Back plate BCD vs. jacket style back inflation.

[TSandM]

How easy a setup is to trim depends on the options it gives you for placing weights. When you are actually diving, the front portion of the jacket air bladder ought to be empty -- if it is full, you are almost certainly significantly overweighted. However, if you are diving in conditions where you require a significant amount of weight, and you put it all in integrated weight pockets, in either a jacket or standard back-inflate, you will likely end up feet-down. A backplate provides a simple way to move a portion of your required ballast up onto your back, where it is directly countered by the lift of the wing. This tends to make it easier to balance in a horizontal position, although people diving dry suits in cold water may still have to move even more weight up onto their backs.

The two biggest disadvantages of a standard jacket style BC are the bulk of it (with the integrated weight pockets and the air bladder wrapping around the front of the diver, you need a LOT of real estate to accomodate the bulk) and the squeezing sensation you get when you fully inflate it on the surface. Many people don't like the sensation of being compressed by the flotation bladder. (I'm one of them.) A third, smaller disadvantage, is that the amount of padding on these BCs obligates you to carry 2 or 3 pounds of extra ballast just to sink the BC itself. In the tropics, that's not a big deal, but in cold water, where the total amount of lead you need can be daunting, every few extra pounds hurts.

 

[Sevenrider860]

If you have an opportunity, try to dive with different combinations to see what you are comfortable with before making a purchase.

In my opinion, once you decide to go technical (wreck, cave, extended, deep, etc), you will find the additional costs in training and gear will make the expense of a recreational BCD purchase in the beginning look fairly minor. I think that increasing your diving experience and developing correct skills/procedures can be done in a recreational BCD just as well as a BP/W.

When diving backmount singles or doubles I usually will use my BP/W with a wing size appropriate for the dive. For sidemount diving I use a Nomad XT (technical "harness" system) or a Razor ("minimalist") system. I will also occasionally use a ScubaPro Classic ( one of the original "jacket" type BCD's) and a AquaLung Axiom jacket type BCD.

For any technical diving I will use the BP/W or sidemount systems. If I am on a recreational outing, I may use one of the jacket BCD's every now and then. A properly sized ScubaPro Classic is like donning a piece of well fitting clothing (correct size is critical) and I find it almost as comfortable and unrestrictive as a BP/W in the water. The AquaLung Axiom is one of the most comfortable BCD's I have ever worn out of the water. The "wrapture" harness system really works...out of the water. In the water I find it "hugs" me more than I like. But if I have a long walk to a dive site, I can't think of a more comfortable system to wear.

My belief is that you should use something that you are comfortable with. I think that when starting out, diving experience (time and experiences in the water) is more important than the specific gear you use. If you find a BP/W works for you, that is great. If you decide that a recreational type BCD is more to your liking in the beginning, just as good. Just keep diving and make your gear adjustments as needed as your skills and dive types start to justify the change.

 

[Alzer]

I appreciate all of the info that you folks have given me. I will try to rent as many of the styles as I can to see which I like for certain types of Dives. The nicest thing about the BP/W is that I can put one together piecemeal.

 

[rhwestfall]

The nicest thing about the BP/W is that I can put one together piecemeal.

yes and no... There is no standard, so pieces from different manufacturers may not go together......

 

[Alzer]

I would probably put one together based on brand.

 

[Instructor_Tom]

Hey folks,

I'm taking my OW class next month, so i'm spending some due diligence time researching gear. I have spoken with a few LDS's and I am in need of your opinions. I'm thinking that If I were to purchase a Tech bcd, I would be able to modify it and streamline in so that if I decide that wreck diving or Cavern diving would be simple compared to say a jacket style. I'm trying to maximize my purchases so that it would be expandable for the future. I won't be buying until after my certs and after I have rented different types of gear and used it diving.
What are your thoughts and opinions?

trying out different options prior to buying a set up is a smart move.

if you are looking to go full tech cavern, cave, wreck penetration first you need advanced training to stay safe and a good understanding of the risks. being that you haven't even done you OW yet, you have a long way to go.

when looking at a BC set up for tech means continuous 2" webbing, 4 D rings, backplate and wing if you follow the DIR implementation.

if on the other hand you want a recreational BCD that will let you do tech diving then I suggest you look at the dive rite transpac, depending on which wing system you mate to the transpac you can do standard open water, tech, or even sidemount.

hope this is helpful.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[bbarnett51]

I'm purely recreational and highly recommend bp/w with a basic harness.

 

[tplyons]

Try them all out if you can, and a model or two of each.

Personally, I'm not fond of jacket style BCD's, but wear one in pool sessions with OW students (I find it easier to handle in pools and easier to explain to OW students when I'm using the same gear they are). The biggest drawback for me is the squeeze when inflating.

For open water sessions, my personal BCD is a ScubaPro Seahawk. I bought one after diving another back inflate, a ScubaPro Knighthawk. I found it much more comfortable in open water environments and easy to maintain trim. The only drawback is that it's more difficult to stay upright on the surface than a jacket style, but if you roll on top of your BCD like an otter, it's quite comfortable.

Then there are BP/W setups. I'm looking into these myself, and have priced them out at about the same price as my back inflate BCD. Yes, they're more modular than an all-in-one BCD, but don't expect them to be a much cheaper option. Between backplate, harness, wing, single tank adapter, crotch strap (some harnesses don't come with one) and ditch-able weight pockets if you need them, it could run you as much or more than a traditional back inflate BCD. However, it does provide modularity down the road.

I anticipate switching over to a BP/W in the future, but until I finish my Divemaster program, I will be sticking with the Seahawk because it is what I know and love.

But of course, your mileage may vary and all that fun stuff.

 

[DevonDiver]

yes and no... There is no standard, so pieces from different manufacturers may not go together......

But generally they do.. most manufacturers apply the same spacing between holes in the backplate/harness/STA. That's the defining measurement when putting dissimilar manufacturers components together.

 

[ams511]

But generally they do.. most manufacturers apply the same spacing between holes in the backplate/harness/STA. That's the defining measurement when putting dissimilar manufacturers components together.

Yes and no. You are assuming that the diver is using an STA. I believe only Halcyon, Light Monkey and DRIS actually require the use of an STA (no slots in the wing). While the rest do not and some have the STA built into the wing.