BP/W BCD Advice

[impulse]

I am trying to choose a BP/W BCD for recreational diving. Based on the info I provide below would the BCD on the link be suitable for me?

Link : TECHNICAL SCUBA BCD PACKAGE @ Divers-Supply.com

Does anybody know an online store where I can find other technical packages like that?

My Height : 176cm
Ballast I use : 8 kg/ 17lb
Suit I use : Two piece 10mm(total) wetsuit.
Tank I use : single 12 liter steel tank or single 12 liter aluminium tank
Water Conditions I dive : the coldest water I dive is around 64,4 F / 18 C and the warmest is around 78,8 F/26 C.
My Weight : 76kg/167,8 lb

Thank you.

 

[TSandM]

That's a reasonable package. You will want the 2" crotch strap, the set of 2 cambands, and the singles wing. I do not know if the Hog singles wing has a wobble-stopper, or whether it requires an STA.

You might also want to take a look at Deep Sea Supply and Golem Gear, which also sell packages. I have DSS gear and really like it, as do many of my friends. Golem Gear periodically has very good sales.

 

[impulse]

I must learn the terminolagy. What is a camband? What is a wobble-stopper? What is an STA?

I looked at DSS. It's expensive for me. I am trying to find something around $350. So I must find sales.

This one looks nice >> http://www.golemgear.com/p-165-golem-35-lbs-ss-combo.aspx.

What do you think? Would 35lb enough lifting?

 

[impulse]

No one has an idea?

 

[USCScubaboy]

I must learn the terminolagy. What is a camband? What is a wobble-stopper? What is an STA?

I looked at DSS. It's expensive for me. I am trying to find something around $350. So I must find sales.

This one looks nice >> Golem 35 Lbs SS Combo.

What do you think? Would 35lb enough lifting?

Cambands are what you use to keep the tank attached to the backplate.

Wobble-stopper is a built-in STA so you don't need a dedicated STA.

STA is a single tank adapter that some people use so that they can more securely attach the tank to the backplate.

 

[Jorgy]

From what you describe a 35 lb wing should be a good fit.......

M

 

[Colliam7]

What do you think? Would 35lb enough lifting?

Generally, 35lbs lift for single tank diving is (more than) enough. You indicate you are currently wearing 17lbs of weight, and mention your exposure suit, and tank, but you don't mention the BCD you are currently using. Assuming it is not a BP, and assuming you move to a SS BP, you will drop some of that weight. A 35lb wing (or the 32lb wing in the package you reference) should easily be adequate. I agree with TSandM< you will want a crotch strap, and SS cam bands.

 

[TSandM]

Yes, 35 lbs might be pretty ideal. I'm still unsure about the 10 mm wet suit -- I assume that's two layers of 5 mm? That can lose a fair amount of lift.

You need two things from your wing -- One, it has to float your gear at the surface, including whatever ballast you put on the rig. Assuming you are diving an Aluminum tank with 17 lbs of weight, the total you have to float is going to be 17 lbs plus 1 for the full 80, plus one or two for the plate and d rings and so on, so 35 is more than enough.

The other thing the wing has to do is to compensate for the lift your exposure protection loses at depth. At 100 feet, it's been estimated that a 7 mil wetsuit can lose up to 23 lbs of lift, so I would assume your doubled 5 mil could lose perhaps a bit more. Still, 35 lbs should be adequate.

As described, wobble-stoppers and STAs are both methods of stabilizing a single tank. Backplates were originally designed for doubles, which bolt to the plate, so there's no stability issue. Single tanks, which are held on by cambands, are more stable if there is some kind of structure cradling them. That can be a rubber device attached to the wing (wobble-stopper) or a metal device through which the cambands pass (STA). And as already stated, cambands are the straps that hold the tank on.

The Golem Gear setups get good reports from the people who have them. The thing I would stay away from is Frog wings; we had one on the boat in Egypt, and it did not vent very well.

 

[joe8mofo]

I have that same BC Package and I have the 32-lb Hog travel-wing (it does have built-in stabilizers or "wobble-stoppers" and could hold a tank with cambands without a single tank adapter). I did buy the single-tank adapter to add some weight to the setup. I have the Aluminum plate as a steel plate would provide too much weight for my body-type. Stability for me with this rig is phenomenal and the air-bubble moves freely within the wing without getting trapped anywhere. I would recommend the package from divers-supply, and you definitely want the cam-bands and 2-inch crotch strap as TSandM recommended. Based on the wing-size you stated you use you would want the smaller wing (32-lb wing). What you need to decide between is stainless steel backplate vs aluminum and Basic harness vs deluxe and deluxe with quick-release. I use the basic harness for simplicity but the deluxe gives you the ability to clip together the shoulder straps at the top of the chest area, so it all depends on your preference.

 

[fnfalman]

If you're wearing 10mm wetsuit, then I suggest the steel backplate.

10mm wetsuit is pretty thick and you'd need a lot of weight to sink you. So you can go with aluminum backplate and carry the additional weight on your belt, or you can go with the steel backplate and carry less weight on your belt.