BP/W Advice

[nereas]

...
Very few single tank divers need 40 lbs of lift, and none needs 60.

...Tobin

Agreed, exactly. With any luck, you are not one of the few who needs 40 lbs.

An easy way to find out, however, is to put on all your gear, and go into a swimming pool. With your tanks at 500 psi, determine your weighting. This works perfectly for lake diving.

For the ocean, add 6 lbs.

Make sure you have the comparable temperatures for the water, and that your thermal suit is appropriate.

 

[Kern]

30 lbs is likely too small for most applications.

This is the statement that makes me unsure as to what you mean. After all I use less than 30lb lift for all my applications. If I was to do my vacations on the sth coast of Tasmania in mid winter I'd need a larger wing to deal with the extra weight I'd need for thicker insulation. This might add up to 5-10% of my diving. I'd still get the wing that made sense for the 90-95% of the diving I do first.

Lake water can get quite cold. I take it you did not know that.

Well, its not rocket science, just inexperience, on your part.

When I dive in Florida, my wing is 18 lbs. But that is not what the O/P was asking.

You're quite right I have no experience with Nevada lakes. As the OP states he would be using a 5mm wet suit & vacationing in the islands I didn't think of needing to insulate against extreme conditions. So now I'm interested in what the temps. in these lakes are during winter. Could someone enlighten me.

 

[PvtStash]

is an AquaLung shop, see if he's got an Apeks WTX rig to show you.
30 lb. standard wing , festooned with various D-rings, integrated quick-ditch weight pouches, soft pack for single tank, no STA required, slip in a BP for doubles when/if you eventually go That route, comes w/ a crotch strap.

 

[String]

However I would rather see you with a too large wing than too small. 30 lbs is likely too small for most applications.

I have no idea what applications you're on about but a 30lb is more than adequate for single tank (even pony) diving.

 

[Txfirefighter4305]

Thanks y'all. Definately been helpful, and I think you have me sold on a BP/W.

 

[TSandM]

You won't regret it. It's a very nice system to use, and very versatile.

 

[digimidi]

I dove a Knighthawk for about 1 1/2 years and got into a BP/W about 4 months ago. Best upgrade I could have done. I dive a Halcyon 30lb wing with a SS backplate and steel 120. 30lb wing will be plenty.

Gil