XDEEP vs Hollis Sidemount BCDs — A Real Course Comparison

In this video, I break down two of the most popular sidemount BCDs on the market — the XDEEP Stealth 2 and the Hollis Katana 2 — not in a pool, not on paper, but during a real sidemount course. Earlier this year, I ran a giveaway for a free sidemount course, and the winner was Cole — a NAUI Open Water Instructor and college student. Cole chose to dive the Hollis Katana 2, while I was diving my XDEEP Stealth 2, giving us a perfect opportunity to compare these systems side by side throughout the course. This isn’t about declaring a “winner.” At this level, the challenge isn’t doing the dive — it’s doing it cleanly, deliberately, and with as little impact as possible. Ease of configuration, durability, and design all start to matter in very real ways when you’re refining skills, not just learning them. Support the channel & dive deeper 👇 🌊 Patreon (early access + BTS): https://www.patreon.com/divevibe 💬 Join the DiveVibe Discord: https://discord.gg/Q27Dvc4sMs 🛒 Dive gear & DPVs: https://www.divevibetech.com/s/shop Thanks for supporting real-world diving 🤿 Katana 2 BUNGEE MOD: https://youtu.be/V8LMCGm1svQ?si=Bpfd6fjCa8NBp7Bv In this video we cover: Ease of setup and configuration Design philosophy and adjustability Durability and long-term use considerations How each BCD performs during actual training dives Which type of diver each system makes the most sense for If you’re considering sidemount — or already diving it and looking to refine your setup — this comparison should help you make a more informed decision.