utdivermatt:
I know that many people here have both Back Inflate BC's and BP/W, and I know everyone with the wing setup will tell me to get it no matter what, but I was wondering what the main differences are in all reality? I am looking at a Seaquest Balance, and while I have yet to see a BP/W in person it seems pretty similar from what I hear. Is this wrong? Does it have many similar capabilites? Thanks again for the advice in advance.
I own the Balance, and two backplates (SS and AL). Let me tell you my story and opinions.
I started with a jacket. Didn't like the squeeze, didn't like all that stuff on my chest, and I didn't like the way it 'rode up' on the surface. I wore my weights on a belt, which pulled me down. Buoyancy was on the jacket, floating it up. You get the picture.
So in 2001 I bought myself a Christmas present - a Seaquest Balance. No squeeze, and less 'stuff' up front. I felt less claustrophobic wearing it, and since it was weight integrated, the weights were on the BC, so it had less tendacy to ride up on the surface. While people kept telling me it would make me float face down on the surface, I found that this isn't true unless you inflate it all the way so the bladder is bulging. In normal use it didn't do that.
Also, I could FINALLY lost the weight belt. I hated the weight belt.
Another seeming benefit was the soft material and padding on the shoulders around the neck area - very comfortable to wear with no wetsuit in warm water.
However, there were things about it. The weight pockets on the same rig as the tank made that puppy HEAVY. The built-in D-rings were only where they were - you couldn't adjust it. Also, there was no way to convert to doubles, if I ever wanted to do that. And while it 'rode up' less than the jacket, it still rode up.
Also, with an aluminum tank, as the tank got empty it wanted to buoy up. Since most of the tank was 'below' the strap, there was a weird twisting motion where the bottom of the tank would want to head to the surface. This was minor, but I did notice it.
In early 2005 I started hearing about BP/W. After reading about them and the benefits of a hogarthian harness, as well as having a chance to talking to Tobin of Deep Sea Supply, I took the plunge and ordered one. It wasn't really a plunge, because I considered it a long time before doing it.
My first dive with the BP I was hooked. I went back to a belt with the BP. Not everyone does this since you can get weight pockets to put on the BP straps, but in my experience the belt wasn't as bad. You see, since the SS plate was heavy, and I didn't have all that foam and padding, my belt went from 18 pounds down to 8. An 8 pound belt was nothing, and my 'belt hate' went away.
With the BP, I have almost
nothing up front. I like that.
Having the weight of the plate up higher, over my lungs kept my trim more horizontal.
With the hog harness, the straps and locations of the D-rings was almost infinitly adjustable. I could put them anywhere I wanted. The result of this was a much better more secure fit. When this was combined with the crotch strap, my rig doesn't move at all. The BP and tank feel like part of me, not like some loose-fitting suit jacket I borrowed from my uncle. On the surface, nothing rides up. It's perfectly secure.
Don't get me wrong, I can get a good fit and less wobble from the Balance, but it has to be tight around the belly for that to happen, and I feel it. That same tightness isn't needed for the BP because the crotch strap helps out.
I like that the BP is a modular setup, so if I have to replace a part it i just that part that gets replaced. Also, I am familiar with every detail of the setup and can adjust it.
If I go to warm water, I could (but don't have to) use a smaller wing, since I will have a thinner wetsuit and won't need the lift. Smaller wing means less material and less drag (depending on design, of course).
I've also used the BP with hog harness without a wetsuit in the Florida Keys for some 'shirtless' diving, and found it was not as comfortable as the Balance out of the water with the weight of the tank (no padding on the straps), but in the water it was perfectly comfortable against my bare back and sholders.
All told, the Balance is a good BC as BCs go. I still have mine, and since I'm taking an instructors course where lots of quick-releases and rig remove/replace is necessary for some drills, I'm now using it for the course.
But in using it, I am reminded why I replaced it. I
much prefer to dive my BP/W when I'm actually diving.
Ray