Opinions on new divers with technical setups?

[Badger W.]

I know I wanna move into tech diving eventually. I’m under 20 dives but in the process of buying and assembling my BP/W and regulator set....with that comes the hogarthian options, especially for hose lengths and routings.

I know where I wanna go and this is gear to buy once. Sure, I might change a thing here or there, but the base is all the same. I don’t care TOO much....but I don’t want the tech divers to laugh at me for just doing recreational dives with a setup similar to what they’re using.

I feel like I’m already planning the “I’m a new diver, but this is my gear and I want to go tech when I improve my skills” talk as they eyeball my cressi Leonardo pre-dive.

 

[runsongas]

nothing wrong at all. although consider streamlined ow instead of full hogarthian long hose.

 

[Ayisha]

Some people get o/w certified with a bp/w and long hose, so it's not necessarily a technical setup. There are basic o/w courses that require said setup, such as GUE Recreational 1.

I personally found a bp and wing no different than my previous ladies back-inflate BCD, and much more comfortable and better fitting than a jacket style BCD.

The long hose, OTOH, does need training and practice to use properly, and it's use should become like second nature.

BP/W's are very common among all types of divers in many regions. Around the Great Lakes here, they seem to be more the norm than jackets, at least on boats that I frequent. I'm sure tech divers aren't going to be laughing at you.

"Begin with the end in mind" is a great concept. I wish I had started that way!

 

[Badger W.]

nothing wrong at all. although consider streamlined ow instead of full hogarthian long hose.

yeah, that’s a good point. Long hoses aren’t super expensive to switch up to after a GUE fundy class or the like

 

[doctormike]

If you plan on getting into technical diving, rebreather diving or cold water dry suit diving, you should get a backplate and wing, and learn the primary donation gas sharing technique. On the other hand, if you are sure that you will only be doing warm water, recreational diving, then you should get a backplate and wing, and learn the primary donation gas sharing technique.

 

[Marie13]

I got certified in a BP/W.

 

[Badger W.]

If you plan on getting into technical diving, rebreather diving or cold water dry suit diving, you should get a backplate and wing, and learn the primary donation gas sharing technique. On the other hand, if you are sure that you will only be doing warm water, recreational diving, then you should get a backplate and wing, and learn the primary donation gas sharing technique.

exactly. After all the research and topics and vids and opinions I’ve been looking at over the past year, it really just seems to make more sense to do the hogarthian style setup.

I was just worried about having to defend that decision to people that really know their stuff. Maybe I’ve been on SB too long. Thanks

 

[Julius SCHMIDT]

I know where I wanna go and this is gear to buy once.

I love your commitment so get it long hose and all from the start and learn it. I cruise rec boats with the long hose sometimes it's only about the diving, no long hose course for me though, that I would liken to a course for learning to walk when I wake up.

 

[Caveeagle]

Nothing at all wrong with that. Better to learn to dive with the correct gear from the start. I would suggest a 5’ hose for the primary on single tank dives. It’s a little easier to deal with on a boat.

 

[Badger W.]

I love your commitment so get it long hose and all from the start and learn it. I cruise rec boats with the long hose sometimes it's only about the diving, no long hose course for me though, that I would liken to a course for learning to walk when I wake up.

It really just feels like the biggest difference with the long hose is knowing to A) check it isn’t tangled when you start and route it and B) just lower your head and pull it off to donate...

I feel like if I were ever in the situation of needing to share air in my current setup I’d struggle to find the octo immediately and default to buddy breathing until both second stages are sorted anyway.