Beginner questions about Backplates and Wings

[Scuba446]

Guess you haven't seen as many students with their octo's dangling all over the place and drag them along the bottom w/o a thought about clogging them up with silt or mud...

Cocky? Not me - everyone I know would be the first to tell that that I don't have an ounce of ego or cockiness at all...maybe confidence, and in that that I have educated myself as to whats happening in this sport thru over zealous salespeople...

Cocky I ain't. Cocky gets one killed in extreme sports, and I learned that from my rock climbing and spelunking days...

 

[Scuba446]

Oh yeah,
And I haven't even gotten started on how all the overzealous scuba shop salesmen who sold me gear that didn't fit right or wouldn't of held up for any serious diving..... A mask that leaked so bad, despite its purge valve, that had to be replaced with a new model...since this newbie didn't know all about the make 'test' and fit.

I have a 16 yr long history of sales, so I know how the quotas take precedence over what’s right and honest. And how my current LDS who’s sponsoring the course, has been quoted as telling a DIR LDS how their ‘average’ student will purchase $3500 in gear before they finish their course. Never mind that Joe Smith doesn’t even have his C-card yet and that since you told him that the $600 regulator is the only way to go, and, naturally, the brand THEY happen to sell. When the guy can buy the same thing online for ½ the price…. and that Joe Smith ‘graduated’ from his OW 1 course but can’t do a simple Dive Table equation, but, that’s OK, since the LDS told him he’d be using a nice $600 computer when he starts…never mind the fundamentals in case he can’t afford one yet, or that maybe, he ought to know how to USE a Dive Table in case his computer breaks, etc.

Yea, lets talk about ‘cocky’ and all…. I wish I had all the money yet that the LDS sharks took…I’d be in FLA right now diving the Bibb…

When you accuse someone of being ‘cocky’ – make sure you know that for a fact…

 

[VTWarrenG]

Scuba446,

No, you're definitely cocky. If you haven't even done your open-water cert dives yet, you really don't know what you're talking about.

Perhaps without realizing it, you're doing what you proclaim the "strokes" do: you're listening to other people, and emulating them, without actually learning things for yourself.

Just because you bought the gear that many of us consider to be the best, and just because you've already taken the initiative to explore the sport more deeply than most, doesn't change the fact that you've yet to go beyond mere preparation. You're still just an armchair diver, and everything you "know" is still just theory for you.

You aren't a "DIR boy" at all. You're a neophyte who happened to make a more intelligent choice on his first gear purchase -- nothing more. Where you go from here, is, of course, up to you.

Here's my bet: someone else in your class, one of those "strokes" who bought the expensive reg and therefore knows no diving like you know diving, will outdo you twice over on your cert dives. You've got a LOT to learn yet.

- Warren

 

[landlocked]

Originally posted by VTWarrenG
Scuba446,

No, you're definitely cocky. If you haven't ............... got a LOT to learn yet.

- Warren

Yea, but I sure like his picture! Wish I was that hadsome!

 

[WreckWriter]

Originally posted by Scuba446
When you accuse someone of being ‘cocky’ – make sure you know that for a fact…

It's pretty clear. Maybe, if you're lucky, in the rest of your open water class, you'll learn the difference between your ass and a hole in the ground. With your attitude you'll more likely end up as a referral.

At this point you know zero about diving. Book learning will not save your panicked drowning butt, nor will over-confidence. When you've been diving for a few years, let's say 100 open water dives, then MAYBE you'll know a little bit about the dive industry. Until then, you're nothing but background noise.

Tom

 

[WreckWriter]

Originally posted by Scuba446
Yea, lets talk about ‘cocky’ and all…. I wish I had all the money yet that the LDS sharks took…I’d be in FLA right now diving the Bibb…

Think so? First off, with an o/w card and no experience you won't find anyone that will let you dive deeper than 30'. At 130' you'd be so narced you'd be lucky to survive. Ever seen a current that will pull your mask off if you turn your head? The Bibb would eat you for lunch.

Tom

 

[GeronimoDF]

Hey Guys,
I currently have a Zeagle Ranger and hate the thing. I would like to go to the Halcyon rig, (* 27lb *) but since I know no one that has one, I am little scared about if I can set it up properly. Can a in-experienced person setup the halycon properly? Aslo I am going to St Lucia for a week of diving, and proably will only get two chances to try out the Halycon. Should I just stick with my Zeagle, or go to the Halycon? Once I setup the Halcyon the first time, am I going to have to re-adjuct everytime ? I just want a hassle free week at St Lucia, and not sure what BC I should go with. THanks for all your help.



Danny

 

[detroit diver]

Danny,

If you purchase the MC, it comes already rigged with a harness. That's the toughest part of setting up a rig. Other than that, you just bolt on the wing to the backplate.

I think you're really concerned about the adjustment. That will take a little bit to get used to. If you know someone that has one, ask them for some assistance beforehand. If not, it's just trial and error until you get it right.

Once it's set up correctly, you will love it. You wont' even know it's there!

 

[Doof]

This is a pretty good article on how to adjust the harness, in case you need help and don't have somebody handy who's done it before...

http://www.baue.org/faq/backplate_sizing.html

 

[jonnythan]

I just bought a BP and did it. It's easy as long as you have a picture to go by... and there are plenty of pictures.

Be sure you get all the D-rings and keepers on as you're threading the webbing so you don't have to go back and redo it... twice.... not that I've done that.