Are Back Inflate Bc's suitable for Instructors?

[potex]

I would like to start my DM training very soon and then move onto Instructor.

Obviously most open water students wear jacket style BC's does this mean that the instuctor has to follow suit or can he wear whatever style he likes?

Are theremany instructors out there teaching open water classes who wear a back inflate BC like the Scuba Pro KnightHawk?

I am thinking of buying this BC how does it compare to the Zeagle Ranger who so many people seem to like on this forum?

Thanks guys

 

[jagfish]

Hey Potex
I don't have as much experience as many of the board, but since we are both awake, I'll post my experience.

I went through all my training up to DM and I still have my original BC, a back inflate Seaquest Black Diamond (though I am actually taking delivery of a BP/W system this week).

I finally got the rig balanced right, to where I could be vertically stable on the surface (without having to lean way back as many people have success with) and still had good trim in the water (without being rolled to one side or the other with excessive weight in the rear trim pockets that come standard on this BC).

For a while as I was getting it all figured out, it seemed like I was at times sacrificing above or below water performance. Some configurations that were stable at the surface made me topheavy underwater and I rolled to the left or right easily.

For me, I know how much backweight I need now (though I will have to figure it all out again with my new rig) and I assume that you will accomplish the same with trial and error.

That said, I think it is much more of a no brainer (for me) to be vertically stable at the surface with a jacket BC.

JAG

 

[japan-diver]

I personally dive and teach in a BP/W as do most of the instructors that work with me. At almost all the shops I've worked at instructors wore back inflate BC's, Zeagles being the favorite for many years and now BP/W seem to be taking over as the BC of choice.

 

[jagfish]

Looks like the "night shift" is on the board!

JAG

 

[partridge]

Yeah, it's time for all of us in asia to post like crazy.

I have about 40 dives on a SeaQuest Black Diamond. It took me about 6 dives to get my weighting right. How much to put in back, in the pockets, and weight also went down the more I used it. I guess theres a lot of compressible material in there, especially the back support.

I have no problems on the surface so long as I do not inflate all the way. The only problem I have with this particular BC is the size. Man is it bulky. I chose this over the Ranger because someone told me the ranger was even bulkier(sp?). I guess it depends if you will travel with it a lot.

Go Asia.

 

[Snowbear]

View from the other side of the globe

My OW instructer used a back inflate BC during my class - it was the OMS rig with bungied wing. I was using standard issue Seaquest something-or-other jacket style BC.

For most of my DM training, I used a Black Diamond while the students used jacket BC's. There were no equipment-related issues with this at all.

So yeah - Back Inflate BC works just fine for DMing and instructing.

BTW - This instructor still uses a "back inflate," but has switched to Halcyon gear. He has also opened his own dive shop and his students now use DiveRite transplates for their OW dives. He says it's a lot easier to get them trimmed out than it used to be

 

[scubatoys]

I've been teaching in my Zeagle ranger, then the Hybrid version - the Brigade - for some time now. It's much more comfortable than jacket - and more freedom of movement.

 

[MikeC]

The instructors at the shop I took OW from all used some flavor of Zeagle. They taught students wearing Zeagle. No issues.

 

[Michael Schlink]

I have a traditional style BC (Oceanic), a DiveRite Transpac II and a Halcyon BP, I show my students everything, I dive with different rigs, I show different rigs. I want them to form there own opinion, not mimic me. So, I think the more they see the better informed they are. From there, depending on what and how much diving they are going to do, I'll make a suggestion as to which type of gear will be best for them Ex. I know quite a few people that are only going to dive in warm water a few times a year and are planning to rent their BCD at the resort-they should go with a traditonal BCD. Those that are leaning towards "tech" B/P etc. etc.-use whatever you like and give your students options-M