Deaths due to Backplate/Wing or Rear Inflation BCDs

[Thalassamania]

I don't know if you can get new ones. I rather doubt it. They were made in France and were always a bit hard to find in the US. I never saw one in a dive shop, but I think that was because the bottles were not DOT (ICC in those days). I still use mine when I dive with a single cylinder, dry, or without any suit. It's just great.

 

[fisheyeview]

There are still horse collar BC's out there, but not many. I used to dive one for years. FENZI was the ultimate in BC's in the day. The little pony bottles are worth their weight in gold these days if they are still usable. The connector (and small size) make them perfect for blowing out heads on boats.

The connectors fit the access valve on a lot of marine heads.

 

[swinchen]

I found a couple...

Great deal on SEA ELITE HORSE COLLAR from Divers-Supply.com
Buy Aquatec Horse Collar BC BC-002 Pl-230 with reviews at scuba.com

I like that they use a standard LP Inflate Hose... that is pretty nice. Maybe when I am ready for my next toy I will try one Probably the cheaper one.

 

[Air One]

Wow ! Can't believe it !
Fenzys are back ???
Wings are so confortable...I don't want to go 16 years back.
oh, yes ! Let's use both ! THIS would be redudancy !

 

[Thalassamania]

Wow ! Can't believe it !
Fenzys are back ???
Wings are so confortable...I don't want to go 16 years back.
oh, yes ! Let's use both ! THIS would be redudancy !

They serve different purposes. A FENZY is much lower drag that a set of wings, when diving dry or without a suit with a single tank there is no use for a set of wings, so a FENZY provides surface support should it be needed.

Why would you want to use both? Seems dumb to me.

 

[stairman]

Your main objective is to be horizontal[trimmed out] underwater.Jacket or wing.How you float on the surface to me is not a worry.If they roll you forward just lean back.Keeping the reg in your mouth is important.If you bungee your backup and feel your passing out,Ive heard of pulling the bungee back over a valve etc. to hold it in place.Never tried it but it could work.

 

[24940]

The closest I've come to dying as a result of my BP/W was when my wife found out I had bought it. She had purchased a Black Diamond for me about a year prior.

 

[ektess1]

Is the BP/W better than the Black Diamond? If so, how? I use a Black Diamond now and am quite pleased with it.

 

[peterbj7]

It's much better if SWMBO bought it for you!

 

[24940]

Is the BP/W better than the Black Diamond? If so, how? I use a Black Diamond now and am quite pleased with it.

For me, I feel it is. Off the top of my head, the advantages are:

• More secure fit
• Tank doesn't shift
• Less cluttered
• D-Rings where I need them
• Can use it with doubles or singles
• When parts wear out, I can replace them
• Gives me a place to hang my can light and Argon.
• Better streamlining
• Less failure points

It was also a couple hundred bucks less than the BD.