Best lighweight BP/W setup

[AusEst]

I'm looking into a Back place and Wing setup that is light weight but also suitable for all types of diving as this seems to be the divers choice from reading through the forums. I have the added problem of needing something lightweight. I will be doing my dive masters and instructors course in the very near future and am looking to buy an all purpose BCD or BP/W that is the following:

Light Weight
Suitable for Cold and warm diving
Durable

Bearing in mind as I intend to use it for a long time price isn't really an issue.


Thanks

Mike

 

[TeddyDiver]

http://www.deepseasupply.com/page9.html Plastic BP, Hog harness and Torus wing is way to go...:14:

 

[dkktsunami]

For warm water, single tank, solo diving I use the Golem 35# wing with 2# aluminum plate, a Scuba Pro Air2, an Oceanic VT3 hoseless computer, the Dive Rite Deluxe harness, and an Atomic M1 regulator. The bc is modified with velcro and rubberband retainers so that all straps and the Air2 are pulled tightly to the unit rather than dragging. This is a very light weight and sleek set-up for recreational diving. I also use XS Scuba weight pouches on the cam bands to avoid weight belt.

 

[victor]

I'm looking into a Back place and Wing setup that is light weight but also suitable for all types of diving as this seems to be the divers choice from reading through the forums. I have the added problem of needing something lightweight. I will be doing my dive masters and instructors course in the very near future and am looking to buy an all purpose BCD or BP/W that is the following:
Mike

Mike
Instructor and BP/W may not be a good idea.
Many shops will not allow you to teach in equipment that is completely different from the students equipment.
If you are going to demonstrate skills then your equimpent needs to be simillar to the students.
So if you are serious about teaching then I feel you should be looking for a BCD, standard octo configuration, etc.

 

[cool_hardware52]

an all purpose BCD or BP/W that is the following:

Light Weight
Suitable for Cold and warm diving
Durable

A key feature of a BP&W is modularity. You can mix and match plates and wings as needed for the conditions.

Examples:

Cold water, Single tank; A heavy SS plate, weight plates (maybe) and a larger capacity singles wing.

Warm water, Single Buoyant Al 80; SS plate, small single tank wing

Warm fresh water, Heavy Steel Doubles; Lightweight Plate, Smaller Doubles wing

Cold water, Doubles; SS plate, larger Doubles wing

Exotic Travel; Lightweight plate, Very small Travel Wing.

While it is possible to select BP&W components that will work in a variety of conditions there is no one set of components that's Ideal Everywhere

My advice is to select the setup that's the best match for where you dive most, and either live with the compromises that imposes for your less frequent conditions, or add the extra wing or plate etc. that the less frequent conditions dictate.

Regards,


Tobin

 

[realdiver7]

BP/W is fine for the instructor course (IDC) and personal use. You may have to use the equipment your dealer uses if you teach for a dealer later on. Regardless, you will love the BP/W/Hog harness setup.

 

[Dan Gibson]

So the point is not to introduce students to other types of gear they are likely to encounter in the field. Thats very short sighted. Students should be introduced to many configurations.

Mike
Instructor and BP/W may not be a good idea.
Many shops will not allow you to teach in equipment that is completely different from the students equipment.
If you are going to demonstrate skills then your equimpent needs to be simillar to the students.
So if you are serious about teaching then I feel you should be looking for a BCD, standard octo configuration, etc.

 

[Nemrod]

Well, I have not gotten mine yet, new Mach V, note the thread --good, bad and ugly--and hope it will be a good match to my Hammerhead aluminum BP. I chose aluminum because I am mostly warm water. I purchased it several years ago and it is a good product. Why aluminum and not stainless. Well, weight, it is easier to add weight than remove weight. How?, channele weights or weights on tank straps can be added for colder water (exposure protection needs more weight) but when traveling to warm water destinations it is much lighter and more easily carried.

In my dive bag, I place the aluminum plate on the bottom and then pile my other gear in on top in layers, packs very compactly that way.

Wish list--a much lighter, flatter (reverse W ridge), single tank optimized plate that FOLDS.

N

 

[victor]

So the point is not to introduce students to other types of gear they are likely to encounter in the field. Thats very short sighted. Students should be introduced to many configurations.

I agree they should be introduced by discussion to various configurations.

However it would be very difficult to demonstrate clearly to students how to take off and put on your equipment when the instructor is using is completely different set up from the students. e.g They are in standard BC's and the instructor is using a BP/W with a hog harness.

It would be difficult to demonstrate the standard out of air procedure handing your octo to the OA diver if the instructor is utilising a long hose and an octo on a necklace.

No the instructor should use, and demonstrate with, equipment as simillar to the students gear as possible. That way he can spend the maximum amount of time teaching the skills necessary to dive safely and not waste time explaining why the students have one configuration but the instructor is using something completely different.

Now if the students were all using BP/W then Ok.

However that is as likely as the US switching to DIN valves on there tanks, it does not matter that they are superior it is just not going to happen.

 

[Dan Gibson]

We do more than discuss the different methods. We show at least three types of configurations for air shares. Our DMs are almost exclusively on long hoses. The students have either standard octo configs or integrated reg/inflator setups. The instructors will vary betweeen standard octo and integrated setups but always talk about and usually demo the long hose after the traditional setups. It never fails that the students think the long hose is the cats meow after practicing airshares with the DMs during practice.

At the previous shop I was at, one instructor taught in a backplate with the long hose while the students were in the integrated setups and there was never any problem. The instructor also had no problems with BC remove and replace while instructing with his gear.

I think it's all how one perceives students learn. We gave the students credit for being smart enough to handle the differences in gear and it worked out well. We also didn't try to take too much time to teach a skill. We used most of the time practice and critique the skills because that is where they really learn (i.e. repetition).

btw, I have no problem demonstrating air shares with refreshers who use a different setup. The typical refresher student has usually been out of the water so long that they really don't remember how to dive at all.

I agree they should be introduced by discussion to various configurations.

However it would be very difficult to demonstrate clearly to students how to take off and put on your equipment when the instructor is using is completely different set up from the students. e.g They are in standard BC's and the instructor is using a BP/W with a hog harness.

It would be difficult to demonstrate the standard out of air procedure handing your octo to the OA diver if the instructor is utilising a long hose and an octo on a necklace.

No the instructor should use, and demonstrate with, equipment as simillar to the students gear as possible. That way he can spend the maximum amount of time teaching the skills necessary to dive safely and not waste time explaining why the students have one configuration but the instructor is using something completely different.

Now if the students were all using BP/W then Ok.

However that is as likely as the US switching to DIN valves on there tanks, it does not matter that they are superior it is just not going to happen.