BC for Kids - BP/W?

[crlavoie]

Anyone have any opinions on a BC for a kid? My nephew is 13 and going for his OW cert this spring. My brother (nephews father) and I have considered a BP/W. It's what we use and he will dive exclusively with us for the forseeable future. In addition, our logic is that he can grow with it and if he decides diving is not for him, we can always use another plate/wing. If we go that route, we would likely lean toward an adjustable harness with quick releases so he's able to replicate the skills taught in the OW class.

Any instructors or other parents have an opinion?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Rainer]

Sounds like an excellent idea. Assuming he continues to dive, you're out only the cost of the webbing as he grows. If he doesn't dive, you've something you can use, or sell with a high resale value. Can't really go wrong with this approach.

 

[UWupnorth]

I thank a BP/W is always a good choice because it is very adjustable. As for a harness with quick release buckles, I dont feel they are needed. We do all our open water classes with the HOG harnesses and divers of all sizes and ability levels manage quite well.

 

[scarefaceDM]

Funny thing happened a few weeks ago as I was Dming an OW class.

There were six students, two teenagers 14 and 16 and 4 adults. 5 were sporting BC's and the 14 year old was wearing his dads Backplate/wing. It was the OMS comfy harness with clips.

I, along with the instructor both wear Hog harnesses in OPEN water courses But we do not wear a Hog-Harness rig in pool training. We wear BC Jackets.

having said that.

We did not allow the 14 year old to wear the backplate for the skills portion of the pool sessions. The reasoning the instructor gave and I agree. Is the NEW student must learn the basics of skills in order to progress his/her diving abilities. Doing the demonsrations of gear removal under controlled conditions is difficult enought for a new diver learning to master his/her diving abilities. so based on that. You have to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run.

Once the 14 year old and the rest of the class did all the pool skills. I took the 14 year old aside and we both strapped on our Backplates and did a little swim around the pool to get the feel for the Backplate. I demonstrated how to get in and out and the kid picked it up with ease. The parent agreed to the use of the BC for th certification and as a gift will be getting dear old dads rig. And a wreck dive to boot.

Once the 14 year old has competed his OW course the instructor and the parent plus myself will do a dive in a backplate and wing and demonstrate the use of a back plate and adjust it to him.

It is an excellent choice mind you. The adjustability of a Backplate is endless and most of all will grow with him/her. And the cost of webbing is nothing compared to upgrading BC'S. I have put several of my buddies kids in a HOG harness. It is a onetime buy. Aside form growing into dobles if ever. Then it is a simple change of a wing.

Safe dives.

 

[Makin Raider]

My twelve year old is in a Halcyon Eclipse 30 since his birthday back in June. It's the only way to go for a kid who's going to outgrow a BC every year or so. I just have to pick up $10 worth of webbing and he'll be set for years. The only thing is I might sell his and steer him towards a Deep Sea Supply. I like the integrated weights, where they are attached to the plate directly, versus the 6lb STA that he's using now. He's also using a 5 foot hose and bungeed reg as well, I want him to live and breathe conservative diving now so its second nature and he won't go into that indestructible stage in his later teens. Plus NITROX NITROX NITROX... but that's another story....

I recommend BP/W to all parents.. nothing else makes as much sense.

Mark

 

[ChrisEdwards]

Are there any real negatives to using a BP/W, especially for small kids?

I'm getting my 12 year old daughter certified in a couple of months. She's 95lbs and 5' 2". She's done 3 dives, last week, as resort dives and seems very comfortable in the water.

I'm not tremendously keen on the idea of her wearing a weight belt, although the Deep Sea Supply backplate weighs just under 4lbs so she would only need to add maybe another 4 to 6lbs depending upon wetsuit thickness. I would probably want to have her wear this extra weight in a quick release pocket mounted on the harness belt.

Most of our diving is going to be off Florida and in the carribbean.

 

[daniel f aleman]

Are there any real negatives to using a BP/W, especially for small kids?

Yes.

For God's sake, talk to an instructor in your local area that has lots of expertice with children, there's always one or two that will be recommended by other divers, and ask question after question. Do this after YOU have tried different BCs in the pool yourself so you know what's going on.

Sheesh....

 

[darylm74]

Are there any real negatives to using a BP/W, especially for small kids?

I'm getting my 12 year old daughter certified in a couple of months. She's 95lbs and 5' 2". She's done 3 dives, last week, as resort dives and seems very comfortable in the water.

I'm not tremendously keen on the idea of her wearing a weight belt, although the Deep Sea Supply backplate weighs just under 4lbs so she would only need to add maybe another 4 to 6lbs depending upon wetsuit thickness. I would probably want to have her wear this extra weight in a quick release pocket mounted on the harness belt.

Most of our diving is going to be off Florida and in the carribbean.

Why not use something like Halcyon's or Dive Rite's weight pockets? They offer a quick release.

 

[Rainer]

why not just use a weight belt? my ow class had e/o use a weight belt, regardless of whether or not the bc was weight integrated, so we could practice removing and replacing it (this was not the case for the check out dives, just the pool work). a 4-6 weight belt is not significant. also makes ditching and donning in the water easier and safer (imo).

 

[rjchandler]

i think the real question is whether 12 year olds should be certified. but that is another thread.

a 4# plate my lead to overweighting on a kid that size.

the only advantage of a jacket bc is that it might be easier to use as a "lifejacket" on the surface. that is helpful if the kid is nervous in the water.