Back inflate vs. jacket style

[Damselfish]

DJ - if you keep diving, and I'm sure you will, you're going to buy a backplate and wings eventually.

Well, I've been diving for 16 years and don't have one. That's a pretty big assumption to make. Like I said they have their place, but so do other things. I think it is better to tell people to try the options and learn what is right for them, instead of making blanket statements. The OP does not even say where they are diving or what type of diving they are thinking of doing, so how is it possible to be so sure what they will buy eventually?

Just because there are so many vocal BP/W fans on this board does not mean that is what is happening in the rest of the world. I know it's a hopeless battle to argue against so many posts that automatically answer "BP/W without a doubt" to every BC question, but somebody has to do it at least once in awhile...

 

[dumpsterDiver]

After 30 +years of diving, i finally began to believe the constant banter about a backplate and wing. I bought a brand new Diverite plate and venture wing!

I'm not particularly impressed with it compared to my old SeaQuest BC's. I will keep using it for a while since I spent good money for it, but it definitely does not seem to be one of my better purchases. If I commonly did long surface swims from the beach, I definitely would get rid of it! It is pretty uncomfortable when I have to repeatedly load my speargun. I guess if I dove doubles, it would be the way to go, but I only use singles and a pony.

 

[spectrum]

Dive some gear and find what you like and what fits you. If you pay attention and get a BC that fits correctly you will do fine regardless of style. All have some portion of the air cell on the backside and that's where the majority of your lift will be during the dive, even in a jacket.

A jacket should not be loose at any time if fitted and donned correctly.

Pete

 

[Rick Murchison]

Haven't drug out my BC article in a while... here it is again
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The BC question...
What kind of BC should I get? This question (or one of its variants) comes up over & over again.
So, instead of trying to claim one style is superior to another, I'll share my impressions and practices and conclusions from some 35 or so years of diving.
Of all the rigs I have used, I still own and use two jackets, one soft harness and two backplates and three wings. Why so many? Because there are so many dives, and my experience is that the BC that's optimal for one style of diving isn't necessarily optimal for another.
(1) For tropical recreational diving - warm water non-technical diving: My favorite BC is the Seaquest Explorer, a little tropical jacket that has about 15 pounds lift. It packs small, is very comfortable and has neutral stability in both pitch and roll with an aluminum 80. Neutral stability, like neutral buoyancy, means that the BC/tank combination does not tend to put you in any other position than the one you're in. If you're head up, or horizontal, or head down, or on one side or the other you stay there without kicking or sculling. This neutral lateral and longitudinal stability is particularly valuable to the open water sightseer or photographer, allowing the assumption of any position easily to look in that hole or to compose that perfect shot without having to use the reef as an anchor. Unfortunately the Explorer is discontinued, but there are other small tropical jackets available.
(2) For colder water recreational diving and for instructing open water: My favorite is the Seaquest Pro QD, a great big jacket with tremendous lift and superb surface floatation - a trait that comes in handy with the occasional less-than-calm student. This jacket also has excellent neutral lateral and longitudinal stability underwater.
(3) For big single tanks, or for working (other than instructing OW) dives, or big singles with stage or deco bottle, or anything with a "tech" component but with a single tank, my favorite is the Dive-Rite Transpac II with travel wing. This rig has positive stability - that is it tends to return you to the horizontal position if you're displaced. It is easy to get good longitudinal trim set, and it is sturdy, with "real" "D" rings for hanging stages etc. My transpac ends up being used more than any other rig.
(4) For light doubles (up to LP-85's or E7-100's) I use a Fred T heavy backplate and Dive-Rite Rec wing. This rig has adequate lift and I find the Rec wing slimmer and more streamlined than the Classic with the smaller tanks.
(5) For doubles larger than LP-85's I use a Dive-Rite aluminum BP and Dive-Rite Classic wing.
As you can see, my answer to the "what is the best BC?" question is largely dependent on the type diving you plan to do. If you're going to be a tropical photographer, I'd recommend a slim tropical jacket. If you're going caving, a BP/Wing to suit the doubles you're using.
Just as a note of interest, I have tried and do not like a BP/Wing with single tanks of any size. And while I find the Transpac to be acceptable for smaller doubles, I personally don't like it as well as a BP for doubles of any size.
Rick

 

[BuoyantC]

DiveJockey,

One reason a BC can feel loose in the water is if it's weight integrated and you have a lot of weight in it. Jackets tend to be wrapped outside of the cumberbund so you don't feel squeeze, but the weight then tends to just hang like saddlebags when horizontal. So they can feel floppy even if cinched up tight. A back inflate MAY keep the weight a little more snug, but not necessarily. If this is the case, try putting some of the weight on a weightbelt and see if this makes the BC seem a little more stable.

Like Rick says, there are different BC's for different things. Personally I have 3, a jacket, a back inflate, and a sort of inbetweener. I actually like them all for one reason or another and switch back and forth periodically just for a change.

The best thing is to just get experience diving as many different setups as you can. You'll probably find you can adjust to a lot of variation even if you do prefer one above all.

Dennis

 

[spacemanspiff1974]

The best advice I can give is to find a dive shop which rents a bp/w or back inflate. It may take a little time to find one that does, depending on where you live.

I was fortunate enough to find that the closes dive shop to my house rented a bp/w. Tried it, loved it. But that is me, not you.