Back Plate

[IndigoBlue]

Im loving this board! I have wanted to dive for several years and this past summer I finally got certified. I love it as much as I thought I would!! I am still trying to get the neutral bouyancy down though and am really just getting all my gear purchased in the last few months. We have a pool to practice bouyancy in but its only 15 ft. deep but its better then nthing and I think Its good practice, plus getting me more familar and comfortable with all my new gear.

Mr. Armstrong, enjoy your B/C for the next couple of years. Then when you feel like you cannot resist going into an underwater cave any longer, your cave diving instructor will show you his store's wide selection of backplates and wings.

If you get down to Texas-way and do some diving in the Gulf, you will see all kinds of tec rigs there as well.

The backplate is perfect for supporting a set of double tanks on your back. With a technical rig, you can also use the backplate to split your total weighting between the backplate (stainless steel) and your weight belt.

Rule #1 for tec diving is to always have double tanks with an isolator manifold whenever you go under an overhead environment. Well, almost always. It does not apply for side-mounts. It also does not apply for CCRs. So many scubatoys to play with! But double tanks is when a back plate makes the most sense.

Of course, others have other Rules #1. Such as, You May Always Call-Off Any Dive. Etc.

Just remember, "Never hold your breath while using it (the Aqua-Lung self-contained underwater breathing apparatus)." Coined by Jacques Cousteau himself, long ago.

Dive Safe, Have Fun, Dive Often

 

[Snowbear]

Mr. Armstrong, enjoy your B/C for the next couple of years.

I didn't wait long enough.
I was told by my original OW instructor I would not be ready to consider a "tech BC" for at least a year. I'm still a relative n00b, but sure do like the secure, comfortable rig that easily supports doubles OR a single tank. And I'm not a cave diver either (yet) wink

 

[IndigoBlue]

I didn't wait long enough.
I was told by my original OW instructor I would not be ready to consider a "tech BC" for at least a year. I'm still a relative n00b, but sure do like the secure, comfortable rig that easily supports doubles OR a single tank. And I'm not a cave diver either (yet) wink

Here is the rub, Snowbear.

With a backplate, that moves 6 pounds of stainless steel onto your back and off your belt. Fine for warm water.

For cold water, that leaves about 20 to 25 lbs you still need to wear on your belt. Unless you weave trim weights through your shoulder straps like some divers, that leaves way too much weight on a belt, in my opinion.

An integrated B/C still lets you trim down your weight belt even more.

With twin tanks and a backplate, you only have about 10 lbs at most to put onto your weight belt. The rest is already on your back.

Either way you look at it, a backplate with a single tank has major drawbacks.

Having said that, a backplate with a single tank has major advantages as well, if in fact you do dive with doubles sometimes, because it allows you to use the same B/C (DiveRite or OMS) or harnass (Halcyon) for both your singles and doubles. But still at the expense of a darn heavy weight belt when you are diving cold water with a single tank.

Anyway, that is the whole story.

Enjoy your backplate. Dive Safe, Have Fun, Dive Often.

 

[Boogie711]

Wrong, Indigo Blue. And admit it - there aren't many people on this board who can lecture SNOWBEAR, of all people, about the vagaries of cold water diving. He's an ALASKAN for crying out loud!

When I did OW checkout dives, I had over 30 lbs on me.

I moved to a BP/wing, and have obviously, naturally dropped weight due to proficiency and proper weighting as well. The fact is a regular BC is naturally bouyant. I went to a steel tank, and have a heavy Single-tank adaptor.

I figure the tank is good for 4 pounds, the lack of a buoyant BC is good for 2 or 3 pounds, the bp/sta is 12 pounds... bottom line?

I have 6 lbs on my belt now. (Slightly more when I dive dry.)

Backplates and wings rock - and I usually dive mine with a single.

 

[Snowbear]

Here is the rub, Snowbear.

With a backplate, that moves 6 pounds of stainless steel onto your back and off your belt. Fine for warm water.

For cold water, that leaves about 20 to 25 lbs you still need to wear on your belt. Unless you weave trim weights through your shoulder straps like some divers, that leaves way too much weight on a belt, in my opinion.

An integrated B/C still lets you trim down your weight belt even more.

