OP
mrmonk7663
Contributor
What are all the different kinds of harnesses out there. And what do you need for a complete kit? I know you need a Back Plate, Harness, Wing, STA (if singles) but what else? Thanks.
BCD-Bp/W----WHY?
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scubadobadoo:
So . . . we should wear a BP/W in the bath tub? This is one case where I do NOT want to have a crotch strap buckled!
(Just havin' some fun. I also appreciated Doc's excellent answer to this old, old, it gets so old, question.)
theskull
Tons of harness out there ranging from:mrmonk7663:
1. Simple single piece of webbing that's threaded through the backplace. Since so many DIR people are on this board, here's a link to Halcyon's harness
2. Harnesses that have some rings for adjustability, like DiveRite's deluxe harness and Deep Sea Supply's harness.
3. Fancy harness with padding, like the TransPlate, Jet Harness, and Oxycheq's newly announce harness.
For singles, you'll need 2 cam straps. And then you'll want some sort of crotch strap.mrmonk7663:
Thats it. backplate. wing. about 12' of 2" nylon webbing. (any color you want so long as its black 
) crotch strap. 5 d-rings. 7 SS keepers. some bike inner tube. 1 buckle. thats all there is to it.
(if you're diving a single tank you'll need a single tank adapter (STA) and a couple tank straps)
If you're anxious, you can get a rig already put together. OMS and Dive Rite offer some harnesses with chest straps and quick detach fasteners and pads. Some guys think they're great. I'd recommend you stick with the basics, as outlined above, for starters.
You really should be putting this together with someone who knows what they're doing. I can't believe that in a town as big as Houston there's no one diving a bp/wing. Find a club, find a Halcyon dealer, find somebody off this board, (PM MHK or Brando, both on this board, and check their schedule - they may get down your way)... This isn't rocket science, but fit is important.
) crotch strap. 5 d-rings. 7 SS keepers. some bike inner tube. 1 buckle. thats all there is to it. (if you're diving a single tank you'll need a single tank adapter (STA) and a couple tank straps)
If you're anxious, you can get a rig already put together. OMS and Dive Rite offer some harnesses with chest straps and quick detach fasteners and pads. Some guys think they're great. I'd recommend you stick with the basics, as outlined above, for starters.
You really should be putting this together with someone who knows what they're doing. I can't believe that in a town as big as Houston there's no one diving a bp/wing. Find a club, find a Halcyon dealer, find somebody off this board, (PM MHK or Brando, both on this board, and check their schedule - they may get down your way)... This isn't rocket science, but fit is important.
OP
mrmonk7663
Contributor
I'm sure there are people in the area, I just haven't met anyone yet. I am going to try to hook up with a PADI instructor on this board soon who said she is willing to let me try a bunch of diff gear combinations. I'll check into the stuff mentioned above. Thanks.
Mike
Mike
travelmadness
Contributor
This is one of the better threads I've read on BP/wings vs. traditional BCD's.
I am trying to decide which to buy, and I still can't make up my mind.
I'm a purely recreational diver, and plan to go out about once a month once I buy my gear. (I've been renting for years, so I don't go out much)
I don't dive very deep (never below 80'), and I usually dive locally here in Southern California.
Anyone want to convince me what I should buy?
I am trying to decide which to buy, and I still can't make up my mind.
I'm a purely recreational diver, and plan to go out about once a month once I buy my gear. (I've been renting for years, so I don't go out much)
I don't dive very deep (never below 80'), and I usually dive locally here in Southern California.
Anyone want to convince me what I should buy?
travelmadness:
Hi
Referring to the content of the post just above yours, in LA there must be somewhere you could rent or borrow a BP/W setup.
Why not take a rig out for a spin or three, and then convince yourself...or not.
Like Jag said, see if you can rent or borrow a setup and go play with it. Using your own experience is the best way to make a decision.
If you wanted a car and I told you Dodge was the way to go. Would you go out and buy one or would test drive a Dodge, Chevy, Ford, etc and decide for yourself?
