CHARLIE L Fit- absolutely (youll need cam bands though) Lift - I'd say, almost definitely, yes. Ive been diving this bladder spearfishing with a stainless steel backplate (that adds 6 lbs) and no wet suit, no dry suit (just a rash guard) with a single steel 100 and it was fine. So, with that set up, I would be a lot more negatively bouyant than your set up would be - especially if you lost the 16lb weights. A friend of mine borrowed it for some cavern diving last weekend, and dove a 7mm wet suit, transpac, a steel 72 and about 12lbs of weight and she had no trouble either.
With a dry suit, and possibly no extra weights, I cant imagine this thing would have any trouble at all floating a steel 100. Hollis does make a 38lb wing, but to me thats overkill- it would be just 7 lbs less than my 45lb wing i use for double steel 100s with deco bottles and a can light.
Hope that gives some perspective. The only time ive ever had trouble with a 25# bladder (an old dive rite) was with a steel 120 on my back, 2 40cf aluminum deco bottles, a can light, reels, all on a little tranpac and i had just a 3mm wetsuit. I was weighted like a lead wrecking ball. And event that rig was okay until compression from depth became a factor.
But otherwise, this bladder is great -- its fantastic for bouyancy control and stability... by far the best ive ever used.
CHARLIE L No worries, glad i could help and do a bit of "gear talk". I got the Higland cam bands to go with it. I would NOT recommend those - I would go with something much simpler like the XS ones, or the old dive rite cam bands.
marc f I have another question. Are a second stage and octo the same quality? Would the Mares abyss 22 second stage be the exact same thing as the abyss 22 octo?
CHARLIE L Funny you ask. I actually dive with a Mares abyss - i think its a 22- octopus as my primary reg on a 7ft hose (I have developed a frankenstein rig.) Its a killer reg! Dunno if there is a difference with the normal primary, besides mine has the yellow purge button and the regular Abyss has a black one. After 2 years of constant use and rather abusive treatment (diving in the south pacific) it hasnt had any problems (even without any service, which, i know, is very bad). It has developed a bit of a "whistle" lately so im finally gonna get it checked out, but it still works great if a bit noisy.
Its not an adjustable reg, no pre-dive mode or venturi switch or anything fancy, but it is one rugged beast of a reg. For over a year it survived weekly saltwater dives, coral sand, and less than ideal storage conditions with no trouble whatsoever.
Sounds like we may have similar rigs!
marc f OK so it's not crazy. I have the proton ice extreme reg right now. I was thinking of making my proton ice extreme 2nd stage my octo and then buying the abyss extreme octopus then putting a long hose on and using it as my primary.
CHARLIE L Not crazy in my opinion at all. My abyss octo is rugged, simple, small, ultra comfortable, and RELIABLE - so i use it as a primary. I bought it on a whim as a back up when i was overseas and couldnt get my scubpro regs serviced. Ended up liking it so much it became my primary reg. It's great in currents as well because of the purge valve set up - does not free flow very easily, and just the feel of the reg - it feels so much more secure than any other reg. Ive done deco and overhead diving with it - it's got my 100% confidence.