BC Type

[SkipperJohn]

OK, I've been reading here for over 6 months now and have read all the BPW stuff. Still, I want a BC. I think most of my diving will be while vacationing in the Caribbean, however, as I own a boat and have ample opportunity, I'll be doing some locally in NY/Long Island waters.
I have been trying to purchase a BC but questions keep coming up. My latest question is, back inflate or not. I hear great things about it-especially regarding trip and of course less bulk, then I hear that while on the surface they have a tendency to push your face into the water.
I figure I am going to be spending very little time on the surface if things go according to plan. Is this really an issue? I am also a pretty good swimmer and have little fear of the water at the surface (I do get anxious while under some times... but that's another post)
I'd love to hear your comments.

Thanks!
John

 

[zspurlin]

Skipper-

I am new to diving. I got my OW in September 08 and have logged 30 dives since then. I currently use a backplate/wing set up which is a back inflate in the purest sense. I really enjoy it. It doesn't hold you straight up and down like a jacket bc at the surface but it is not hard to overcome either. You just lean back slightly and I do mean slightly and your face is not in the water. I don't find this to be an issue. I was able to get this process into my muscle memory with about 20 minutes in a pool. I don't even think about it now. My father in law loves his backplate/wing set up because if he leans all the way back it is like he is on a raft and just relaxes until we all get in the water.

For what it's worth

Zac

 

[Bratface]

There are threads addressing this issue, and it is a big decision to make.

My personal gear is a Scubapro Ladyhawk which is back inflated. Don't believe what you hear about being "pushed forward". We've all heard that old tale. It's all about being comfortable in the water and in your gear. If you are fortunate enough to have a dive shop that will allow you to try out both types, see for yourself. If that doesn't work, maybe you would have a sympathetic buddy to let you try his/hers. (yes, my Ladyhawk went wreck diving with a man who was much bigger than I am--my stuff was drying at the shop and he thought it was rental gear).

 

[eponym]

Zac's right on the money.

You can help yourself in a back-inflate design (whether rec BC or BPW) by not overweighting yourself, and by distributing the weight for good relaxed horizontal trim underwater. These steps will minimize the BC/wing air needed to stay safe on the surface and will make kicking back on it much easier. Of course, using a steel tank helps, too: at the end of a dive it's not trying to float out of the water like an AL80.

The Transpac is somewhat of a compromise between rec BC and BPW. It's a back-inflate cell (sizes to suit all tastes and conditions) and a harness, with some padding and quick-release clips that a lot of BPW setups don't offer (I've removed most of the padding on mine). Also has a crotch strap, which as Tobin points out makes everything work better. Check it out here.

I also see a lot of Scubapro Knighthawks lately. Also a back-inflate design, not too many bells and whistles.

-Bryan

 

[cool_hardware52]

OK, I've been reading here for over 6 months now and have read all the BPW stuff. Still, I want a BC. I think most of my diving will be while vacationing in the Caribbean, however, as I own a boat and have ample opportunity, I'll be doing some locally in NY/Long Island waters.
I have been trying to purchase a BC but questions keep coming up. My latest question is, back inflate or not. I hear great things about it-especially regarding trip and of course less bulk, then I hear that while on the surface they have a tendency to push your face into the water.
I figure I am going to be spending very little time on the surface if things go according to plan. Is this really an issue? I am also a pretty good swimmer and have little fear of the water at the surface (I do get anxious while under some times... but that's another post)
I'd love to hear your comments.

Thanks!
John

John,

In the interest of full disclosure I design and manufacture Back Plates and Wings.

Having said that "Forward Push" in any back inflate or BP&W is easy to avoid.

It's mostly a function of being properly weighted. Most divers are overweighted. The over weighted diver needs to inflate their BC more than a properly weighted diver.

The properly weighted diver needs only a "puff" of gas in their bc, and this small amount of gas is essentially behind the diver's shoulders. This cannot push the diver forward regardless of the type of tank used, or where your ballast is carried etc.

The over weighted diver needs to inflate their BC more fully and this "extra" gas ends up behind their back, sometimes all the way down to their waist. This can of course tip the diver forward.

A properly adjusted crotch strap also helps. With a crotch strap when the "rig" rises so does the diver. This again reduces how much the diver needs to inflate their wing to get comfortable.

Without a crotch strap it's common for the BC to "crawl up" the diver, leaving the diver low in the water. The common reaction is for the diver to add more gas to their BC, making the problem worse.

A properly weighted diver, using a properly adjusted BP&W will have no problem with "forward push".

Tobin

 

[opie]

I dive a Zeagle Stiletto(sp?). It has dumpable weight pouches on the tank straps. So i end up carrying most of my weight there. This help to keep me back. I like how you don't feel restrictive on your sides and front like a jacket style. and it packs nice and light

It's a back inflate btw

 

[Rhone Man]

Likewise, I have never fully bought into the BP/W and prefer the 'jacket style' BCD.

I dive with a Sherwood Avid, which has a surfeit of D-Rings, so if I felt minded to carry sidemount tanks whilst wearing it (which I haven't yet done), I should be in good shape.

 

[ligersandtions]

I have owned a back inflate BC as well as a back inflate bp/w (yes, it is a BC, but for the sake of this conversation, it's easier to separate them as I did). I have heard the claims that it will push your face in the water....however, I have never once had an issue with it.

Tobin mentioned above that if you have your BC (or wing) inflated too much, it may have a tendency to push you face-forward. However, I have never had that issue. While I don't need my wing fully inflated on the surface, I generally have it almost all the way inflated....and many times have had it fully inflated. I have never once had an issue.

I think it's just a nasty rumor! While I'm sure there have been some people who managed to get their faces pushed in the water, I'm fairly certain in saying there was a lot of user error going on there. Weight yourself properly, play around with it, figure out what works for you....I'm confident you will not have any issues.

Best of luck....and enjoy your new toy!

 

[lmorin]

I have a Seaquest Balance back inflate. I love it and have never noticed any issue re verticality on the surface. That said, I would be willing to bet it would pitch you on your face if you were badly weighted and had the BC fully inflated. I do neither.

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

"Forward Push" in any back inflate or BP&W is easy to avoid.

1. It's mostly a function of being properly weighted. Most divers are overweighted. The over weighted diver needs to inflate their BC more than a properly weighted diver.

2. The properly weighted diver needs only a "puff" of gas in their bc, and this small amount of gas is essentially behind the diver's shoulders. This cannot push the diver forward regardless of the type of tank used, or where your ballast is carried etc.

3. The over weighted diver needs to inflate their BC more fully and this "extra" gas ends up behind their back, sometimes all the way down to their waist. This can of course tip the diver forward.

4. A properly adjusted crotch strap also helps. With a crotch strap when the "rig" rises so does the diver. This again reduces how much the diver needs to inflate their wing to get comfortable.

5. Without a crotch strap it's common for the BC to "crawl up" the diver, leaving the diver low in the water. The common reaction is for the diver to add more gas to their BC, making the problem worse.

A properly weighted diver, using a properly adjusted BP&W will have no problem with "forward push".

Tobin

Tobin, as always excellent information!

Regardless of what you decide to do SkipperJohn, I just wanted to highlight what Tobin said in his post, because many of us don't figure this stuff out until after many dives (or ever).