Oceanic Hera Women's Scuba Diving BC/BCD Jacket Style Buoyancy Compensator (MD)

I had the Oceanic Isla for about 15 years and absolutely loved it. It is the same design as the Hera. The problem is that PLASTIC piece that they call the "patented Adjustable Positioning System". It is literally sown into the material of the BCD and we all know what happens to plastic when it is repeatedly subjected to salt, sun, and age. It eventually breaks! Both sides of the plastic parts of the BCD broke off without warning from the weight of the tank while I was underwater on my first dive after having gotten it serviced. It could have been a catastrophic situation. I recognize that the BCD was close to 15 years old, but frankly, I expect it to last that long and something as dumb as plastic breaking off shouldn't be the reason that it becomes useless. My local dive shop contacted Oceanic, but they were not sympathetic because they said that a new company has purchased Oceanic since I purchased the BCD. Truthfully, I really want to re-purchase the same BCD, because I really did love my Isla and it travelled the world with me, but I am scared of it now. That plastic strip connecting your shoulder straps on to your BCD, which is holding your tank on as well, is simply a horrible design flaw. I wish they would eliminate it before someone gets hurt.