Another BP/W thread

[skimphish]

Not including the advice often given here on SB...BP/W are the best kept secret in diving. The majority of recreational instructors will not have experience using them...and will, consequently, just recommend what they know - jacket bcds.

BP/W is an investment for the diver who is willing to take the time and effort to really develop the configuration of the kit they dive in. It is for divers who really care about having a reliable, rugged and well-performing buoyancy device. It is for divers care about practicality and performance over gimmicks, fanciness and sales-pitch. It is for divers who want to perfect their buoyancy, trim and control in the water.

ok, this is really helpful. i guess i havent realized the full potential of a BP/W. i had no idea they were fairly customizable.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

They don't. Alot of people who use them like them, but sales wise there are waaaay more traditional-ish BCs sold VS BP&W.


Ahh.. but the pockets are one of my FAVORITE things about a BP&W. Most of the BCs I have owned and used had nearly worthless pockets. They can be hard to reach into, too small, confusing, etc etc. With the BP&W, you can choose where to put pockets, what size they are, how they open, or you can put pockets on your exposure suit.

1+ what Jasonmh said above.

Hi skimphish: Most people who try BP/W's (me included) really like them and are glad they switched from conventional jacket BC's. When you read the threads on this board, you'd think everyone in the world used BP/W's, but that is certainly NOT the case (as you see when you go to most dive sites/boats).

As far as cost, you can get a good BP/W setup for at or below the cost of a midrange jacket BC.... but this varies by brand.

Tobin at Deep Sea Supply is a very good starting place. There are other options, and you can certainly piece together your own BP/W... which is the beauty of the system.

I used a Hammerhead SS backplate and STA, an Edge HOG wing, and Dive Rite harness webbing and D-rings, and an old SS Scubapro buckle. The total cost was about $360. If I had it to do over again, I would go with Deep Sea Supply (incredibly, I had not heard of DSS until after putting my BP/W together).

https://www.deepseasupply.com/

Best wishes.

 

[DevonDiver]

fwiw... Pockets on BCs aren't very good as they're really difficult to access. For the most-part I just clip everything off... but if you really want pockets get them on the outside of your leg on your exposure suit.

Not so on BP/W.

Clipping everything to external d-rings is just the mark of a 'Christmas Tree' diver. It totally ruins your streamlining, increases task loading... and it will seriously impair your ability to react effectively in an emergency. And, of course, you are just asking for entanglements....

 

[Scott L]

ok, this is really helpful. i guess i havent realized the full potential of a BP/W. i had no idea they were fairly customizable.

They are so much and more! Seriously, it's a no brainer. I like Halcyon for a lot of reasons including the storage pack which is home for my primary SMB making me more streamline as DevonDiver was stressing above. DSS makes quality gear but I contend the Halcyon's BCD is a more stable system with the more rigid AL plate and single tank adapter.

 

[cool_hardware52]

DSS makes quality gear but I contend the Halcyon's BCD is a more stable system with the more rigid AL plate and single tank adapter.

Please tell me why.

Tobin

 

[Pullmyfinger]

. DSS makes quality gear but I contend the Halcyon's BCD is a more stable system with the more rigid AL plate and single tank adapter.

You have been misinformed if you were ever told that halcyon's aluminum plate is more rigid than anyone elses aluminum plate.

-Mitch

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

I agree that a lot of people on this board are vocal about their use of a BP/W configuration (heck, I use one!), but that doesn't translate to "most" recreational divers using one. Last dive trip I went on in the Caribbean, only three people out of 15 were using a BP/W. I also do a lot of shore diving here in Hawaii, and most fellow shore-divers use jacket-style BCs.

Don't apologize for being a newby...you have legitimate questions that everyone on this board also had once upon a time! Most new divers purchasing their gear will plump for a jacket-style BC because it's what they used in their classes. Or their local dive shop will overwhelmingly stock jacket-style BCs, and they're a familiar item for instructors and staff. I must say, jacket-style BCs also feel 'cozy' when you try them on in the shop (BP/W systems don't, though...I wonder if that's a factor?!). There's nothing wrong with jacket style BCs, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I chose a BP/W system because I started cave-diving. A plate/harness configuration is better suited to hosting double tanks, even though jacket style 'rec-tech' BCs claim to offer good doubles-hosting capabilities. I also realized I liked the BP/W configuration for diving a single tank. The plate distributes weight very nicely and eliminated a need to wear a weight-belt. I use a 5lb stainless steel plate - and yes, I travel with it, too! - and my fiance uses a 12 lb SS plate. I also found it was much easier to achieve good trim with a plate, although you still have to work to achieve it.

As for storage...I hear you. But there are ways! You've already received advice about Aquasealing a pocket onto your wetsuit/drysuit thigh, and it works very well. You can also buy pockets that simply thread through the waistband of your harness. No mess, no fuss! You can also carry SMBs and liftbags in 'buttbags' that are clipped off to your plate and hang unobtrusively over your butt.

Ultimately, you have to see what works for you. Think about the course your diving education might take. If the idea of soft or hard overhead environments is something you can see yourself doing one day, you may wish to buy gear from the outset that will 'grow' with your diving needs.

 

[Scott L]

Please tell me why.

Tobin

Based upon several posts by other divers in the past on similar threads read before buying my singles rig and my beleif that the more flexiable kydex plate and lack of STA would result in more tank roll. Let me also state I purchased a DSS doubles system a few months ago and I am very immpressed with the overall quality with all materials utilized being extremely durable. Please correct me if my assumptions and observations are invalid.

P.S. Don't you sleep? LOL

 

[Scott L]

You have been misinformed if you were ever told that halcyon's aluminum plate is more rigid than anyone elses aluminum plate.

-Mitch

I never made such a statement. I was assuming they would have acquired all componets from DSS. Absent of utilizing a SS plate they would be using the Kydex.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Based upon several posts by other divers in the past on similar threads read before buying my singles rig and my beleif that the more flexiable kydex plate and lack of STA would result in more tank roll. Let me also state I purchased a DSS doubles system a few months ago and I am very immpressed with the overall quality with all materials utilized being extremely durable. Please correct me if my assumptions and observations are invalid.

P.S. Don't you sleep? LOL

So you have not personally used a DSS single rig of any type?

Although the DSS kydex plates are sufficiently rigid for single tank, doubles, or even Rebreather use most single tank divers are better off with a Stainless Steel back plate.

Do you think based on your admittedly **zero** experience with DSS single rigs that our Stainless Steel plates are "too flexible" to merit consideration?

There have been "STA-Less" BackPlate and wings that were less than successful, but that does not mean that all direct mount systems are the same.

I doubt you will find many (any?) actual DSS single rig users reporting that there is **ANY** tank instability.

Please take a moment and view this video.

https://www.deepseasupply.com/templates/dssstability.html

Does it appear that the tank is moving relative to the backplate?

I suggest you limit your opinions to gear you actually have first hand experience with.

BTW I was diving this morning with steel doubles and an al 40 deco bottle and al 80 stage using a "too flexible" DSS kydex back plate.......


Tobin