best type of bcd for u/w photography?

[digigirl]

My boyfriend and I are new to u/w photography and wondered if someone could advise us on what type of bcd (wraparound bladder, back bladder, or hybrid wraparound/back bladder ) is the best for buoyancy control and body control in order to take photos?

Also, if anybody has any specific manufacturer recommendations on both a woman's and a man's bcd for u/w photography use, we would really appreciate it.

Many thanks in advance for sharing information on this topic with two novices.

 

[Rick Murchison]

For real photographic freedom, one must be able to position the body at any angle and be stable and neutrally buoyant. For this, the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity must be as close to co-located as possible. If they aren't, the only true stable position is with the center of gravity directly below the center of buoyancy, with a second pseudo-stable position with the center of gravity directly above the center of buoyancy. Any other positions create a rolling or pitching moment that must be continually countered with thrust from fins, hands, or arrested by bracing against something solid.
I have found that an aluminum tank and a jacket style BC combined with trim weights and a weightbelt work best, especially for stability in the verticle, head down position so often necessary to get the shot without disturbing the reef. As to which jacket, that's highly dependent on what kind of anti-exposure suit you're wearing. For tropical reefs, where you're just wearing a skin or perhaps a .5 mil, a lightweight tropical BC like the SeaQuest "Explorer" (no longer manufactured - but something like it) works well, while for a 7 mil something like the SeaQuest Pro QD is a good choice. And these vary from person to person based on their own body buoyancy and other equipment you want to carry. My wife and my oldest daughter will not entertain any change from their Diva's no matter what wetsuit they're wearing.
I recommend you get in the pool with several different rigs and see what works best for you and the way you dive.
Rick

 

[Dee]

I don't think there is such a thing as best BC for photography. What works best for me won't necessarily work best for you...there are just too many factors involved. For Rick, that is a jacket BC...for me it's back inflate. Trying several styles is the only way to find what is right for you.

I do totally agree with Rick about this....

For real photographic freedom, one must be able to position the body at any angle and be stable and neutrally buoyant. For this, the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity must be as close to co-located as possible. If they aren't, the only true stable position is with the center of gravity directly below the center of buoyancy, with a second pseudo-stable position with the center of gravity directly above the center of buoyancy. Any other positions create a rolling or pitching moment that must be continually countered with thrust from fins, hands, or arrested by bracing against something solid.

Of course your equipment is a big part of it but for photography, you need excellent bouyancy skills....no matter what type of gear you use.

 

[uwdigital]

I'm with Dee. I strongly beleive that you should perfect your buoyancy skill before you even get into UW Photography. FWIW I use a back inflation BCD with traditional weights.

Allan

 

[digigirl]

Thanks for the info so far.

However, maybe this Cathy Church excerpt will better explain what advice/recommendations on bc style/brand we were hoping to get from you experienced u/w photographers. We respectfully understand the importance of buoyancy control but are hoping to start out in a bc that once we have our buoyancy down, it will allow us the greatest opportunity to have the precision and stability to be in the "variety of positions" you need to be in to get the shot you "want".

Here's the Cathy Church quote on bcs:

"BCs with integrated weights are difficult for photographers because they do not allow you to adjust the position of the weights to the back of your waist. Pockets high on the back aggravate your forward tilt when you need to lean just partly forward. I sometimes adjust my weights during the dive so that I can lie on my side, or remain straight, depending on the angle I need to hold my camera for the photo.

BCs with the air just on the back also aggravate movement. For example, suppose you are holding level and the air in the BC is in the middle, at the top (of course) and then you need to roll just a little to the side for the best camera position. Suddenly all of the air moves to the left wing of the BC. Because it is several inches from your body, it has more leverage than air that is held close to the body in a full jacket or wrap around BC. This extra leverage is translated into instability while you are trying to hold a camera within an eighth of an inch of that Christmas tree worm.

Every time I take a student who is struggling in the water with an "Angel Wing" BC, and lend them one of my SeaQuest Spectrum BCs, they improve dramatically and quickly. None of them really knew that they were having a problem until I watched them in the water. All of them felt the difference and switched BCs."

We appreciate any comments on this.

 

[ChrisM]

Take care of all the problems mentioned. You do not need to "adjust" weights to attain and maintain any attitude in the water. All of your weights create a trim system that should allow you to be horizontal, vertical, face one way, roll the other.

And because the wing is right on your back and basically in the streamline of your tank, there is no additional air pocket floppong around.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by digigirl
"BCs with the air just on the back also aggravate movement. For example, suppose you are holding level and the air in the BC is in the middle, at the top (of course) and then you need to roll just a little to the side for the best camera position. Suddenly all of the air moves to the left wing of the BC. Because it is several inches from your body, it has more leverage than air that is held close to the body in a full jacket or wrap around BC. This extra leverage is translated into instability while you are trying to hold a camera within an eighth of an inch of that Christmas tree worm.

Every time I take a student who is struggling in the water with an "Angel Wing" BC, and lend them one of my SeaQuest Spectrum BCs, they improve dramatically and quickly. None of them really knew that they were having a problem until I watched them in the water. All of them felt the difference and switched BCs."

I agree. The jacket's the ticket.
Rick

 

[Zept]

Originally posted by digigirl
Here's the Cathy Church quote on bcs:

"BCs with integrated weights are difficult for photographers because they do not allow you to adjust the position of the weights to the back of your waist.

If you are looking to buy a women's BC, most of them have integrated weight systems. However, you can wear a weight belt instead (or as well, in colder water) if the integrated system doesn't put the weights where you want them.

Where will you be diving?

Zept

 

[digigirl]

Originally posted by Zept


If you are looking to buy a women's BC, most of them have integrated weight systems. However, you can wear a weight belt instead (or as well, in colder water) if the integrated system doesn't put the weights where you want them.

Where will you be diving?

Zept

We will be diving in the Puget Sound (dry suit) but Hawaii is not far away so we hope to be doing some warm water diving as well.

Good point about the bc. It looks like a jacket (integrated weight) bc with a weight belt is the way to go.

We've been hearing good things about the Seaquest bc's such as the men's Pro QD + and the Pro Unlimited, and also the women's Seaquest Diva Lx.

What we hear is that they provide sufficient lift, but their bladder designs are streamlined and tight to the body which helps keep the air closer to you so subtle body position changes don't cause the bc air to move around as much thus making it harder to maintain your desired position.

Anyone have any experience with these bcs? Is this true? Any other suggestions?


Thanks again for any input.

 

[Zept]

For tropical diving, you shouldn't have a whole lot of air sloshing around in your BC. I can't comment on drysuit diving... not much call for drysuits in Singapore!

Dee makes a good point when she says that what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. If you have sinking feet, you may need trim weights high on your back or around the neck of the tank. If you have floating feet, it's easy to get upside down! The BC is only part of the equation... your body, your exposure protection, the type of tank you use and the other equipment you carry also affect your position in the water.


Zept

BTW, I'm not a photographer, I just have an interest in trim and underwater positioning b/c mine is an on-going problem.