BCD vs BP/W

[BSea]

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.

I think if you'll ask, most BP/W owners still have the BC they switched from. It isn't that we hate them, just that we like the BP/W better. I still have my zeagle brigade, and I intend to keep it, and use it occasionally. But it won't see near as much water as by BP/W. Some of my best friends that dive, use a traditional BC. Most are back inflated, but there are some with jackets. If diving different gear is a problem then I'm in big trouble. I have green fins, my main buddy has black fins. I know another with yellow fins. Of course we stay away from the people with blue fins. (Just kidding)
As far as BP/W vs BCD, there isn't a wrong decision here, just personnal preference. My advice is to dive what you want. If someone has a problem with your gear, don't dive with them.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

If diving different gear is a problem then I'm in big trouble. I have green fins, my main buddy has black fins. I know another with yellow fins. Of course we stay away from the people with blue fins. (Just kidding)

One of my dive buddies wears pink fins ... they seem to attract curious sea mammals ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[GreenDiverDown]

One of my dive buddies wears pink fins ... they seem to attract curious sea mammals ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

... it's not showin', Bob.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hmmm ... it is for me. It's an attachment in another thread. This darn "upgrade" won't let me post any more pictures ... or even any more attachments (nor will it let me delete any current attachments).

Looks like I'm done posting pictures on ScubaBoard ... I've run clean out of options.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[kidspot]

you could post on another server and link to it from here... especially good if you have your own server that you can upload to... but it "will" be nice when the upgrade is finally finished and all the features of SB are back up and running again

 

[divingjd]

Well I haven't used the Classic Plus ... but I wore out an older model ScubaPro SuperHawk before switching to my first BP/W (a DiveRite TransPlate with Rec wing). I loved that BCD. It fit me great, felt good underwater, and did everything I wanted it to do. However, when the (at the time newly-released) TransPlates came in to the shop the owner offered to let me try one. Once I did, I bought it and kept my SuperHawk only for pool use.

Why? Well ... although I had no complaints whatsoever with the SuperHawk, the backplate simply felt more natural. It held the tank more solidly to my body ... which had the unexpected effect of making the walk from the parking lot to the beach (and vice versa) feel much easier. Maintaining horizontal trim felt easier ... not that I had any problems in the SuperHawk, it just felt more natural to hover horizontally in the BP. Instead of dropping the expected 6 lbs, I ended up being able to drop 10.

BTW - I will caveat what you said about the ScubaPro tank strap. It's great as long as you're using the same diameter tanks all the time ... but I use a combination of 8" and 7-1/4" tanks, and that tank strap requires you to manually change the length of the strap at the buckle to accommodate different diameter tanks. It's not a big hassle (I just marked the strap at the appropriate positions with paint pen) ... but it's more effort than using a standard cam buckle. Personally, I like the Dive Rite straps with the metal cam buckle better. The Halcyon straps are also good, but they tend to put chips in painted tanks because of the way the "cam" is built.

At any rate, I tend to agree with your premise that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good-fitting recreational BCD for recreational purposes. I did enjoy the dives I put on my ScubaPro rig ... but I for sure wouldn't have wanted to use it for doubles, despite ScubaPro's claims that it would work. It's simply not the right tool for that job.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Thanks for a thoughtful reply, Bob. This helps to make sense of many of the comments.

 

[divingjd]

I think if you'll ask, most BP/W owners still have the BC they switched from. It isn't that we hate them, just that we like the BP/W better. I still have my zeagle brigade, and I intend to keep it, and use it occasionally. But it won't see near as much water as by BP/W. Some of my best friends that dive, use a traditional BC. Most are back inflated, but there are some with jackets. If diving different gear is a problem then I'm in big trouble. I have green fins, my main buddy has black fins. I know another with yellow fins. Of course we stay away from the people with blue fins. (Just kidding)
As far as BP/W vs BCD, there isn't a wrong decision here, just personnal preference. My advice is to dive what you want. If someone has a problem with your gear, don't dive with them.

How did you know I use blue?!! Sometimes yellow, occasionally black. Thanks for your comments (at least the ones that don't discriminate based on fin color). Like Bob's comment, I think this is helpful.