Anyone travel to the Carribean or Antarctic with a Backplate/wing?

[TSandM]

Just got back from a week in the Virgin Islands with my BP/W -- I've also been to Maui and Australia with it. I love the fact that you can remove the wing from the plate and roll it up. I don't think the whole thing ends up any heavier than my BC was.

Permanently attached to the tanks? Somebody's thinking about doubles, which are bolted on (still not permanent). Single tanks are put on with cambands, not any different from any other BC.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I have travelled with my bp/w quite a bit. No problems. I even carry mine on in a roller case. I spend about 3 extra minutes at security and get into some very interesting conversations. I have been in 90 deg water wearing swim trunks and the bp/w. The next dive I did wear a t-shirt, but only because the webbing was rubbing on my shoulders. I'll probably get a rash guard before my next warm water trip. Permanently attached?!?!?!? My suggestion - go to an LDS that knows what they're talking about. Don't buy from that shop.

 

[Darnold9999]

There may be good reasons for a BC over a BP/W but these don't fly.

Single tank is attached in exactly the same way as a BC

Packs smaller than a BC, may weigh a bit more depending on the weight of the BP but the difference is very small.

You may get some strange looks as most divers use a BC, but so far that is the only down side I have ever run into - and once they take a look you can see the wheels start to turn. Why do I need all this stuff just to hold my tank on and provide some lift?

 

[PerroneFord]

Man, what a load of crap.

BP/W attach with the same bands a jacket BC does.
BP/W fold up smaller.
BP/W with a kydex plate or ABS plate would probably come in at less than 6 pounds.

My instructor took his drysuit and BP/W for his entire team to McMurdo.


This LDS is either ignorant, or plain lying.

 

[jk47]

Hi Offshore - I started this thread http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=136436 a while ago, wondering the same thing. I found the responses very helpful. As an aside I have decided to go for the BP/W setup (waiting for my size harness to come in). My LDS takes the standpoint of explaining the pros and cons of each setup, and the whol idea of why buy twice? There's nothing wrong with it, and no reason a new diver can't use one. I have no desire to spend a few hundred dollars on a jacket bc that I will want to replace in 6 months. You may want to get some opinions at other local dive shops if you have some around.... enjoy your trip!

 

[Halthron]

There may be good reasons for a BC over a BP/W but these don't fly.

A BP/w is a BC (Bouyancy Compensator).

 

[DivingCRNA]

My BP/W went to Cozumel, no problema.

That "they aren't good for travel" line is a scam used by folks who do not sell BP/W. They travel smaller and are great for travel.

I am shopping for my first BC, and out of all the ones I've tried, the hands down best one I've tried is a Dive-Rite steel bp/w that my buddy let me try at Dutch Springs. Based on the advice I've heard from him and other experienced divers (around here and on SB), it seems like a bp/w is a no-brainer set-up, especially since I've tried it and know I prefer the stability and simplicity.

Problem is, my LDS (who was also my instructor for my drysuit course) is very reluctant to sell me a bp/w as my first bp/w, saying "they're great for technical diving in a drysuit to the Andrea Doria, but not the best for a first BC, and you certainly wouldn't want to travel with one or wear it with a wetsuit in the Carribean ... it wouldn't even be practical to take one to South Africa or the Antarctic (both places I plan to travel to and dive in the next two years)".

Despite the fact that all my local diving will be quite insensitive to weight (I'll be driving, and besides, I'm a fairly strong guy), the fact that 10% of my dives might involve plane travel has been enough to discourage me from getting a crushed neoprene or vulcanized rubber drysuit (haven't decided for sure, but am leaning towards a Whites QuadFlex), but is the travel factor really so significant that I should consider a bulky jacket BC as opposed to the more "timeless" bp/w setup? One other confession: I live in Manhattan, so it definitely is more convinient for me to rent tanks on demand than to buy them, and I am told bp/w should be attached to tanks semi-permanently and are not for tank renters. Am I missing anything?

 

[halocline]

I bring mine to Coz all the time. Maybe next time I'll just wear it on the plane to make a point about how comfortable it is!

 

[Darnold9999]

A BP/w is a BC (Bouyancy Compensator).

Really - never would have guessed. It does seem that alot of people use BC to mean the jacket style when discussing the difference between BC (oops "jacket style BC") and BP/W. Pretty obvious that is what I meant, but you are right.

 

[Blackwood]

Either he's speaking out of ignorance or he's trying to sell you something he already carries.

My initial impression was that he's setting him up for an upgrade. Why sell a diver one thing when you can sell him two?