BCD or BP&W first BC help

[ESharp]

Hi Guys

I am looking at acquiring my own BC and am torn between the jacket style (back inflated) and a fully fledged BP&W setup.
Right now I am diving in cold water with a drysuit which is my primary buoyancy control method and have previously been
using a Cressi sport and Northern diver BCD mostly for storage and surface floatation. So when I got the opportunity to try out
a wing setup in the pool I was surprised at how much more room I had up front when compared with the jackets which lead me
to consider this a potential option. In addition the concept of upgrading and modifying the gear as I go also was quite appealing.

However considering I am still finishing my OW certification with 14 dives completed, all on single 12l and 15l SS tanks part of me
thinks that keeping things simple and getting a good quality jacket with good storage options and multiple D rings would be a better
course of action.

Most of the folks I have been diving with use a BP&W setup but they are on doubles so not really sure its worth it only to dive singles.
My Budget for the gear is around £300.

The jacket BCD I was considering is the Scubapro Seahawk
Scubapro Seahawk. Bcd-jackets Jackets, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, dive.

+good pockets
+quick tank change out (less gaffing about)
+enough lift for an 18l tank

The Wing Setup I was planning on building consisted of a Red Hat Maximus 30lb Wing, Apeks SS Backplate and Diverite basic
harness (still need to source STA and tank bands)

+no clutter
+room to expand
+perhaps more comfortable if fitted correctly

How do you guys reckon I should proceed with this any advice or critisism is welcomed.
Thanks in advance.

E

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Shoot me your email in a PM. I'll send you an article I wrote on BPW's for single tank diving and the new diver. Will answer a lot of your questions. And don't limit yourself to one brand. There are wings that do not require an STA and you can get bands that come apart the same as the one on the Seahawk. I know as I use and sell them (the bands that is).

 

[halocline]

It's a good thing you started a new thread on this topic, it's been at least several minutes since the last one and I was getting nervous that we wouldn't be able to argue about it any more.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Do a search for backplates and drysuits and you will find the majority here are against jacket BCs, especially those with pockets and using your drysuit for buoyancy.

 

[ESharp]

Yeah I realise this is quite a common question sorry about that.
Has anyone tried Red Hat wings before it looks like really good value compared with the crazy inflated prices
others are going for.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

If you are diving cold water in a dry suit a BPW is the way to go. I'd be ambivalent if you were only diving warm water, but cold water and a dry suit will require a significant amount of ballast to sink so getting 3-5 Kg integrated into your backplate, single tank adapter and steel tank will make for a more stable trim.

For pockets look to thigh pockets on your dry suit first. There are glue on ones you can do your self, or send it off to the manufacturer to have them stitched and glued.

Get enough lift, but not too much more than you need. About 28-35 pounds (13-15 Kg) is what is needed for single tanks. If you want to go to doubles you will need a different wing.

Change out is exactly the same with either a BC or BPW. Do get two tank straps. A tank dangling from the hoses is dangerous and you will fairly stupid too.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Yeah I realise this is quite a common question sorry about that.
Has anyone tried Red Hat wings before it looks like really good value compared with the crazy inflated prices
others are going for.

Had to look up the wing and do a conversion on the price. It looks like a good wing. I like that it has a fabric bladder and the price is comparable to the HOG wings I sell.

 

[mangoconchile]

i have that same BC(seahawk) and its a great BC although don't count on using the pockets for much. they sit next to your weight pouches and it makes it a little tough to store things in there because of it.

 

[BoltSnap]

In addition to the SP Seahawk, I'd consider the Apeks Black Ice for sure.

 

[ESharp]

After sniffing about scubastore (damn they have some good deals) I am starting to consider changing the wing from the Red Hat Maximus to a Diverite Voyager Exp 16'. Do you guys reckon it would be of better quality and performance than the Red Hat or am I just paying more for the Diverite name? Will probably stick with the Apeks plate since I can get that for about the same as the Diverite plate when shipping is added plus it has more holes. Harness stays the same as well.