I'm a relatively new diver and I'm just about to invest in BC. Mostly I do quarry diving, with occasional NJ wreck trip but also yearly tropical trip, all with rental gear to date. I'm looking for a BC that might work be good for wreck but not too bulky for travel ? (OK, I know this may be a stretch!). I'm was originally thinking Scubapro Lite Hawk but am now wondering if a BP/W with one wing for the Caribbean and a different wing with more lift for NJ might be a better idea instead ? Thanks in advance, all advice appreciated.
BC for both travel and NJ coast ?
- Thread starter Desnj
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Scared Silly
Contributor
Welcome to the board. My suggestion would be to look at BP/W options. But before that look at your weighting needs you might find that a single wing might work well for both. I have 30bs wing that I used for both cold/warm but I also dive doubles so still have second wing.
Check out the sticky: The "Ultimate" wing lift calculator
Check out the sticky: The "Ultimate" wing lift calculator
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
Well, since you're asking for opinion, I wouldn't even consider anything but a BP/W.
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I own a 40, 30 and 18. I'm going to reluctantly sell the 18 and the 30 can pull double duty. Hopefully I won't die using the 30 for warm water.
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I owned one for a while - it's a quality product. Stiletto BC
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I'd go straight to a BP/W. Probably a stainless steel one, but you could go Kydex or the Dive Rite XT Lite plate if you wanted to shave a few pounds in travel. My preference is Deep Sea Supply, and I'd go with an LCD30 wing on a SS backplate. Will take quite a bit of lead off of your belt from what you are used to, and the LCD30 is very narrow so it isn't really prone to taco around the tank. Many NJ wrecks require redundant gas supplies for the deeper ones, so you'll likely end up in doubles or sidemount and you can at least take the plate and harness over with you.
ScubaMarc
Contributor
I am a NY/NJ and caribbean diver and I recently replaced my bc after 15 years. I looked at the Lite Hawk for $650+. I decided to go with a bp/wing. For a lot less $$ . You can buy 2 wings and 1 plate or for a less more money or 2 bcs for the same $$ as the lite hawk. And you will be much more happy with the bp/wing.
Also, a aluminium plate and travel wing weight is very nice for travel. And folds flat.
Also, a aluminium plate and travel wing weight is very nice for travel. And folds flat.
Hey buddha! Why are you selling the 18?
I have the DSS SS BP and LCD30 wing that tbone mentioned. It has worked fine for me for traveling to warm water destinations. I pack the BP, wing, my 3/2 wetsuit, regulators, computer, and mask in my carry-on bag, so the weight has never been an issue. With only those things, the carry-on is not that heavy anyway. I put my fins in my checked bag.
I have also used the same rig for diving wrecks off the Outer Banks and for single tank diving in my local quarry (usually 38F on the bottom). A 30-ish pound wing and SS BP seems like a pretty good do-it-all rig for single tank diving - to me, anyway.
That said, I have more recently acquired a Hog 23 # wing and retired the DSS wing. I really like the smaller size of the Hog. The Hog might not be enough lift for some specific dives, so I will keep the 30 # wing around. But, for me, it's more likely that anything where the 23 isn't enough I'll be diving doubles and a dry suit, so that's a different wing anyway and the 30 probably isn't going to get used any more.
If I were buying new, today, and wanted a BP/W to do it all, I would most likely be looking at a Hog SS BP and their 32 # wing and save $100 - 200 or so over the DSS rig. I got my DSS rig used, for cheap. Otherwise, I'd probably would have ended up with a DGX Gears or Hog setup in the first place. DGX has a complete rig for $299 or $309 with a SS BP. But, that is a 25# wing. Only you can decide if that much lift is enough for you and what you want to use it for.
I have also used the same rig for diving wrecks off the Outer Banks and for single tank diving in my local quarry (usually 38F on the bottom). A 30-ish pound wing and SS BP seems like a pretty good do-it-all rig for single tank diving - to me, anyway.
That said, I have more recently acquired a Hog 23 # wing and retired the DSS wing. I really like the smaller size of the Hog. The Hog might not be enough lift for some specific dives, so I will keep the 30 # wing around. But, for me, it's more likely that anything where the 23 isn't enough I'll be diving doubles and a dry suit, so that's a different wing anyway and the 30 probably isn't going to get used any more.
If I were buying new, today, and wanted a BP/W to do it all, I would most likely be looking at a Hog SS BP and their 32 # wing and save $100 - 200 or so over the DSS rig. I got my DSS rig used, for cheap. Otherwise, I'd probably would have ended up with a DGX Gears or Hog setup in the first place. DGX has a complete rig for $299 or $309 with a SS BP. But, that is a 25# wing. Only you can decide if that much lift is enough for you and what you want to use it for.
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