Laura A Ferrell
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Had lower spinal fusion 6 months ago and cleared to dive. Looking for new BC - Is a jacket style or back inflate better to reduce low back pain? Any thoughts. Already use a DUI harness weight system which seems to help.
BC for lower back pain
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How far do you have to walk from gearing up to getting in the water? Maybe making some changes there might also help.
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I hate to say it, but single tank sidemount is probably the best option for you. It unfortunately limits you to AL80 tanks, but it gets everything off of your back and you can wheel the tanks down with a dolly. I have a buddy who went through it that still dives a bp/w with doubles with no problems, but he was an Army Para-Trooper, so he's a little determined... If you need to stay with backmount, the Dive Rite Transpac is your best option as it was designed to act like a hiking backpack and will be most comfortable for you on land. In the water, they'll all be about the same. Single tank sidemount would be my personal recommendation to get the bottle off of your back though
2airishuman
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A backplate and wing. Because this, after all, is scubaboard.
Seriously, though, anything that reduces the amount of weight you have to carry when entering or exiting the water will help. Anything that puts more of the weight on your hips when above the water will help. You could try gearing up in the water. You do not have to switch to sidemount to do this. Nor, for that matter, do you have to switch to a backplate and wing.
mi000ke
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I have serious back issues, have used both jacket and back inflate and noticed no difference. Back pain is there regardless, except when under water. I would chose based on in-water performance, not back pain. Best cure for back pain so far as been to dive with "concierge style" dive ops who pick up your gear and place it on your back while sitting at the boat platform. They help you stand, and you just have to stride in. They will even help put gear on in the water and take it off in the water when done (fortunately I'm not at that point - yet). Most of the dive ops where I now live much of the year (Grand Cayman) do that. When doing shore dives, I invite my brother in law who has a small wagon outfitted to pull gear, plus he's bigger and stronger than me
You can get a collapsible wagon for about $60 on Amazon. I use one due to sciatica and bad knees. I have have people offer to buy it off of me when I've been diving, but refused as I need it to haul my own gear.
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According to my doc, carrying weight is carrying weight. Doesn't matter sidemount, backmount, BC or Harness. The only thing you could do (and the reason your Weight and trim works well) is to transfer the weight to your hips, like a hiker does. Or, transfer the weight to a wagon for the trip to the sea, like Mi000ke and Marie13 said. If you decide to go with a concierge operator, make sure they really are. Lots of the folks you book with (the person on the phone) will promise you the sun and stars. When you're facing the DM is where the rubber hits the road.
You might have to reconsider how you enter/exit the water, if there is a choice. I've been at a quarry with steep steps to the water. No other way to get in. Other folks kindly carried my tanks up and down for me.
My local quarry has the option of a deep water entry/exit or via a beach area. I prefer the beach. I can wheel my wagon right up to the waters edge if I like. Via the dock, I have to ungear in the water and hand everything up. Too difficult. Plus I dislike requiring help. It's easier for me to do the beach entry and exit.
My local quarry has the option of a deep water entry/exit or via a beach area. I prefer the beach. I can wheel my wagon right up to the waters edge if I like. Via the dock, I have to ungear in the water and hand everything up. Too difficult. Plus I dislike requiring help. It's easier for me to do the beach entry and exit.
Get the Ok from your surgeon but if you are cleared to dive you should be cleared to do the exercises to strengthen your core muscles. Besides optimizing gear end entry/exit routines, strengthening the muscles that support your back is the single most important thing you can do to reduce future issues. Any excerises that strengthen the core will work. Yoga and pilates are probably the top two options.
If you can't or don't have time to do a full routine there is one exercise alone that can help. Its basically the plank position held on hands or elbows for one minute, rest and repeat for a total of three repetitions. Sounds easy but trust me, done correctly it isn't. Most people have to work up to the full minute. But like all exercise you got to stick with it and do it at least 3 days a week. Five is better. Any better then none.
If you can't or don't have time to do a full routine there is one exercise alone that can help. Its basically the plank position held on hands or elbows for one minute, rest and repeat for a total of three repetitions. Sounds easy but trust me, done correctly it isn't. Most people have to work up to the full minute. But like all exercise you got to stick with it and do it at least 3 days a week. Five is better. Any better then none.
I also had several fusions and have dealt with similar problems. I do have some trouble in the lumbar area, but my fusions are all in the cervical area. Also cleared to dive at about the same timeframe post-op as you.
As others have said, sidemount can help. You can monkey dive an al80. Get a couple al40's or a couple al63's even. The big benefit comes in not having the tank strapped to you until you're in the water. If you're better on gas than me, you might get away with just using a single lighter al63 or something.
To expand on what @mi000ke said, as long as you're boat diving, a quality dive op can make it work with any backmount setup. They inflate your bc and hand it to you in the water. you don, and dive. When you surface, you doff and they haul it up for you. I did this with dive paradise in Cozumel last year and it was really great. If you ask in advance, I think many ops would be able to accommodate as long as the waves are small. It doesn't require any special equipment on the boat, just willingness on the part of the crew. Ask when you call to book. Show up at the boat early, and discuss it with the crew. If you can get them to do it, this is the best option I've found by a long shot.
I tried using a cart for shore diving but carts can be a bit unwieldy. I switched to a "hand truck". The one I use is a lightweight fold up thing that cost around $25 at ace hardware if I remember right. You just have to carry it back to your vehicle or find a way to chain it up when you're in the water unless you've got someone at the shore to make sure it doesn't get stolen. The hand truck is also useful for bringing my tanks back and forth for fills.
If money is a non issue, you might look into those hoop wrapped tanks. Might be able to shed some weight from your gear with those, but they're massively expensive and have a very short lifespan compared to anything else. Also, they can be hard to find, and may be hard to get VIP/Hydro (don't know). When I saw the pricetag, I stopped looking into these any further.
As others have said, sidemount can help. You can monkey dive an al80. Get a couple al40's or a couple al63's even. The big benefit comes in not having the tank strapped to you until you're in the water. If you're better on gas than me, you might get away with just using a single lighter al63 or something.
To expand on what @mi000ke said, as long as you're boat diving, a quality dive op can make it work with any backmount setup. They inflate your bc and hand it to you in the water. you don, and dive. When you surface, you doff and they haul it up for you. I did this with dive paradise in Cozumel last year and it was really great. If you ask in advance, I think many ops would be able to accommodate as long as the waves are small. It doesn't require any special equipment on the boat, just willingness on the part of the crew. Ask when you call to book. Show up at the boat early, and discuss it with the crew. If you can get them to do it, this is the best option I've found by a long shot.
I tried using a cart for shore diving but carts can be a bit unwieldy. I switched to a "hand truck". The one I use is a lightweight fold up thing that cost around $25 at ace hardware if I remember right. You just have to carry it back to your vehicle or find a way to chain it up when you're in the water unless you've got someone at the shore to make sure it doesn't get stolen. The hand truck is also useful for bringing my tanks back and forth for fills.
If money is a non issue, you might look into those hoop wrapped tanks. Might be able to shed some weight from your gear with those, but they're massively expensive and have a very short lifespan compared to anything else. Also, they can be hard to find, and may be hard to get VIP/Hydro (don't know). When I saw the pricetag, I stopped looking into these any further.
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