Bcd

[DwayneJ]

while floating on the surface the back inflate will push your face down, so you need to keep fighting for vertical balance, the vest will provide more vertical and balanced floatation.
So you should question yourself: if you are going to spend time on the surface (vertical)...or below the surface (horizontal).
I, as a dive master sometimes have to assist divers on the surface, so I use the vest style.
Eco Sonora

Absolutely no issue floating vertical or horizontal front and back with BP/W.

 

[southjerseydiver]

im not being mean but i just dont see the reason someone would use a jacket style vest. a jacket style must be replaced about every 5 years while a bp/w can last you close to 15 years, not counting the wing. i just think it is much less cluttered and easier to transition into other types of diving

 

[seaducer]

im not being mean but i just dont see the reason someone would use a jacket style vest. a jacket style must be replaced about every 5 years while a bp/w can last you close to 15 years, not counting the wing. i just think it is much less cluttered and easier to transition into other types of diving

You must have had some bad luck with jackets. Mine is 10 years old, couple hundred dives and still doing fine. Had to replace the power inflator last year. The bcd's at the aquarium I volunteer at are 5 years or more old, and they get 3-5 dives a day 365 days a year on them.

True, if the bladder goes you are out the whole thing, while if you are using a BP/W you just need a wing. But if you buy quality and take care of chances are you will tire of if before it needs to be replaced...

 

[SlowRain]

while floating on the surface the back inflate will push your face down, so you need to keep fighting for vertical balance,
Eco Sonora

Sorry...I don't agree with this statement unless you either a) don't have your weight trimmed correctly (that is some on the belt are and some on the tank bands) and/or b) you are putting too much air in the wing.

I use a BP/W but dove Zeagle BC's for years...a back inflate, and never had any problem with "fighting for vertical balance". I guess you could say a BP/W setup would do the same thing...and I don't have a problem with that issue using that setup either.

 

[calvin007]

I myself had this same initial question about one and one-half years ago and tried to get various input from people. In the end, I decided on a back-inflated BC (Oceanic Excursion). I liked the idea of not feeling the squeeze when inflating the BC, as well as maintaining a trim profile in the water since it naturally forces you into a horizontal position. I wanted to avoid the integrated octo that is built into many rec BCs for various reasons, and if you think you may -ever- get into more diving, go for a separate back-up reg. I'm extremely happy with the Excursion and never have the problem of being forced face-forward into the water when on the surface. Either deflate the wing slightly or just float on the back more so, to relax on the surface.

I'm now considering moving to a BP/W configuration for even more versatility and freedom (even more trim profile with the steel backplate), but that won't happen for another 6-12 months.

It's great you've got a setup to try out in the summer. The back-inflated BCs may take a few dives to get used to (especially when inflating to control buoyancy because you aren't used to NOT feeling air squeeze you, which at least I had grown accustomed to as an indirect measurement of the volume of air in the BC), but it's great in the end!

 

[Bottomfeeder Brodie]

Oceanic Probe LX....tough as steel, tons of d rings and huge pockets.....trims out like a dream....never leave home without it.

 

[Bottomfeeder Brodie]

and the 40 lb lift bladder is nice when you gear for special dives requiring lots of goodies

 

[Geezer]

I have a Zeagle Ranger. The one time I felt being pushed forward on the surface with it was the second or third time I dived it (and I was still in the single digit dive range). I let out a little air, and the problem solved itself. Since then, I've never had the problem again. Most of the time I'll lay on my back, while on the surface, and have no trouble staying stable that way.

 

[diving2]

I prefer jacket style BC's for recreational diving. If you end up being 4 or 5 lbs over-weighted, the additional air necessary to achieve neutral buoyancy is trapped closer to your body than with a rear inflation BC operating in the horizontal swimming position. Nothing like a 4 or 5 lb (equivalent) bubble in the starboard wing of a rear inflate to screw up your attitude and ruin a dive. Personally, I like to error on diving a little heavy because when I become lighter at the end of a dive (loss of air from tank) I want to ensure I can control my assent. Uncontrolled assents increase the likelihood of the Bends or an unwelcome encounter with a speed boater.
A jacket style BC can unsafe on the surface - as can a rear inflation BC. Normally the issue with rear inflation BC's is a stressed diver inflating the BC to it's maximum, forcing a face down into the water situation (exactly what a stressed diver does not need). The surface issue with a jacket style BC is if the chest and/or tummy clips are snugged too tightly, causing the overinflated BC to expand inward, therefore limiting breathing/lung capacity. Restricted breathing/chest squeeze can cause some real problems in a stressful situation. The best way to prevent this problem is to follow you BC manufactures recommendation for BCD adjustment. I adjustment my BC straps this way: 1. Loosen my straps fully 2. Inflate my BC to maximum 3. Lightly snug my straps
Likely there are other safety issues that others find important. You can read all you want, but it is a good idea to experiment with gear in a controlled environment, like a swimming pool. That’s where I found out exactly why I didn’t like my $500 rear-inflate BC.
Obviously, many people successfully dive both jacket or rear inflation style BCD's. However, I think a properly adjusted jacket style BC is more forgiving, and therefore safer, for the average novice diver.

 

[diving2]

You are welcome.

Additionally, I would only buy a bc with either a hard pack or a back plate. Popular softpac BC's like the Zeagle are only popular because of marketing, good looks, and because the average diver has never owned more than one bc and doesn't have the experience necessary to evaluate it's performance. Try diving an al or steel tank with a Zeagle while you try to control your pitch as you bank into a left turn then ban into a right turn. The tank flop will torque you to the extent that you are not in control, your tank is. A poor design that is found in one of the best selling bc's of all time.

Good Dives,

John Burns