Diverite voyager vs travel wing

[faithwilder]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a wing and have pretty much decided on diverite, after speaking to many people and doing a lot of internet searches. However, I can't decided between the travel and voyager. I am female around 5'5" and around 60kg/9.5st. It seems to me the only real difference between the two is 4kg lift and the voyager is slightly bigger in dimensions. I work as a divemaster so do take extra weights with me (6kg with a normal jacket bcd and a 5mm wetsuit) and am getting a light backplate as I think this will suit me better in warmer waters. Both wings are exactly the same price, so I literally just have to decide whether or not voyager will seem too big on me as I am a fairly small person.

Thanks so much

 

[Newdiv]

I'm a larger short guy. I have a travel xt with a 3mm and hp117 and no additional weight in 78 degree water hope this helps you.

 

[tbone1004]

I would recommend against a light backplate as that will allow you to minimize extra weight carried but that is just me. If you're in warm water, you shouldn't need the voyager wing, travel wing is more than sufficient. If you are working as a DM, does the shop you work for not carry a brand that can get you a bp/w at keyman pricing?

Also, while dive rite says their wings don't need a sta, they really do.... This is not a problem, just something that you have to consider vs. other brands

 

[Centrals]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a wing and have pretty much decided on diverite, after speaking to many people and doing a lot of internet searches. However, I can't decided between the travel and voyager. I am female around 5'5" and around 60kg/9.5st. It seems to me the only real difference between the two is 4kg lift and the voyager is slightly bigger in dimensions. I work as a divemaster so do take extra weights with me (6kg with a normal jacket bcd and a 5mm wetsuit) and am getting a light backplate as I think this will suit me better in warmer waters. Both wings are exactly the same price, so I literally just have to decide whether or not voyager will seem too big on me as I am a fairly small person.

Thanks so much

You are the first one that I had came across in SB still expressed your weight in "stone"!
I use a DR 30lbs wing with either Al/SS plate for wet/dry diving without STA. And I believe the Travel wing(25lbs) should be fine for you. However, working as a DM then perhaps you should get the XT series which use heavy duty outer shell.
Dive Gear Express sells a similar wing(DR Exp) for US$199.00.

 

[faithwilder]

I would recommend against a light backplate as that will allow you to minimize extra weight carried but that is just me. If you're in warm water, you shouldn't need the voyager wing, travel wing is more than sufficient. If you are working as a DM, does the shop you work for not carry a brand that can get you a bp/w at keyman pricing?

Also, while dive rite says their wings don't need a sta, they really do.... This is not a problem, just something that you have to consider vs. other brands

HI, I appreciate your help. The dive centre I work with is aqualung and diverite still works out cheaper for me, especially as I am in the canaries so tax is very very low! I'm intrigued about what you said that diverite wings need an sta - surely this depends on which backplate you take or not? In what way would it not work to use a diverite wing without an sta?

Thanks xx

 

[tbone1004]

The Dive Rite wings are designed for the Transpac, this means they need the crosshair center section instead of the one commonly seen on every other wing. This means there are no anti-roll supports for the tank. There are grommets for the bolt holes and this stands the tank on a ridge less than an inch wide and there is nothing there to prevent it from sliding off of the ridge on the plate and going cock-eyed. Very common problem with the wings that is easily solved with the STA, which they are designed to be used with when using a stainless plate. It's not a problem, it's just something that you should consider. Dive Rite makes very good wings and plates, but it is just a unique quirk with their design choice to make them compatible with the Transpac. I prefer diving with STA's anyway, but that's just me.

 

[halocline]

I used dive rite wings without STAs for years, it works fine. Unless they have really changed things, don't get the voyager, it's way too big for warm water single tank diving. Dive rite tends to go a bit overboard on the wing size, IMO, although the newer models are an improvement.

 

[geoff w]

I've got both the Travel and Voyager wings, having started with the Voyager wing, and my wife has both, but started with the Travel. The inner bladder of both are the same, the only difference is the outer shell, and the nice thing about DiveRite wings is if you get a puncture you can unzip the shell and replace (or temporarily repair) the inner bladder

If you're working as a DM for rescue classes, or carrying extra weight for OW classes, the additional lift is nice to have. I normally dive locally with a 7mm full suit, hooded vest, HP80 tank and 2 lbs (1 KG) of lead in weight pockets. The travel wing is marginal for floating my rig on the surface. If I'm diving dry with extra lead, I'll use my Voyager wing (which is why my wife got the Voyager wing), and usually for rescue classes. Otherwise for recreational diving, especially in warm water, the Travel wing is fine and ever so slightly less drag. They are both excellent wings and I would buy again with no hesitation compared to most everything else I've seen

You should have a STA with DiveRite wings. You can get away without one, but your tank will flop a little from side to side and whatever you use to fasten the backplate to the wing will press in to your tank.

 

[halocline]

It's really easy to zip tie a strip of neoprene (or any kind of rubber) over the grommets if you're worried about the tank flopping. But IME it really doesn't happen.

 

[Cali_diver]

I am 5'8'' and use the travel wing with the SS XT Lite backplate. I have used it with a 5, 7mm and drysuit. Never had problem with tank roll or lift and love the compact size of it.