BC Suggestions

[Cafka]

Hey everyone,
I'm finishing up my last dive for OW certification. I've already ordered a wetsuit and have a weight belt.

I live in Ventura, California. So i'm going to be diving the Channel Islands quite a bit. Water is about 50 - 60 degrees, i think.

My question is which BC would you guys/gals recommend? The backplate with wings setup isn't out of the question. However i did talk to my LDS and the sales guy said that BP/wings were for "tough guys" and it was uncomfortable. I've only dived with a jacket-style BC, so I haven't tried anything else.

There's just so many options out there, I'm a little bewildered as what to do. Oh yeah and most likely I'll be ordering over the internet due to the great deals.

Thanks for anything,
Tom

 

[jonnythan]

Cafka once bubbled...
Hey everyone,
I'm finishing up my last dive for OW certification. I've already ordered a wetsuit and have a weight belt.

I live in Ventura, California. So i'm going to be diving the Channel Islands quite a bit. Water is about 50 - 60 degrees, i think.

My question is which BC would you guys/gals recommend? The backplate with wings setup isn't out of the question. However i did talk to my LDS and the sales guy said that BP/wings were for "tough guys" and it was uncomfortable. I've only dived with a jacket-style BC, so I haven't tried anything else.

There's just so many options out there, I'm a little bewildered as what to do. Oh yeah and most likely I'll be ordering over the internet due to the great deals.

Thanks for anything,
Tom

Your LDS guy lied to you. That's the simple truth.

 

[herman]

You have a wide choice of BC and it really depends on what you want, like and need. I do prefer a back inflate of some sort be it BP or one of the other non-BP back inflate disigns. The LDS is partly correct in MY opinion, the BP is a pain to adjust and I found it uncomfortable but it's not for tough guys only. Lots of people here like them and if you intend to progress into doubles or so form of tech diving,then they are the best choice. I don't mean that they are limited to that, quite the contrary, they are fine for all sorts of diving. I just find them more trouble to adjust and not as comfortable as other BC's I have used. The best advice that is given time and time again here is to beg/borrow/rent every BC you can and see which one you like the best. I would caution you against some of the "tech want to be" BCs, the ones with dozens of D-rings and other stuff everywhere. Keep it as clean and simple as possible while still getting the features you like. For example, I like intergrated weights and hate weight belts so any BC I look at will have to have an intergrated weight system. Take your time and get some dives in before making a decision, experience is the best guide to finding what suits you.

 

[Atticus]

The last post was excellent btw!

I agree with the advice that the tech wanna be BCD's are neither good for recreational nor tech diving IMHO. I do know a few people who like them, but I also know a lot of people who have them hanging in their closets...

With respect to the tough guy comment - we had two ladies in our last AOW class that used BP/Wings. These were pretty, slim, normal gals, and they loved 'em.

I dive a BP/Wing for tech, and a Zeagle Ranger for recreational, and am happy with that setup.

EDIT: I would not suggest a BP/Wing for someone who diving tropical without a wetsuit.

 

[ianr33]

I bought a BP/wing this summer. Absolutely love it. Only wish it had been my first BC not my third

It does take a little time to set up the first time but its really not bad. have dived it wearing just a T shirt and did not find it uncomfortable in the least.

And as for trim.............rock steady horizontal,no effort at all. Almost feels like cheating !!!!!

I guess you could say I am a convert

 

[Wendy]

I must be a tough girl that is into pain, cuz I love my bp and wing.

Before you buy anything, go out there and try a couple of different BC's and see what you like the best.

PS: Your LDS guy did lie to you.

 

[crpntr133]

Can't comment on the bc situation but it does drive me crazy to see someone say that they will be buying from the internet. No there is nothing wrong with that but dud, cali has to be loaded with LDS. Support them before they are gone. I can say this since I don't have a LDS within 20 miles.
If price is the issue, most LDS will come close to the price. Also they tend to support you a littel more if you buy from them.
Just an opinion so don't get flamed.

 

[nyresq]

I found when I did any shore dives that the shoulder straps on my BP/W would cut into my shoulders if I had a long walk with heavy tanks, once in the water I was good but the hard nylon straps do hurt sometimes.
I went with the transplate straps from DR. they are the same straps that are on a transpac so they have some padding but attach directly to the plate. OMS also has their comfort harness system which is the same thing padded shoulder straps that go right into the plate.

I may not be DIR but I can walk a mile with doubles and not have the red lines on my shoulders when I get there... no tough guy here, I prefer a little comfort to "being DIR"

 

[nyresq]

crpnt133 said "If price is the issue, most LDS will come close to the price"
obviously you haven't priced out much equipment from your LDS and the net. most of the large equipment manufacturers have "price fixing" which means a LDS can't compete with the net if they want to continue to sell that brand, and most net sites are selling for almost what the LDS is buying the product at.

Some shops will try to work with you on some items, but the big dollar items like regs will have very little leway with the price fixing thats in place.
Some shops will also get insulted if you ask them to meet an internet price, and tell you your not getting the same item-brand-model-whatever, which is total BS.

So if you don't need the support of your LDS to set up your equipment for you then you can't beat the net for pure price value.

 

[caveseeker7]

maybe you should try another dive store for a second opinion. Yours didn't tell you the truth, though I won't call them liar. They might well not know any better. Plenty of SoCal stores have that problem.

Since you're in Ventura, you might want to head to Santa Barbara, Anacapa Divers has knowlegdable people. They're OTS dealer, but I don't know if they rent that stuff.

Hollywood Divers in North Hollywood is another store I do business with. They sell DiveRite (full line), Halcyon, Deep Outdoors and more. I know they have DiveRite BCs for rent, ask Billy if you can try a backplate. I bought mine from him, as well as my 30# Oxycheq.

I still have my Zeagle Ranger(35# & 44# bladders, the latter is stock but too big for my taste), but don't use it much anymore. I prefer the bp/w combo, but I do dive a drysuit, pretty much year round. So comfort is not much of an issue for me (it is only an issue for anyone out of the water - the stability it provides is more important in my book).

For build quality and customer service I can recommend both Zeagle and DiveRite. Try to dive them before you buy. PM me if you need more adresses/contacts.