Back plate BCD vs. jacket style back inflation.

[ams511]

The point being, if the holes are consistent amongst brands, then a Single Tank Adapter (STA) allows those brands to be mixed & matched to your heart's content.

The clue is in the name: "adapter".

The benefit of sticking to a single brand, or researching compatible brands, is that the diver may not have to use an adapter (directly thread cam-bands through the backplate and wing). There are benefits for lighter-weight rigging/travel with that option. The benefit to using an STA is 'universal fit', plus the addition of well-trimmed weight that may be needed.

The point is you are now changing your story because you know I am correct. In post 21 you said you did not assume a single tank adapter was necessary to mix and match different brands of wings and plates but now you do.

The purpose of a single tank adapter was to take a backplate that was originally made for doubles and allow it to be used for singles. Early plates did not have slots cut into them for the cam bands. The single tank adapter was not developed to mix and match different plates and wings although it can be used for that purpose. Some divers like using an STA because the feel the tank is more stable or they want the extra weight an STA provides. Other divers do not like it because the tank is mounted further away from the diver.

A diver does NOT need to stick with a single brand in order to eliminate the single tank adapter. They just need to make sure the slots line up between the plate and the wing.

 

[Alzer]

Nothing wrong with taking more classes if that's what you want to do. But other than cave diving, which you definitely should do before getting into that kind of diving, all the other things you have listed you can easily learn without paying for a class. Just don't get caught up in the hype some shops will try and sell you that you need to take the latest and greatest class.

I figure that with the Advanced Open Water, It will come with Night, Deep, Navigation, and I would just add the Photography and wreck on to it. I would take a class for Cavern or cave diving before I would try it.

 

[victorzamora]

If you do go the route of backplate/wing, stay away from deluxe/comfort harnesses. They seem great/fancy at first, but the novelty wears off. I had one for a while and wished I had gotten the more simple harness VERY soon after I bought it. Whenever/wherever you purchase your BPW (if you do, and buy it new), just make sure they're aware it's going together as a unit. If something doesn't fit, most places will be glad to help you work something out to get something that does work together.

If you are planning on AOW right after OW, or are planning Tech/Cave....then maybe another rig might be your best bet. If I could do it all over, I'd get an Edd-mod SMS100 from the get-go. Good for single or double tank backmount and great for SM. I bought my BPW like 9 months before I took my Intro to Cave course. I ended up not losing too much on that mistake as I traded it for an SMS100 which I sold to buy an Edd-mod SMS100. However, I fell in love with sidemount soon after I tried it. My fiancee didn't really like SM. She's sticking to a single tank for now. If you're planning AOW right after OW, then maybe an Intro to SM course would be good...depending on where you are and who your instructor is.

Off topic: I know it's jumping the gun, but don't waste your time on photography or wreck. I think Deep and Nav are great (also: required)....but Peak Performance Buoyancy is the best if taught properly. Besides those three, your flavor of diving will dictate the other two. Drysuit is good if you'll be diving dry. Drift is good if you'll be diving drift. I lived at 2400ft MSL, so Altitude Diver would've been good. Equipment specialist if you plan on buying your own gear and taking trips with it (might save you hassle on an expensive trip). Photo, video, Fish ID, naturalist, boat diver, wreck diver, cavern diver, DPV, and nat geo are all pretty useless IMHO. O2 provider, maybe? Recovery, maybe? Multilevel might be a waste, but if you don't do tables in OW and can convince your instructor to cover tables THOROUGHLY as part of the multilevel diver course then it might be worth it. However, that SHOULD be either part of your OW course or an easy, free convo. Heck, let's video chat and I'LL teach you tables . If your instructor is a VERY competent sidemount diver, the Sidemount specialty might be fun as an alternative to doubles. Nitrox is GREAT (enriched air diver), but not really as part of AOW....you'll just want that specialty anyway.


- **Edit** -

I would take a class for Cavern or cave diving before I would try it.

You're wise beyond your dives. Glad to hear this. I hope that attitude continues.

 

[Alzer]

If you do go the route of backplate/wing, stay away from deluxe/comfort harnesses. They seem great/fancy at first, but the novelty wears off. I had one for a while and wished I had gotten the more simple harness VERY soon after I bought it. Whenever/wherever you purchase your BPW (if you do, and buy it new), just make sure they're aware it's going together as a unit. If something doesn't fit, most places will be glad to help you work something out to get something that does work together.


Wow, Now that is a boat load of info. I did talk to my buddy about the AOW and about Peak Bouyancy, he blew it off saying that buoyancy isn't a problem for him so its a not necessary class. But that's just his opinion. I can see where Peak Buoy would be a good skill to have, I am also taking at some point the equipment repair class. The type of diving that I know I am going to do after open water is Wreck and Deep, My buddy and I both have interest in it. Photography was a natural fit since i'm a photobug and would like to record shots and some video while i'm down there.

Also, you mentioned Edd's ( can you elaborate a bit more on what or who Edd is?

I have thought about Hollis and did take a look at some of the rigs at house of scuba. I'm more than likely going to be doing more beach dives until I can land some employment.

