Asking Dumb question

[skybird]

Please don't flame me for a dumb question. Im buying my first equipment ( other than mask, boots and fins) when income tax gets in. Have a question about BC's. I don't like the sensation of being pitched forward at the surface. What style of BC should I consider? The back float ones look more comfortable, but I would think that would pitch you forward. I am female and somewhat overweight.

Skybird

 

[midwayman]

Have you tried laying on your back when at the surface? Im more concerned with the BC holding me in the proper position while underwater than while on the surface however.

 

[Don Burke]

Please don't flame me for a dumb question. Im buying my first equipment ( other than mask, boots and fins) when income tax gets in. Have a question about BC's. I don't like the sensation of being pitched forward at the surface. What style of BC should I consider? The back float ones look more comfortable, but I would think that would pitch you forward. I am female and somewhat overweight.

Skybird

Getting a back inflate system adjusted so that there is no pitching forward requires a little fiddling, but it can be done. For my BP/W, I put the weight on my belt as close to my spine as possile and that does the trick.

Jackets have little pitching force right out of the box.

Since you asked, I think you would like a back inflate system after a few hours of experimenting in the pool. I dive a jacket BC a few times a month at a local aquarium and really dislike the way it surrounds me.

A BP/W also is virtually infinitely adjustable, not a small consideration when making a substantial change in type and amount of physical activity.

 

[MSilvia]

Have you had a problem with back inflate BCs "pitching you forward"? They look like they would, and I've heard lots of folks say they will, but I've used three different back-inflate BCs with four different wings with both aluminium and steel single tanks and aluminium doubles, and I can honestly say that I've never experienced anything like that. Incidentally, I'm overweight (but not overweighted) too.

 

[nyprrthd]

My wife and I both dive Dive-Rite TransPacs, and love them. She loves the fact that there's no pressure/squeezing/bulk around her chest, and we both like the uncluttered yet customizable features of the BC. BP/wing purists will probably scoff at me, but IMHO the TransPac gives me the best of both worlds. It's nicely padded, and gives me a lot of adjustment options. The back inflation is fantastic when you're diving, making it easy to maintain a good attitude/trim.

My weight pockets are mounted a little aft of my hip bones, but are still easy to reach in case I have to dump them. I have not been pushed forward at the surface at all, even in a slight chop. The trick is to inflate only enough to stay afloat, relax, and lean back. (I think that if I completely filled my wing with air I might take off like a baloon!) I like swimming on my back while in scuba gear, and have been able to do so with no challenges.

Lou

 

[MSilvia]

My wife and I both dive Dive-Rite TransPacs, and love them. BP/wing purists will probably scoff at me, but IMHO the TransPac gives me the best of both worlds. It's nicely padded, and gives me a lot of adjustment options.

I used to dive a Transpac II before switching to BP/Wing, and I really liked it. I found it to be a huge improvement over the SeaQuest jacket I had been using before that. While I won't scoff, I'll offer some counterpoint in order to help the original poster make an informed decision.

While I agree that the Transpac has great padding, I think of the padding as an undesireable thing for three reasons. First, it's bouyant, and as far as I'm concerned having less weight on my belt makes me more comfortable than adding "poof" to my BC. Second, the padding absorbs water, which makes it take longer to dry, and makes it heavier and soggier until it does. Third, I haven't found the padding to be any more or less comfortable than a metal backplate, which not only is designed not to touch your spine at all, is fairly comfortable on land, and almost unnoticable in the water, but is non-absorbant and will let you reduce, instead of increase, the amount of ditchable weight you carry.

As for adjustment options, a simple hogarthian harness (a single piece of webbing threaded through the slots) can be adjusted to fit anyone from the most petite to the most obese diver, and once fitted will continue to fit that person unless they change shape, at which time it can easily be adjusted again. I don't adjust the fit of my wetsuit, mask, or fins when I put them on... why should I want to adjust the fit of my BC? I'd rather just know it's already the right size when I put it on. In addition, the simplicity of the hogarthian harness does allow you to adjust the location of your buckles and D-rings to a much greater extent than the Transpac does. Also, when I started diving dry, I found the adjustable chest strap on my Transpac was in the way of my drysuit inflator valve.

Your mileage may vary, but consider that there are pros and cons to most features before you decide you want or don't want any of them.

 

[CWMurf]

I dived on a jacket, then a back inflate, then switched to a bp/w. At first the back inflate threw me forward at the surface. Once I figured out how to distribute my weight (32# of it at that time) the problem went away.

As far as "what type of bc should I get" you might be better off renting and borrowing until you have more experience with varried equipment, conditions, etc. As for me, I wish I'd just started off with a bp/w - for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is cost. There are good full bp/w systems available right now for less than I paid for my back inflate bc. They are very configurable and upgradable. I have it set up just right for how I dive now but if my needs change I won't have to replace the whole thing, just change or add components as needed. You just can't do that even with the nicest 1-peice bc.

Best of luck to you! Hope this helps you some. :shades:

 

[nyprrthd]

Matt,

Good points. We're still newbies, and the bp/wing looked a little intimidating when we were deciding what to get. The good thing is that we have our wings and accessories, so when the day comes that we decide to make the move to a bp, it won't cost a fortune!

I have found that it takes a while to dry, but haven't noticed it getting "soggy." It dries a lot faster than my wetsuit!

Since I float like a rock, I haven't noticed any additional bouyancy. Maybe because my only other experience was with bulky BC's.

The reason I mentioned the adjustability was for initial fit versus a traditional BC. The only time I think it might be necessary to make any changes will be when we go to the quarry to get some "down time," and have to wear 7mm suits. Dry suits? Let me get some more experience before I even think about one of those. Our learning curve is still pretty extreme.

Skybird, whatever you decide to get, enjoy diving. Whoever thought that water would be so addicting?

 

[TSandM]

I started out with a back inflate BC (a Libra) and moved to a BP/W, and the only time I've noticed being pushed forward in the water was the day I was trying to use my wing to lift me, my weights, AND about ten pounds of water in my drysuit. I had to inflate the thing to max, and then I did notice being pushed forward. But that's the only time. I have never had any difficulty floating vertical in the water, or lying back and resting on the BC.

I really preferred the back inflate BC to the jackets we used in OW, because you could inflate it without feeling compressed, and it was less bulky in the front. I think it would be really nice if you could rent or borrow a back inflate and see what you think. I honestly believe the problems are much less than people worry about.

 

[Bratface]

I started out with a jacket, but I found it took up too much room when traveling. Then I switched to a back inflator BC. Everybody will tell you that they pitch you forward in the water. That is not exactly true. When you come to the surface, lean back like you are in a lounge chair. Also, work with your weight distribution. I have weight pockets and trim pockets on the back of the BC. I use both. I'm really glad I switched.