If you wanted a car and I told you Dodge was the way to go. Would you go out and buy one or would test drive a Dodge, Chevy, Ford, etc and decide for yourself?
jagfish:
I own and have dived in single tank format
Oceanic Probe jacket BCD
D-R transpac with Travel wing
fredT plate and oxy 45lb wing
And they are in incrementally better than one another. the probe was a nice BC very comforatble great underwater, until i got the transpac, so much better more stable underwater, as said in other post having the boyant part up nexrt to the tank locks you in place much better very stable and easy. Then came the backplate, which i bought to quieten the B/P zealots so i could say 'hey i tried a bp it sucks'. I mated it to my Travel wing which isnt ideal, needless to say i havent had the transpac out of the cupboard since. the B/p wiith one piece harness is not as comfortable on deck, not an issue unless you gear up 10 minutes before your buddy, but underwater it is so much more stable, it is no lose situation. The most noticable thing is when you climb back on deck you are not lugging half the ocean trapped in pcokets and padding back onto the dive boat. and mated to a proper tank hugging wing, stabilty goes up again.
Have now dived the b/p with doubles and although i can understand that the Transpac is doable i can see no point (the b/p is cheaper for one thing) and the BCD whilst possible is just a fools way. if you sling a stage bottle it will be on top of your pockets to start, if only for something irrelavent to put into the argument.
Do what you want, dive what you want, if you would like to buy a transpac I have one with around 100 dives on it in good condition, and a very used probe with 400 both for sale
Oceanic Probe jacket BCD
D-R transpac with Travel wing
fredT plate and oxy 45lb wing
And they are in incrementally better than one another. the probe was a nice BC very comforatble great underwater, until i got the transpac, so much better more stable underwater, as said in other post having the boyant part up nexrt to the tank locks you in place much better very stable and easy. Then came the backplate, which i bought to quieten the B/P zealots so i could say 'hey i tried a bp it sucks'. I mated it to my Travel wing which isnt ideal, needless to say i havent had the transpac out of the cupboard since. the B/p wiith one piece harness is not as comfortable on deck, not an issue unless you gear up 10 minutes before your buddy, but underwater it is so much more stable, it is no lose situation. The most noticable thing is when you climb back on deck you are not lugging half the ocean trapped in pcokets and padding back onto the dive boat. and mated to a proper tank hugging wing, stabilty goes up again.
Have now dived the b/p with doubles and although i can understand that the Transpac is doable i can see no point (the b/p is cheaper for one thing) and the BCD whilst possible is just a fools way. if you sling a stage bottle it will be on top of your pockets to start, if only for something irrelavent to put into the argument.
Do what you want, dive what you want, if you would like to buy a transpac I have one with around 100 dives on it in good condition, and a very used probe with 400 both for sale
I don't mind my BC. Heck, I'd dive a horse collar if that was what I had. But I prefer my BP/W - even just for recreational diving. Yes, it feels more stable with the weight of the BP tight against my back. But mostly I like the feeling of openness on the front of my body - it's like not wearing a BC at all. The straps are tight around my arms, one little buckle in front and that's it. Hey, we're not WWW 
around here, so we've got dry suits with underwear with hoses for inflating them, and the less clutter in front of me the better I like it.
Oh, and one more thing. In 1974 my Dad bought us the latest & greatest, the AtPac. It was basically a hard plastic BP/W with lead shot in the BP for weight. So, my FredT BP and Oxycheq wing are familiar to me, and nicely nostalgic, too.
Remember, as a recreational diver, I just dive for the fun of it - you know, to look at the fishies and stuff. For me, the BP/W is more fun.
around here, so we've got dry suits with underwear with hoses for inflating them, and the less clutter in front of me the better I like it.Oh, and one more thing. In 1974 my Dad bought us the latest & greatest, the AtPac. It was basically a hard plastic BP/W with lead shot in the BP for weight. So, my FredT BP and Oxycheq wing are familiar to me, and nicely nostalgic, too.
Remember, as a recreational diver, I just dive for the fun of it - you know, to look at the fishies and stuff. For me, the BP/W is more fun.
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