back inflation

[Scubaguy62]

During certification, I used the LDS' gear, jacket style BCs. When I purchased my first BC, I purchased an Aqualung Malibu RDS (rear inflation) I have since purchased an Oceanic Pro-Tour, also rear inflation. For a moment I thought I would buy a jacket style from a buddy of mine, so after test diving it, I went with the Oceanic.

Rear inflation is far better. 1st, your trim will be better; 2nd, you won't have anything chocking your mid section when you inflate your BC, and 3rd, you'll be one step closer to an easier transition to a BP/W, should you decide to go that way. There are a couple of drawbacks. The rear inflation BC has a tendency of bobbing you on your face while at the surface. This is easy corrected by not inflating as much as you would a jacket style bc and just leaning back. This is actually a more comfortable position. Second, the rear inflation BC makes it a little (and I do mean just a little) harder to demonstrate the technique of sitting on the BC to put it on while on the water. But if you're not interested in DM or IDC, that shouldn't be a concern.

All in all, if I ever own a jacket style BC it will be for the ease of demonstration to students, but that will be all.

 

[crpntr133]

I will argue the fact that a back inflate will dump you on your face.
As mentioned above just don't over inflate it if for some bizare reason you find it wanting to dunk you.

 

[matt_unique]

I will argue the fact that a back inflate will dump you on your face.
As mentioned above just don't over inflate it if for some bizare reason you find it wanting to dunk you.

This is not true. There is an extremely slight tendency for a slow roll forward if you are diving in a t-shirt/bathing suit and you are not moving. Back inflate BC's do not dump you on your face. If you are wearing a wetsuit, the neoprene in your legs will provide enough counter force to this slight roll. I can easily lay on the surface of the water on my back in a back inflate BC (or wings) without any forward roll.

--Matt

 

[Spratman]

When I was going to buy my BC, I had the guy at the dive shop tell me that I should go with a DiveRite BP/W. I declined for two reasons. One was that I didn't feel I was at the level to custom build my BC, and probably more importantly, at least to me, was I didn't want someone to see me gearing up and think my experience level was greater than it was. NOOBs are easy enough to spot, I just didn't want some experienced diver to think he was diving with an equal and be stuck.

I ended up buying a very nice SP KnightHawk from a guy on the board. I used the Mares 1000 during my classes and like the BI better. Saved about $350, too! Check the GEAR section on the forums.

 

[ddown]

Buy a BC anyone you can afford they all work and go diving that whats its about...

 

[Goose75]

I recently got certified and am now shopping for gear, i am looking at the mares v1000 and the jubilee BC's. what I would like to know is what the differences and advantages of a back mounted and jacket style bc are.

All my dives until recently were with a jacket. I purchased a back inflate and am still getting used to it. The jacket did provide an easy jump in the water and get going BC, but I knew it wouldn't work for me in the long run. The back inflate worked great undrwater and I was happy with it. At the surface I found it was definately pulling me forward when I stopped to wait on the group. I've been diving in cold waters and had 34lbs up front. Even with that much weight up front and over inflated, I found it easy to roll on my back and swim, but I was having trouble when everyone wanted to stop. If you expect to be floating idle at the surface, ballast will be important. Check for trim pockets to add weight in the back or wear a weight belt with a little weight to the rear.

In short. Yes, I found the back inflate wanted to pull me forward but I'm not concerned about it. If compensating for it bothers you, go with an entry jacket until you have more experience and know what you want.

 

[Shiprekd]

I kind of take exception to people making references to the jacket being "entry level"; especially from those with a ton less dives. I'm not singling out anyone but I almost exclusively use a jacket and see many wearing BI and bp/w set-ups that need to go back to OW certs.

Just because someone wears a bp/w or even a BI doesn't mean they're "all that".. not by a long shot.

 

[Stirling]

I kind of take exception to people making references to the jacket being "entry level"; especially from those with a ton less dives. I'm not singling out anyone but I almost exclusively use a jacket and see many wearing BI and bp/w set-ups that need to go back to OW certs.

Just because someone wears a bp/w or even a BI doesn't mean they're "all that".. not by a long shot.

I also wouldn't be inclined to draw any conclusions about a diver from their choice of BC types. There are a lot of reasons for going with one choice instead of another, many (or perhaps most) of them having nothing to do with the diver's abilities. There are a lot of excellent divers out there who make their own decisions for their own good reasons, and plenty more who just don't care all that much about some of these finer points that apparently provoke some other divers to insult them (and each other, too).

I don't deny that there are differences in quality of dive equipment, and sometimes very good reasons for doing things one way instead of another, but the idea that this choice is what separates the wheat from the chaff in the diving community is a little bit goofy.

 

[Shiprekd]

Well put Stirling...

A life-long friend of mine has a rather larger than normal belly which causes fit and weight belt problems. I wound up putting him first in a BI and then went to a bp/w for the pure fact of it being easier on him.

When I get to puff the bubbles by myself, I pretty much go to my Ranger. I've had both put me on my face or visa-versa depending on the surface conditions, what I was wearing, etc....

 

[Goose75]

I kind of take exception to people making references to the jacket being "entry level"; especially from those with a ton less dives. I'm not singling out anyone but I almost exclusively use a jacket and see many wearing BI and bp/w set-ups that need to go back to OW certs.

Just because someone wears a bp/w or even a BI doesn't mean they're "all that".. not by a long shot.

I think I worded my post poory. I was trying to imply that a back inflate has additional factors that some new divers find distracting and uncomfortable while a jacket usually is easy from the start. I know bp/w advocates are abundant here and sometimes beginning divers don't have the comfort to deal with the surface floatation. This doesn't mean that a jacket is only an entry level as much as a multi level.

Yes my certified dives are low. I figured that would make my perspective relevant to a beginer with a question on the two systems.