With twin tanks and a backplate, you only have about 10 lbs at most to put onto your weight belt. The rest is already on your back.

Either way you look at it, a backplate with a single tank has major drawbacks.

Having said that, a backplate with a single tank has major advantages as well, if in fact you do dive with doubles sometimes, because it allows you to use the same B/C (DiveRite or OMS) or harnass (Halcyon) for both your singles and doubles. But still at the expense of a darn heavy weight belt when you are diving cold water with a single tank.

Anyway, that is the whole story.

Enjoy your backplate. Dive Safe, Have Fun, Dive Often.

I DO enjoy my backplate and I dive cold water. With my doubles, I use no additional weight. With a single, my plastic STA with 2 SS buckles weighs an additional 2#. I use a steel tank. My can light adds 4# of negative buoyancy. I normally use a whopping 6# of lead with this setup. I tried 4# today, but found that although I could hold 10' with 500psi and 5' with 400psi in my tank, I had to let too much Argon out of my suit and got kinda cold. Second dive I bumped it back up to 6# and stayed toasty - even my feet .
On the other hand, when I use my Black Diamond weight integrated BC (done only when DM duties require I use gear the shop sells when being paid to dive by the shop that sells the gear wink ), I have to add 14# due to the inherent positive buoyancy of the foam in the BC. I find I trim out a lot easier with the BP/W than with the BC.

 

[Snowbear]

He's an ALASKAN for crying out loud!

Backplates and wings rock - and I usually dive mine with a single.

Looks like we were typing at the same time!
Sorry, but I've just Gotta correct you on one thing - I'm a she, not a he wink Thanks for the backup.

 

[Boogie711]

LOL - I'm tired. I knew that, or at least I'm pretty sure I did. Sorry Snowbear!

 

[IndigoBlue]

I DO enjoy my backplate and I dive cold water. With my doubles, I use no additional weight. With a single, my plastic STA with 2 SS buckles weighs an additional 2#. I use a steel tank. My can light adds 4# of negative buoyancy. I normally use a whopping 6# of lead with this setup. I tried 4# today, but found that although I could hold 10' with 500psi and 5' with 400psi in my tank, I had to let too much Argon out of my suit and got kinda cold. Second dive I bumped it back up to 6# and stayed toasty - even my feet .
On the other hand, when I use my Black Diamond weight integrated BC (done only when DM duties require I use gear the shop sells when being paid to dive by the shop that sells the gear wink ), I have to add 14# due to the inherent positive buoyancy of the foam in the BC. I find I trim out a lot easier with the BP/W than with the BC.

I used a straight razor to cut all the foam out of the B/C, to resolve this problem. Good point. I did it so long ago I forgot I had to. New B/Cs come with a lot of crap that you need to cut off them to make them more effective.

I do not miss the foam.

 

[IndigoBlue]

Looks like we were typing at the same time!
Sorry, but I've just Gotta correct you on one thing - I'm a she, not a he wink Thanks for the backup.

I was going to call you Mr Snowbear too, but just before I clicked on the posting button, I had a feeling you might be a woman instead.

Glad to see my instincts are still in tune. That helps while diving as well.

 

[IndigoBlue]

Wrong, Indigo Blue. And admit it - there aren't many people on this board who can lecture SNOWBEAR, of all people, about the vagaries of cold water diving. He's an ALASKAN for crying out loud!

When I did OW checkout dives, I had over 30 lbs on me.

I moved to a BP/wing, and have obviously, naturally dropped weight due to proficiency and proper weighting as well. The fact is a regular BC is naturally bouyant. I went to a steel tank, and have a heavy Single-tank adaptor.

I figure the tank is good for 4 pounds, the lack of a buoyant BC is good for 2 or 3 pounds, the bp/sta is 12 pounds... bottom line?

I have 6 lbs on my belt now. (Slightly more when I dive dry.)

Backplates and wings rock - and I usually dive mine with a single.

Boogie, OK then here is another problem with a single tank backplate configuration:

WHAT are you going to do when you travel to Hawaii or Taihiti to get away from that FREEZING COLD Canadian lakes? Pack your backplate and single tank adaptor with you??

No matter how you look at it, a backplate rig for single tank diving is only an advantage when you are also diving doubles.

Starboard battery, READY FIRE.