Any advice on a good yet simple BC?

[mislav]

I'm considering getting my own BC. At the present time I keep renting gear, but I would like to become more equipment friendly and to do that I need to have the gear of my own.

I'm looking for a BC without many bells and whistles. No weight integration, I prefer to wear a weight belt. I need something simple yet functional. Even dare I say - oldschool? I'm no expert in this by far, so any help with the brand and type is truly appreciated.

 

[The Kraken]

That for which you search effectively translates as a Back Plate/Wing rig.

the K

 

[mislav]

I'm open to that, however, I've never seen any of those in Croatia so I don't know the first thing about the BP/W setup. Got any good places to start getting acquainted with it?

 

[*Floater*]

I'm open to that, however, I've never seen any of those in Croatia so I don't know the first thing about the BP/W setup. Got any good places to start getting acquainted with it?

I've seen some Croatian bp/w users hang out at http://www.direxplorers.com/. Perhaps introducing yourself there and asking about bp/w wing possibilities in Croatia might bare fruit. It's a DIR forum though (which is a specific way of diving and gear choice) but you don't have to be DIR or know anything about it to be welcome there.

 

[The Kraken]

Mislav,

A better description of the bp/w rig is "Hogarthian". It's minimalist in concept.

It's simply a plastic, steel or aluminum back plate that has one or two tank straps and an inflatable wing attached. The harness is a single piece of nylon webbing threaded through upper and lower slots with a stainless steel buckle attached.

One can add as many or as few keepers and d-rings as desired.

the K

 

[DennisW]

A good old Scubapro jacket style BC is also very simple and will fit your needs. It is also nearly indestructable.

 

[mislav]

OK, but if I was to buy it for myself I need to dive deeper into it. As in:

1. Which do you recommend, plastic, aluminum or steel plate and why?
2. Does this mean that I have to build my own BP/W setup or do I get to buy it ready as well?
3. If I can buy a finished setup where to look and which do you recommend?

And by all means, if anyone can come up with a recommendation for a BC jacket, please do. I'm considering every option.

 

[mislav]

A good old Scubapro jacket style BC is also very simple and will fit your needs. It is also nearly indestructable.

Can you please be more specific regarding the exact type? Thanks.

 

[*Floater*]

OK, but if I was to buy it for myself I need to dive deeper into it. As in:

1. Which do you recommend, plastic, aluminum or steel plate and why?

How much weight do you need? Steel plates weight about 5-6 lbs, so you get that much off your belt. Platic and aluminium are lighter, which is good for travel and for people who are over-weighted in a 5-6 lb plate. For example, in my tech setup with a can light, 5 lb (about 2.2 kg) steel plate, twin AL80's (11L's), 3,5mm wetsuit with 6mm hood and boots and a stage I'm too heavy in a steel plate in salt water and need to get a plastic or aluminium plate.

2. Does this mean that I have to build my own BP/W setup or do I get to buy it ready as well?

I think you can get them ready setup, but usually they come with plate, harness, d-rings, webbing, keepers, etc. and you have to look on some website on how to put it all together. Then you adjust it to fit you perfectly, cut off the excess webbing and you are done.

3. If I can buy a finished setup where to look and which do you recommend?

Not sure about Europe, best to ask at the forum I posted a link to. Over here Deep Sea Supply, Oxycheq and Halcyon are among the popular brands. I think DIRZone and Agir-Brokk are more common in Europe. There are many others.

You also have decide how big a wing to select (lift capacity)? donut or horseshoe? single or double baldder? STA or no STA? Wing shape? ...

 

[divnamite]

Depends on what kind of diving you intend to do. If you see yourself as a recreational diver for the forseeable future, any basic jacket-style BC will do.