Best system for shore dives?

[Scuba_Canuck]

PAIN!! You would die if you where wearing a wetsuit. We carry all our gear to the water and then suit up.

We are wearing wetsuits - 7mm+ I feel like the michelin tire guy

You must take more then one trip down to the dive site then? Or do you have some sort of wheeled carrying thing?

 

[limeyx]

Thanks Tim - my concern with the harness is how it handles "scrambling" over, up and down rocks etc. I think any BC can handle a casual hike out to the shoreline. I'm talking about having to slide down rocks on your rear-end and then climb back up after the dive. It has to hold the tank and backplate really tightly but comfortably. Maybe I should start a new thread on harness comfort!

I regularly dive here:

ANd use a Halcyon Stainless steel backplate with 8 pounds or so on the belt and it works fine for me (this is actually one of the easier ascents/descents--normally we dive them at night, so getting photos is kind of tricky)

It's not called "Cardiac Hill" for nothing!

 

[limeyx]

PAIN!! You would die if you where wearing a wetsuit. We carry all our gear to the water and then suit up.

And yes, we do the site below in 7MM suit, hood, gloves, boots etc. One trip usually (gets your leg muscles tuned up for carrying doubles to the beach for sure!)

 

[kidspot]

Do you guys really believe that there is a difference between an ordinary BC and BP/W for some decent hikes? What is the main concern when you hike a long way, weight, grip or what? For example, SP Classic Plus or Knighthawk are about the same weight as SS BP/W. I believe that the jacket style BC gives much more comfort because it will distribute the weight, not only on the shoulder... Am I missing something on the topic? We aren't talking about a streamline in underwater......

Actually when I am backpacking the main thing I'm looking for is stability, if the load rocks on your back, it doesn't matter how comfortable the straps are, they develop "hot spots" and rub badly. Packs made for heavy loads will usually have a frame built into them, so that the load can be evenly distributed. A good hip belt will really help distribute the weight off of your shoulders. While a bp with harness is not designed for carrying (no bc is really), it is designed well for distributing weight. Just my .02 cents worth

Aloha, Tim

 

[neophyte]

I have found (granted I have an old jacket) that my tank tends to flop around a little and even if the jacket is snug, it is not secure.

This is exactly what makes the BP/wing system superior for long and/or steep walks (not to mention diving ), which most of my diving (from shore around southern California) involves. The tank (generally a LP steel 95) does not move at all, which is just what I want. It's more like the weight has been added to my body than I'm trying to deal with a heavy and contentious thing sliding around my back. That's not to say it feels the same as a high quality backpack with a frame and hipbelt or anything, but lightyears ahead of the various rental BCs I dove with before buying my DSS rig with Hog harness.

I've never dove any BP/wing other than DSS, but I couldn't be a bigger fan. There is no need for any grinding, filing, or hole burning, in case anything written so far made it sound like there was and personally I appreciate the wing detaching quickly when I want it to. It takes a couple sharp and intentional tugs, could never happen while the tank is attached, and ensures that I always travel with the wing a safe distance from anything likely to damage it (i.e. the edge of the backplate).

Those're just my $.02 and YMMV,

Adam

 

[Scuba_Canuck]

I regularly dive here:

ANd use a Halcyon Stainless steel backplate with 8 pounds or so on the belt and it works fine for me (this is actually one of the easier ascents/descents--normally we dive them at night, so getting photos is kind of tricky)

It's not called "Cardiac Hill" for nothing!

That is a pretty impressive hike! Should be called cardiac arrest hill!

 

[limeyx]

That is a pretty impressive hike! Should be called cardiac arrest hill!

And that's the *easy* entry -- the other one I wouldn't wish on the hardiest of mountain goats!

 

[Hoosier]

Actually when I am backpacking the main thing I'm looking for is stability, if the load rocks on your back, it doesn't matter how comfortable the straps are, they develop "hot spots" and rub badly. Packs made for heavy loads will usually have a frame built into them, so that the load can be evenly distributed. A good hip belt will really help distribute the weight off of your shoulders. While a bp with harness is not designed for carrying (no bc is really), it is designed well for distributing weight. Just my .02 cents worth

Aloha, Tim

Tim... I agree with your point. But, IMHO though.. What I thought is that BC is more likely to be comfort to handle the back loading because it might give more contact area on our body (more shoulder and waist contact and soft material on the back) to distribute the weight from the back. I believe that major recrational equipment companies are making a lot of efforts on this matter because the most common newbies' complaint is the heavy loading and discomfort no matter whether it is on surface or in underwater. In the same logic, BP/W also get a lot of credit because BP/W design is much simpler and less block your body movement without considering any factor to carry and hike a long way. I absolutely agree that the waist belt is critical to handle the heavy weight.. Hence, I felt more secure feeling on SP Classic Plus than SP Kngihthawk because SP classic plus has the double waist belts (velcro and 2 inch webbing). BP/W gives more pain on the shoulder becaseu two 2inch webbings on the shoulder have to handles all back loads...

 

[spectrum]

Hi,

I live in an area where we can do a lot of shore dives - some of them with some pretty decent hikes, very rocky entries with surf.

My question relates to which system or specifically harness system is better for the sometimes long hike to the water and back: I am narrowing down choices to the Zeagle Brigade from scubatoys, the DSS SS backplate system, Diverite Transplate or Transpac and finally the Mares Morphos.

What d'ya think and why?

What are you diving for cylinders? If hiking in gear is your game then here's how to drop 12 pounds regardless of your buoyancy compensator if you dive AL80s.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1191538&postcount=16

Pete

 

[Scuba_Canuck]

What are you diving for cylinders? If hiking in gear is your game then here's how to drop 12 pounds regardless of your buoyancy compensator if you dive AL80s.
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1191538&postcount=16

Pete

Thanks for this!! I do dive an AL80. Going to steel never occurred to me. I am getting a new Abyss under the Dacor upgrade program and it has a really heavy stage 1, so I can probably knock another 1 pound off. My LDS has a sale on steel tanks too I think.