BCD for Courses and research

[Arete]

I'm a relatively inexperienced diver, having only an open water licence and 10 logged dives.

However, I recently completed my Master's degree in freshwater biology (Amazonian fish) and will be undertaking a PhD with a Marine ecology research centre. As such, I will be needed to dive a considerable amount more in the not so distant future, and have to opportunity to do an advanced diver course, mixed gases course and purchase gear subsidised by my university.

I'm all set to buy some gear (I have my own mask/snorkel/fins/booties) and recently encountered the vast array of varieties available. I've only ever used hire gear and hence vest style BCD's.

I have liked what I've read about Zeagle BCD's and like the look of the Brigade package offered by Scubatoys, However I am curious about the suitability of back inflation BCD's for courses. I imagine it's best to do courses in gear you intend regularly diving in, but is an instructor likely to be happy with a student being in a back inflation BCD?

Also, most of my research work is likely to invole benthic marine invertebrates (genetics and dispersal in relation to marine reserve design), looking for them and surveying, so I think a back inflation BCD will be more comfortable in situations of extended cruising looking at the bottom. Also, is there generally much room to carry equipment in such a BCD? I would not be as keen on a BP/Wing set up due to my percieved difficulty in carring extra gear on one.

Anyway, I'm done rambling...for now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

I find back inflation BCs more stable at depth, easier to maintain horizontal trim. The Zeagle Brigade always looks good to me. I have not used one, but I've been on boats with divers who do and they seem to love them.

Another BC is the ScubaPro Knighthawk, which I do use. It is stable at depth and I chose it because I am a photographer and wanted something along those lines.

The one negative about back inflates is, they can be far less stable on the surface. The trick is to load as much weight into the back weight pockets as possible. That helps prevent you from being pushed face first into the water. Of course, those weights can't really be ditched in any reasonable way.

The other option, of course, is a backplate and wing, which I am switching to. It you will be traveling a lot, a lightweight plate and wing might make sense.

Hope that helps.

Jeff

 

[Thalassamania]

This may not be a question of personal preference on your part, you will need to fit into a team that may be very tightly defined or that may leave room a great deal of personal choice. Talk to the Diving Safety Officer at the institution that you will be going to for your PhD work, he or she will be best able to advise you concerning gear for the work that you plan to do as well as how to best fit into the team that you inevitably will be working with.

 

[loquat149]

I use a backplate/wing for research dives as do most of the divers at my University. Check out the backplate/wing options from the following companies, you'll probably need a single tank rig. I'd recommend at least trying a "Hogarthian" style harness first before going for those that offer unnecessary bells and whistles.

www.oxycheq.com
www.omsdive.com
www.salvodiving.com
www.diveriteexpress.com
www.deepseasupply.com
www.halcyon.net

Good luck,
Dave

 

[Arete]

Update: I spoke further to the Dive Officer at University, who will be conducting my AOW course. His advice was a conventional BCD, as that what he knows and can help me with. He also said that he doesn't think there's a lot of difference between back inflate and jacket BCD's, and he'd be fine with a student in either. He said he doesn't use BP/W setups, and would prefer if I used a conventional BCD whilst under his instruction. He also told me to talk further to my supervisor, who I will be doing my research with.

My supervisor said that he uses a BP/W setup and really likes it. He also stated that as long as I know how to properly use my equipment, he doesn't mind what I use...

I have, through university, access to cost price equipment from Sherwood, Seahornet and Land&Sea (the latter two being Australian manufacterers I think, I'm sure someone here is more knowledgeable). Some of the Sherwood BCD's look nice on paper, and the Seahornet reg's supposedly supplied to the Australian Navy look nice (and are recommended by my dive officer).

Does anyone have anything further to add, or is it simply a matter of doing the course and trying out gear until I find something I like?

 

[RJP]

...His advice was a conventional BCD, as that what he knows and can help me with. He also said that he doesn't think there's a lot of difference between back inflate and jacket BCD's.

He doesn't know all that much then, maybe?

Sounds like your instructor is the one who's advice you want to follow.

 

[Halthron]

I'd suggest you ask your supervisor if he knows anywhere you can rent a BP/w. Give it a try before you buy.

 

[Thalassamania]

If the Diving Officer says BC, then I'd use a BC - at least for the course. There's a good change that any number of the exercises (I know there are in my course) require the use of a weightbelt and would be impossible to accomplish in BP/W.

Since your supervisor is BP/W, that's liely where you want to end up in the long run. I'd look to borrow a BC from someone in the lab and after the course pick up a BP/W.

 

[kjundvr]

I do a fair bit or research diving in monterey bay. I typacly use, for local stuff at least, a Bp/w set up with 5 SS D-rings. Its important to have a BC that is comfortable as more than likly you will have several dives in a day and carring seveal piecies of sampaling gear. Along with a bc with some attachment points for said gear. The last thing you want to think about during research diving in your BC. As it was stated in a previous post a back inflated bc is great for doing long transects when hovering over the bottom is important. So if you can choose your own gear make sure you take into concideration the special gear you may carry and the comfort or the BC.