Backplate Systems

[FSUDive]

For my first post on the board here I have a question about a new backplate system. I like simple and low drag BCs and am used to a back bouyancy weight intergrated Seaquest Black Diamond. It's getting worn so I'm looking at new backplates.

I'm open to any help in choosing one. I like Zeagle because the facotry is within an hour from home, but I liek the apeks system too. OMS looks a little to techinical for me, but I do want a system thats urgradeble for tech diving. I do a little cavern diving and living in florida may get into cave diving soon.

But most of my diving will include saltwater wrecks.

 

[The Chairman]

Zeagle makes some GREAT BCs, but they don't make a backplate and wings (I don't think). Try Tobin at Deep Sea Supply for the best quality, and then there are also FredT's plates which are also great. Halcyon are fine, but pricey and then there is Koplin, as well as some others. The board abounds on the differences between the plates.

BTW, are you diving wet or dry, steel or aluminum?

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

You're gonna have a lot of trouble finding any proponents of BP/W systems here...

Just Kidding. I'm suprised it's taken this long. I can't help you, but lots of others will soon. In the meantime, welcome to ScubaBoard!

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Zeagle actually does have a BP/W now I believe.

 

[FSUDive]

I'm definitely the tropical diving kinda guy. I'm cold natured so anything that requires more than a 3mm is not for me. And at the moment I'm stll running classic Aliuminum 80's, but the weight and size is killing me, so hopefully sometime soon I want to upgrade to some HP steel tanks.

 

[waynne fowler]

Stick with the Apex or the Halcyon rig's.. I'm fond of the Halcyon Eclipse as I like the bladder in a bag system. The OMS is no more "technical" then any others but it does have a lot of stuff that looks,seems and sounds cool but is just more garbage in the way. I loved my Zeagle but again too much stuff that is just not needed.

The only downside to the Apex is that it has no place to store a liftbag except slung on the BP itself. The Halcyon comes with a storage pack and makes the liftbag invisable during diving, but very easily deployed this will come in handy on those wreck dives. Apex is supposedly working on a storage pack as we speak but have heard no word since the debute.

Both systems have weight pockets that work well for the "larger" diver but as I have only a 32' waist using the Halcyon or Apex weight pockets doesn't leave enough real estate up front for me to put my knife and my canlight.. We've had some custome weight pockets made that cure this problem and come at a FAR cheaper price then either the Apex or the Halcyon pockets. Plus they come with enough space to hold 13lbs comfotably in the small pockets 15lbs is pretty snug, the large pockets will hold 15lbs comfortably and 20lbs pretty snug. PM me if you'd like a picture of the weight pockets. You could even have them built by someone you know with an industrial sewing machine.

Waynne Fowler

 

[The Chairman]

You are right Humuhumunukunukuapua'a! Zeagle DOES produce a backplate and they look great!

http://www.zeagle.com/index.php?submenu=HeavyDutyBC&src=gendocs&link=Backplate_dlx

I have not dove these yet, but if their quality is anything like their other gear, it has to be top notch!!!

 

[The Chairman]

If you need weight, check this out: http://www.deepseasupply.com/page8.html

 

[Sorsetdiver]

Both Halcyon and Dive Rite Make great systems! I currenty use a Halcyon Pioneer 27 systems w/ ss backplate and love the thing!

 

[FSUDive]

If you need weight, check this out: http://www.deepseasupply.com/page8.html

Those weight plates seem like a good idea to me. The less dangling weight I have, the better. I assume too that most people liek the stainless backplates over aluminum for this advantage or am i wrong?