Equipment Trends: The BCD

[drrich2]

For me to consider one, I'd want to know it would substantially aid horizontal trim, preferably improve SAC, and ideally, all metal plates & buckles would be anodized or what-have-you (probably black) because I don't like the 'naked metal' military compound look, and don't use the term 'crotch strap' since that sounds like something I'd need a penicillin shot for. The webbing needs to look comfortable and if there's a need to custom fit it, it needs to quickly & simply do no. Not much futzing or nuance. And have weight-integrated pouches already on it; I loathe weight belts.

Ideally, have the above system for rent, with an online pool or quarry, and let me apply the rental fee toward the purchase if I decide to buy it.

And make real clear it's great for recreational diving, for people who never go tec.

Richard.

 

[Bob DBF]

For me to consider one, I'd want to know it would substantially aid horizontal trim, preferably improve SAC, and ideally, all metal plates & buckles would be anodized or what-have-you (probably black) because I don't like the 'naked metal' military compound look, and don't use the term 'crotch strap' since that sounds like something I'd need a penicillin shot for. The webbing needs to look comfortable and if there's a need to custom fit it, it needs to quickly & simply do no. Not much futzing or nuance. And have weight-integrated pouches already on it; I loathe weight belts.

Ideally, have the above system for rent, with an online pool or quarry, and let me apply the rental fee toward the purchase if I decide to buy it.

And make real clear it's great for recreational diving, for people who never go tec.

Richard.

I think the sale of BP/W by telling a diver it will give them better trim is just jumping on the marketing bulls**t bandwagon. Someone who has bad trim either does not care about trim or has no clue about trim at all. I have seen great trim from divers using a BP/W, back inflate, jacket, horsecollar, and no BC at all. It is not the equipment that makes a good diver.

I moved into a BP/W because my jacket was on its way out, had some loose cash, and I always liked the feel of a harness from back when I dove with a horsecollar and before that with no BC. And it did help get some weight off my belt. I suggest anyone wanting a BC to go and try as many as possible to find what you prefer before you buy.

As for the crotch strap, depending on your build, it may not be needed (think beer belly). The earlier jackets all had crotch straps because they had a tendency to slip up off you when inflated on the surface without one. The cummerbund and the jacket squeezing when inflated seem to make the strap unnecessary now.


Bob

 

[BDSC]

You can be pretty sure in a thread like this that someone is going to throw out the old "panicked diver" scenario to help bolster they claim. Like the panicked diver at the surface is going to be just to flustered to figure out those complicated plastic clips to be able to ditch their weight pocket. Or the panicked diver won't be able to get that jacket BC off quick enough because of that complicated clip and cummerbund. Of course that same panicked diver in a BP/W..............never mind. We know that divers don't panic when wearing a BP/W.

 

[AdivingBel]

You can be pretty sure in a thread like this that someone is going to throw out the old "panicked diver" scenario to help bolster they claim. Like the panicked diver at the surface is going to be just to flustered to figure out those complicated plastic clips to be able to ditch their weight pocket. Or the panicked diver won't be able to get that jacket BC off quick enough because of that complicated clip and cummerbund. Of course that same panicked diver in a BP/W..............never mind. We know that divers don't panic when wearing a BP/W.

Nah...we've pre-panicked as part of the dive plan or was that the buddy check....

After more thought, I belive the pre-panic is part of the dive plan. If you panic during a buddy check you might touch or squeeze something inappropriate...

 

[boulderjohn]

Surprisingly enough, there have been a number of cases in which overweighted divers reached the surface in an OOA situation and were unable to stay there because they either could not drop their weights or did not think to drop their weights. After a joint review of the causes of dive fatalities with DAN, PADI added the emergency weight drop on the surface to the OW course for just that reason.

I myself know of several cases.

• One was a woman in Seattle who got to the surface OOA and could not stay there.
• Another was a case in San Diego in which a diver was having trouble on the surface at the end of the dive. The DM jumped in the water to assist and foolishly had him take his BCD off before taking off the weight belt. He was apparently unable to remove his weight belt when he subsequently sank to the bottom.
• In the Florida Keys a few years ago, a man went OOA and managed to get to the surface and could not stay there because of being overweighted. He had a new BCD with integrated pockets, and neither he nor his buddy could figure out how to get the weights out. He ended up trying to share air with another diver whose rental regulator set did not include an octo. They tried to buddy breathe, and both drowned.

 

[danvolker]

Surprisingly enough, there have been a number of cases in which overweighted divers reached the surface in an OOA situation and were unable to stay there because they either could not drop their weights or did not think to drop their weights. After a joint review of the causes of dive fatalities with DAN, PADI added the emergency weight drop on the surface to the OW course for just that reason.

I myself know of several cases.

• One was a woman in Seattle who got to the surface OOA and could not stay there.
• Another was a case in San Diego in which a diver was having trouble on the surface at the end of the dive. The DM jumped in the water to assist and foolishly had him take his BCD off before taking off the weight belt. He was apparently unable to remove his weight belt when he subsequently sank to the bottom.
• In the Florida Keys a few years ago, a man went OOA and managed to get to the surface and could not stay there because of being overweighted. He had a new BCD with integrated pockets, and neither he nor his buddy could figure out how to get the weights out. He ended up trying to share air with another diver whose rental regulator set did not include an octo. They tried to buddy breathe, and both drowned.

Great argument for the weight belt, as at least a significant component of weighting.....of all the weighting options for divers--specifically the myriad of integrated weight systems, many of which are far from intuitive to use--the Weight belt is something that pretty much any diver can figure out how to work, and how to dump....especially the rubber freedive weightbelts.

 

[BDSC]

Nah...we've pre-panicked as part of the dive plan or was that the buddy check....

After more thought, I belive the pre-panic is part of the dive plan. If you panic during a buddy check you might touch or squeeze something inappropriate...

We will have to practice these things in Little Cayman!

 

[dberry]

Great argument for the weight belt, as at least a significant component of weighting.....of all the weighting options for divers--specifically the myriad of integrated weight systems, many of which are far from intuitive to use--the Weight belt is something that pretty much any diver can figure out how to work, and how to dump....especially the rubber freedive weightbelts.

I guess... although the integrated weight system in the BCD I had for OW seemed pretty close to fool-proof. Pull out the two big handles on the sides of the BCD. Oh, and don't forget to let go of the weights in your hands.

At first I thought having to demonstrate releasing my weights (and handing them to the instructor) in 6' of water (PADI OWC) was a bit silly. In retrospect, it was important to use an activity to reinforce the idea that dropping weight was something one might need to do in an emergency. Something to store in the memory of a novice diver, along with buddy check-lists and so many other "little" things that just might keep you alive.

 

[Centrals]

Great argument for the weight belt, as at least a significant component of weighting.....of all the weighting options for divers--specifically the myriad of integrated weight systems, many of which are far from intuitive to use--the Weight belt is something that pretty much any diver can figure out how to work, and how to dump....especially the rubber freedive weightbelts.

Weight belt was more or less the only option before but now!!!!! Wow!
Even Halcyon has various weight systems to choose! Can you imagine that 15yrs ago?
I try not to buddy anyone who is NOT using weight belt.

 

[AdivingBel]

We will have to practice these things in Little Cayman!

Might need a few drinks before we get to the inappropriate part...also I have to ask the wife. This trip is getting more interesting all the time.