec, first time a see a device like that one. I still have the SeaTec with the CO2 cartridge built in, with the replaceable inner bag inside the BCD.
Love the older gear…
Another question any tips on how to tell if you properly cleaned your gear ? Thanks I really appreciate it
I had one of these when they first came out and in the UK they were called ABLJ’s (Adjustable Buoyancy Life Jacket’s)
9:23 RIP headphone users, awesome video
Maurice Fenzy the inventor of “La Bouée Fenzy” was my grandfather. Thank-you for this kind of tribute. Florent
Dry suits please,
Do y’all not get AP Valves products over in the colonies? The Suicide Bottle is still an option on their BCs to this day.
My understanding is that (at least in the modern context) if you’re entering the water with a set that is negative without any air in (due to multiple cylinders, additional equipment, etc) and for whatever reason your power inflate doesn’t work (you forgot to turn your air on) you crack the valve open to stay at the surface. So you can turn your air on.
Great video. Brings back lots of memories. Comments about hairy chested divers is true and now quite hilarious. How did people travel with these? Did they take the tank with them or did they rented at destination? Thanks.
Dive with this and 2×12 litres last year. Better than classic BCD.
This is my opinion, head us always up and back. Everyone should try old school scuba 🙂
Love that name… Fenzy x 4 when your diving in a frenzy and you stuck on the floor. Open that valve and you’ll sound like a train ….. Nobody gonna go diving with you again.
Yes maybe next time ? I belong to Whitstable scuba club where I learnt to dive and go away each year for a week diving in Egypt.
Really love what you do on YouTube from your Sea Hunt stuff to the vintage scuba and of course the tech tips.
Great work from you and Kevin
Have you ever got dcs? Or had to help a dive buddy with it? I would love to here your experience and opinion on that topic
Great video, my bcd actually came with a inflator tank it’s made by A.P valves. Never used it but it is there in case I run out of air.
When the Fenzy vests were usual also the bottles had a “reservation”, that warned you when the bottle had little amount of air and had to suspend the dive
That was my first BC I bought in 1983 in NZ. It did the job. If memory serves, I sold it for what I paid for it, several years later.
How cool is that, I have lived all my life in a small sea side town north of Canterbury called Herne Bay and know Bridge very well.
Can you make a video about travel bags and mesh travel bags for scuba diving?
…Brilliant video…. Alec we Brits know that type of life jacket as an A.B.L.J….(Adjustable Buoyancy Life Jacket) a proper old school piece of kit ,I still use one and found them a multipurpose item for snorkeling and canoeing included . in the pool we trained to breath off them in 12ft 6ins of water just useing that small fitted air bottle . and old habits die hard, I purposely bought a Buddy Trident B.C.D. with an integrated air bottle …. sorry for the waffle…