BC Advice

[basher51]

Hi all-

I am getting back into diving after quite a while of being out of the sport. I have been doing some reading here, and I am not quite sure what to get in regards to a BC.

How I dive:

Cold SaltWater / Wet suit diving in the Pacific Northwest. I may upgrade to a dry suit later, but for now, its wet suit.
I will do both day and night dives
No caves or going into wrecks.
I am a big guy at 6' 250. (need a lot of lift.)

My first thought is to buy a Zeagle Ranger. Great reviews, build tough, and all kinds of places to hang stuff off. I really like the "Airwave Plus Inline Octo" feature as well.

However, I am been seeing a lot of people really like Plate set up which I am unfamiliar with. I'm wondering if I should go that route or not? If so,what should I get?

From what I have said above, I would like to get feed back from some more experienced divers and hopefully help guild me in my decision.

thank you in advance

 

[Jim Lapenta]

To help you decide I have an illustrated article on Plate style BC's that I send free of charge to anyone who asks. Just need an email address.

And to correct one small thing. Just because you are a big guy does mean you need a lot of lift. The amount of lift you need is more dependent on the overall configuration of the rig, how you are weighted, and what your own personal buoyancy characteristics are.

Many new divers are grossly over weighted in the water by instructors who don't know how or won't take the time to do proper weight checks. and as a result told they need BC's that you could salvage the Titanic with.

For most divers doing single tank dives a wing in the 30-35 range is more than adequate. Anything more than that is overkill and starts to get problematic. You have a taco effect of the wing, air trapped, and excess material flapping around.

I have a student now that is 6'7" and 280. He needs 24 lbs. in a 7 mil suit in the pool. Using my 35 lb. wing he only needed to inflate it about half way to keep his head out of the water. You need to remember that you have buoyancy, your suit has buoyancy, and so does your BC. That's three sources of lift.

You don't need a BC with 50 or 60 lbs. of lift for single tank diving. That's a misrepresentation that some mfg's use to sell BC's that are way overkill for what they are going to be used for.

---------- Post added May 11th, 2014 at 04:49 PM ----------

One other thing. You don't need all kinds of places to hang stuff on. In fact it's better if you don't have more than a couple d rings on the harness with bands to keep whatever is clipped to them nice and tight against the body, one on each hip, and one on the crotch strap. Everything else should be stowed in a pocket or left on the boat. Nothing screams new diver more than things clipped everywhere that are not needed and rarely if ever used.

 

[basher51]

Thank you Jim. PM Sent. Also open for suggestions on Setups to buy if I do decide to go with a plate setup/