Advice on BP&W Setup

[arspcengr]

I recently just got certified and have started to purchase my own gear. The one major outstanding item that I still need is a buoyancy control device. I live and dive in Southern California so I dive with a full 7mm wet suit, 7mm gloves and boots, a rental hood, and the usual other stuff. Currently when I dive I rent an Aqualung jacket style BCD (from Sport Chalet) and require about 25 pounds of weight. I also rent the tank (from the Catalina dive shop), which I assume is aluminum.

Having read numerous posts on the topic I have decided to go with a backplate and wing setup, since among the other benefits will be reduced weight belt weight. I want to get a setup that is flexible not only for cold water diving BUT also warm water diving WITH the minimum amount of components. I was hoping that I could get some advice.

I was thinking that for cold water diving, which will be the majority of my diving, that I would purchase an aluminum backplate with a weighted single tank adapter and get a steel tank. The rest of the weight would be ditchable weight, which I am hoping will be no more than 12 pounds.

For those occasions where I dive in warm water I would wear no more than a 2 mil suit, and swap out the weighted STA for a non-weighted STA and carry the rest of the weight as ditchable. I am assuming that most rental tanks in warm water areas are aluminum.

If this work then I would only need to purchase two STAs. Is this a plausible scenario? Is it easier to just have two separate rigs? Any advice would be appreciated. Note: I have yet to decide on a specific backplate or wing, though I am leaning towards an Oxycheq 45# wing.

Thank you in advance for your inputs.

 

[Scubaroo]

You'll have to source the AL backplate elsewhere, but the backplate harness, cam bands, light STA, heavy STA and wing can all be sourced from OxyCheq. Send Chris (user COVCI on ScubaBoard) a PM - he's a good place to start if you can't find the OxyCheq stuff locally.

FredT (another ScubaBoard user) makes aluminum plates, as does Gary Hoadley. They would probably be cheaper than a mainstream commercial backplate offering.

I can't imagine a good reason why the different STAs with the AL plate wouldn't work for your scenario. Most CA divers would pick an SS plate over AL for CA only diving. Then again, if you just used a SS plate and light STA for everything, it only adds 4lb to your luggage when travelling, and you've got the same rig everywhere.

 

[Wendy]

a scubaboard member does a lot of work with bp/wings in your area and may be able to help you out and let you try out some gear. Do a search for MHK and send him a PM.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Try before you buy. PM MHK.