 

[victorzamora]

he blew it off saying that buoyancy isn't a problem for him

Hold on, let me take a moment to stop laughing before I keep responding. Okay, now I'm done laughing. Buoyancy is someone EVERYBODY has to worry about. I've been diving 9 years, diving sidemount for 18 months, and have been Intro Cave certified for 6 months with the intention of taking Apprentice (and hopefully Full) Cave over July 4 weekend. I work on buoyancy on LITERALLY every dive. I'm still not where I want to be. I spent a year working at a dive shop, where I got to help with a TON of pool sessions. Well, I get bored in a pool....so I default to practicing buoyancy, trim, and propulsion techniques. A good buddy is Full Cave and has trouble with back kicks....so he works on back kicks every time he gets in the water. PPB is easily the most useful class if taught correctly. If taught poorly, it's just as useless as the rest of them.

Also, you mentioned Edd's (can you elaborate a bit more on what or who Edd is?

I have thought about Hollis and did take a look at some of the rigs at house of scuba. I'm more than likely going to be doing more beach dives until I can land some employment.

So, I'm an avid fan of Hollis gear. I worked at a shop that sold Hollis, and got a huge discount on everything Hollis. I currently look like a walking billboard. Drysuit, BCD, regs, mask, fins, lights, computer, etc. I can tell you I wouldn't be all Hollis if it weren't for the discount, but I CAN tell you the gear is high quality. Are there better brands? Yup. However, Hollis is top-tier along with other well respected big-name manufacturers. I would only recommend a Hollis BPW setup if you find a good deal on their wings. Their harnesses are alright, but their simple harness is overpriced.

Edd is Edd Sorenson, owner of Cave Adventurers in Marianna, FL and arguably one of the best divers out there. He's been pushing the sidemount movement, and he's a die-hard believer in it. Cave Adventurers consistently has great deals on things. If you're looking for gear, add them to your list of places to look. Edd modifies the SMS100 into probably the most capable sidemount system out there. Stock is alright, but modified is GREAT in SM. I haven't tried it in backmount, though.

Now, anywhere you want to buy something from....call first. Most places will make you a deal and/or work with you. If you have a local dive shop with a guy that dives backplate/wings, you can often get them to help out. If you find a deal online, show them the deal and ask them to match it. I'm a firm believer in helping your local shop.

One thing to ask yourself is this: Why do you want to buy your own gear? I think that the timing of gear purchase is almost as critical as the selection itself (and in some cases, moreso). I went over 8 years without owning ANYTHING more than mask/snorkel/fins. I'm glad I didn't. Now I own everything but tanks. Glad I do. Sorry for another long post.

 

[Alzer]

No worries about long posts, they are usually full of great info and I for one appreciate them. I will look up Edd's shop as soon as I can. Let me answer your thought about why I would want to buy gear. The way my life is currently, boat dives will be far and few in between, however shore dives will be most of what I do until I find a job that can afford me the ability to spend more time on boats. If I have my gear, I can use it. Tank refill, Gas, parking, and food is cheaper than adding another $75 for gear rental on top of the base costs to get into the water. That's my reasoning. My biggest hold up to even considering gear is probably the decision on BC style. I can get into a jacket style cheap enough, but I don't want to keep buying something because it's affordable. I hear a fair amount of divers praising back inflation units which is good info to have, but knowing that I am interested in wrecks and photography and at some point cave or cavern diving, I'm starting to think that If I put together a tech or side mount bc, i'll be just as happy as if I had purchased say a Zeagle Ranger. So for now, I plan on renting and trying as many different pieces of equipment as I can to see what I really like. My buddy has a Ranger that I can use to try it on for size and I can compare it to the jacket style bc's that I'm sure they will have us use in class.


Does that make sense?

 

[tracydr]

Thanks for the differentiation between styles. It seems that the back inflation, from what I understand of that system is that it is easier to trim than the jacket styles.

Another downside of jacket-if you have a long surface swim with the jacket inflated, it can decrease mobility or even restrict breathing because it wraps around the chest like a life jacket.

 

[ams511]

Does that make sense?

1) If your goal is to do technical diving then it make sense to purchase technical diving equipment from the start which means a BP/W for buoyancy. I am sure some people use Rangers and like them but more technical divers use BP/W.

2) The other thing is that a BP/W is less expensive and has better resale value. A Zeagle Ranger is $750 a BP/W is $300 - $500.

3) There is no down side for using a wing for recreational dives. Some people miss pockets but you can add them if you want.

 

[Alzer]

I do like the fact that the BP/W is modular for the most part. I can use a single or double tank, or even go side mount. Also I think, and correct me if i'm wrong, the BP/W is good for traveling, Less bulky.

 

[ams511]

I do like the fact that the BP/W is modular for the most part. I can use a single or double tank, or even go side mount. Also I think, and correct me if i'm wrong, the BP/W is good for traveling, Less bulky.

In general I don't think you can use a BP/W for sidemount. The problem I think is that the wing will float up on you without the tank holding it in position. I could be wrong though, you should probably ask in the sidemount forum.

As far as less bulky for travel the answer is maybe. Some travel BCs pack up pretty small as do some BP and wings. Some are wings are rather flexible and can be folded quite easily some are a thicker and harder to fold.