BCD vs BP/W

[JeffG]

I thought you, of all people, would have known I wasn't talking 100% nitrogen. You're the expert. You tell us.

If your out for a 220' dive and looking for about 20 minutes of total time at depth what mixture would you put in your doubles. Would you be using a tad bit of Helium in them? What mixture would you put in your side tank? Would you use 2 side tanks? What mixture in the second side tank?

Your the expert, I'm not, so enlighten me.

Doesn't it strike you as odd that you are not an expert on technical diving, but you will post about the strengths and weaknesses of a BP for technical diving?

 

[oscar_2424]

I have noticed that from reading the "what size is your BCD" thread, and from looking at lots of peoples profiles, that many of you guys dont wear a BCD, but use the BP/W. What I want to know is why? I DM'd on a boat for three and a half months in Thailand and only ever had one BP/W customer. The only other time I saw one was the Tech Deep course which only happened once while I was there.

Obviously I understand that if you are doing Tech diving then a BP/W is essential, but it seems to me that a lot of people on here are recreational divers and still use BP/W, so my question is what do you guys find more beneficial about diving a BP/W over a BCD in a recreational sense?


Freds

they wear BP because they think they will look like the greatest divers in the world and only novice divers use bcd's

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hey,
You didn't say who offers it on their BP/W systems! However, it is interesting to note that their BC that has a cummerbund is often lumped in with BP/W systems.

Actually it doesn't ... the TransPac uses the same design (almost, but not quite exactly the same) harness as the TransPlate. The waist strap is a 2" webbing with metal buckle.

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/bcs/

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I thought you, of all people, would have known I wasn't talking 100% nitrogen.

How? I can only "know" what you're talking about based on what you say.

You're the expert. You tell us.

On some things, Don, I am more informed than you are ... but I have never claimed expert status on anything.

If your out for a 220' dive and looking for about 20 minutes of total time at depth what mixture would you put in your doubles. Would you be using a tad bit of Helium in them? What mixture would you put in your side tank? Would you use 2 side tanks? What mixture in the second side tank?

I wouldn't know ... I haven't yet had a dive to 220' ... and I'm not sure I'll ever want to.

BTW: I just took at look at DiveRiteExpress' web site. I thought the cummerbund was optional on a transplate but I was wrong about that.

I know ... I used to work for a Dive Rite dealer ... I am familiar with their gear because I've used it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[JeffG]

they wear BP because they think they will look like the greatest divers in the world and only novice divers use bcd's

spot on dude!

 

[djanni]

Doesn't it strike you as odd that you are not an expert on technical diving, but you will post about the strengths and weaknesses of a BP for technical diving?

For the most part you're missreading my posts

I'm about 99% sure I've never pointed to anything as being a weakness in a bp/w. The strengths are obvious. You hardly need to be a tech diver to see that.

When it come's to technical diving my favorite expression is "I'm not encumbered by a lot of knowledge in that sector."

But I suppose I'll ask you a question. Are you an expert on recreational diving?

By the way... It's nice seeing that Spanky and the whole gang are here.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

And all this time I thought a BP/W was/is a BCD.

 

[JeffG]

For the most part you're missreading my posts

Not really. What I am seeing is your opinion about stuff that is based mostly on assumptions and conjecture. Some you have corrected, others you haven't.

But I suppose I'll ask you a question. Are you an expert on recreational diving?

Nope. Not an expert on any type of diving. My ego isn't that large.

By the way... It's nice seeing that Spanky and the whole gang are here.

If you say so. Tell me, why are you so defensive?

 

[divingjd]

I'm really not trying to pick a fight or anything here, but what is the basis for the comparison here between the "conventional" BC and the BP/wings? With my BC, I have never noticed all the disadvantages of the conventional BC that people mention. In my early diving with rental gear, the BC may not have fit well and been comfortable, but my Scubapro stab jacket does not give me those problems. It has stainless steel D-rings and a stainless steel buckle. It has pockets and integrated weights, but they aren't failing left and right. I have seen a lot of really old Scubapro BCs around the dive shop and on dive boats that are holding up really well. My stab jacket has a cummerbund (plus a waist strap), but there has never been a question about getting it to fit or be tight enough. It's a depth-compensating cummerbund, so the elastic in the back keeps it nicely adjusted. It's very close to neutrally buoyant, maybe just a little positive, and I certainly don't carry a lot of weight in the ditchable pockets or the trim pockets. Trim is really a breeze and the integrated weights and trim pockets put the weight in comfortable places, like your torso, where you are telling us we are most buoyant. Hovering, staying horizontal, and other skills people say are so much easier in a BP/wings are very easy. I have never seen a tank shift in a properly-adjusted Scubapro BC, which has the best tank strap in the industry. I have never had a problem with air getting trapped in the air cell. Because it is a continuous cell (not just underneath the arms) and has good dump valves, it is always easy to dump air. By the way, there was a thread just the other day about air getting trapped in a BP/wings, and it sounded from the discussion like it is not unusual (I wouldn't know, myself). A stab jacket tends to float you vertically at the surface, and it doesn't ride up around my ears. As all the instructors at our shop know, BC up around the ears on the surface means it is too big. In a properly-fitting stab jacket, the idea of a crotch strap is bizarre, even scary, because you don't need one to keep it in place. I would rather keep that area clear of possible entanglements, myself. Here's the part the BP/wings devotees probably won't want to admit: Scubapro stab jackets (at least my Classic Plus, I haven't checked on all the models available) and the Scubapro Knighthawk CAN BE USED WITH DOUBLES! I haven't done it, but know those who have. So what are you comparing to, the cheap rental BCs you often find at resorts? Have you switched from a well-made, well-designed, properly fitted stab jacket or back-inflate BC to a BP/wings, or from something else? I guess I just haven't seen this crappy jacket-style BC all the BP/wings fans seems to have tried and hated.

 

[lamont]

By the way... It's nice seeing that Spanky and the whole gang are here.

thread title is "BCD vs. BP/W".

and you showed up to the party as well...