Back inflation BCD

[breutter]

Hello everyone, I am considering to upgrade my jacket style BCD to a back inflation style. Question is, what are these BCDs like at the surface. Do you float upright or face down? Are they good for instructors? What types are more comfortable? Loads to tell, love to hear the answers.

Cheerio,

Billy

 

[RAWalker]

If you only inflate to get your head out of the water you'll stay straight up at the surface. Overinflating will push you forward on the surface. I'm doing my DM training in a Sherwood Tortuga and 2 other DM candidates are also using back inflator style BCD. I use a BP&W for my recreational diving but decided to use my BCD for my training. I find the jacket is better suited for surface skills than the BP&W.
One thing about the back inflator style jackets though... Be sure to use the rear trim pockets otherwise kneeling on the bottom becomes an uncomfortable problem. This style tends to hold the diver horizontal underwater and you'll need at least a couple of lbs to offset that. (1/3rd of your weight should work when weighted heavier) This also helps at the surface. When trimmed properly you should be able to comfortably keep yourself either horizontal or verticle easily.

 

[DevonDiver]

what are these BCDs like at the surface.

Fine, just like regular jacket BCDs - as long as they are sized correctly and you use a crotch strap.

Do you float upright or face down?

Again...with a crotch strap and correct sizing of the harness, they hold you comfortably upright.

Are they good for instructors?

I've worn (and taught) exclusively in BP/W (back inflate) for the last 6 years. It presents me no problems to teach in it. At my current dive center, all my students wear BP/W also. Again, no problems.

What types are more comfortable?

They are all pretty much identical. Even the most basic ' single piece webbing harness' are beautifully comfortable underwater. IMHO, metal backplates are actually more comfy than overly padded jacket bcds also.

 

[helimvee]

I switched from a jacket BCD to a BP/W last year and love it. Much more comfortable.

As mentioned above you can be pushed forward if you over-inflate. Also, you may find that when putting on your fins you do a "face plant". If that happens just put in your reg and go with the flow.

Check with your LDS and see if you can rent one or try one out in a pool.

 

[RAWalker]

I believe the OP is asking about back inflate style jacket BCD (hybrid back inflators) and not BP&W.

 

[DevonDiver]

Why would anyone want something with all the flaws of jacket style, that just pretends to operate like BP/W?!?!?

 

[RAWalker]

Why would anyone want something with all the flaws of jacket style, that just pretends to operate like BP/W?!?!?

Because the trade offs of the back inflator BCD do work as advertized they keep the diver in a good horizontal position. are easier to weight trim, allow more mobility and still have weight integration and pockets. Many divers like the characteristics and don't consider the compromises to be flaws.
I myself have both a BP&W and Backinflator style jacket. I generally now dive the BP&W but decided to use my jacket style for my DM training. I have also found that using a long hose during my training is helpful for some exercises and clumsy for others. There is no such thing as perfect for everybody and every situation. It is all a matter of what works for you and what you are comfortable in.

 

[DevonDiver]

Opinions are based on personal experience...agreed.

Logged Dives: 50 - 99

Experience can be limited though.

 

[Seaview7]

Interesting to understand how people think and what their "expert" opinions are. I am very new to this sport and I like it a lot. Like hundreds of readers I am also looking to get sound advice on what is good for me at the level were I am, and not necesarily interested on what works perfectly to super experienced divers, as they are very much doing completely different things to those I do.

Case in point, look at what DevonDiver replies: "Why would anyone want something with all the flaws of jacket style" Maybe he is a great expert, with thousands of logged dives. Still what he recommends may not likely be what will work for me or many other peple in a situation like mine. By the way, I am sure everyone here appreciates the demeanor in which you treat other people's opinions based solely on the number of dives they have. I am sure that will encourage other newer divers to post their opinions on this site.

Finaly, addressing Breutter's question, Back Inftale Jackets are very good. They are confortable to use, many of them have integrated weight system, they help you being streemlined, and are easy to operate too. If you over inflate them at the surface they will push you forward a bit. This is easy to address by removing some air.

Enjoy diving.

 

[DevonDiver]

Well, just for the record... I started out in a jacket bcd (Buddy Commando) and logged maybe 300 dives in that. Then I switched to a back-inflate hybrid (Dacor Rig 3) and did another 400ish dives in that. Add in perhaps another 100+ dives in various rental outfits. And then I switched to BP/W (Halcyon Eclipse) and completed, to date, in excess of 2000+ dives in that. Add another 400 dives done in either a Custom Divers TDB or Halcyon Pioneer doubles wing...

Likewise, I have helped literally hundreds of students choose the most suitable and cost-effective equipment purchases...none of which were based on in-house sales and I didn't recieve a dime in commission for it.

I think that is a fair base from which to express an informed opinion and a basis on which to provide advice.

My aim is not to disparage less experienced/novice divers from expressing their opinions - merely to draw attention to the 'depth of their sample size'. I feel this is important...because these opinions are given as advice.

If someone has done very few dives (Logged Dives: 0 - 24) then they have had virtually no chance to experience the underlying issues, faults and disadvantages inherent with that equipment. Neither have they had the chance to adequately test and observe the alternative options to obtain a true measure of the pro and cons of both.

So, from my perspective...when someone (Logged Dives: 0 - 24) tells me that a particular item, configuration or technique is good - then I have some cause to doubt the validity of their opinion.

Likewise, any diver with experience ranging in the 000's of dives and/or who works full-time in the industry will come into contact with other divers and other kit configurations every day of the week. That also, gives a fairly in-depth understanding of the pros and cons of different options. I've seen most options being used underwater, debated the pros and cons of them with their owners, had lots and lots of user feedback.

Still what he recommends may not likely be what will work for me or many other peple in a situation like mine

Again, no offence intended, but when I was a novice diver, with that few dives, I didn't have the faintest idea of "what worked for me". I thought I did at the time.... but hindsight proves I was just inexperienced and clueless.

No offense intended...and please don't let me discourage you from posting your opinions. Just a reality check, because giving opinions is fine, but giving advice is a different matter.

I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing. - Socrates