BP/W, Cylinder, Ballast and the system as a whole

[spectrum]

I've been following BP/W and BC threads here for over 6 months. I'd say it's undoubtedly the toughest piece of gear to select for a number of reasons including the need for a fit, the tremendous variety and the often lacking availability of demo units, at least in less dived regions.

I hear the often mentioned fear or experience of getting planted face first and the usual reply to not inflate it more than needed at the surface. What I don't recall ever hearing is tank selection. It would seem that the ubiquitous AL80 that's highly positive at the end of a dive would contribute to the face plant. However something like a PST E7-100 that stays negative would help keep the rig balanced plumb. Of course the use of doubles, weighted STAs and any other trim weighting as well as harness set-up must be important.

Could it be that a lot of the BPW wings users are more heavilly invested in the sport and have made the switch to steel tanks thus improving the experience.

I 'll be looking for my first rig in the next month or so and I'm very intersted in trying a BPW. For other reasons I'm also commited to going with steel tanks.

Am I on the right track as far as understanding this thing? I have a real disdain for clutter and uppolstry so the BP/W/Harness rig really sounds like something I'd like. I have tried a Sherwood Outback for a pool session and liked the back inflate feel. I'd be interested in hearing about some of your rigs in terms of usual cylinders and what it did for your weight requirements. I'll be doing most of my diving in and around Maine so were in the land of the bouyant divesuit, shifting a little weight from the belt would be nice.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[MSilvia]

I'm also a bouyant suit diver (at least I was until recently, when I went dry), and I so far have almost exclusively dived aluminium tanks. I use a BP/Wing, and never had any faceplant troubles at all. I mean, I don't feel like I'm precariously balanced, and manage to avoid a face plant. I don't even feel like I'm being tipped forward. Al80 singles are fine. AL80 doubles? Also fine. No indication of any forward tilting problems whatsoever. None. Not now, not when I started, not ever. Some folks say they've had problems like that, but I'm not one of them. It hasn't even remotely been part of my experience, and as far as I'm concerned, it's either the result of something else altogether, or speculation.

As for weight reduction, I think my previous rig was slightly bouyant, and when using my wetsuit, I dropped about 8 lbs off my belt when I switched to a 6lb steel plate.

In my dry suit, I was able to drop substantially more, but I attribute that to ditching the 2 layers of 7mm neoprene.

I plan on switching to steel tanks this year for singles diving, and I expect that to be a positive thing for both weighting and trim.

If you feel like swinging down south a bit, I'd be happy to let you try my plate and wing out for a dive, and show you how to fit it.

 

[matt_unique]

You don't face plant with a BP/W or back inflate BC. I have never had that experience from day 1 of diving wet or dry. I now dive double alum 80's and a neoprene drysuit. I could almost take a nap floating on my back with this setup without the slightest forward movement without any kicking or anything.

Your weight needs will vary based on what you are carrying for gear and thermals and everything else. I drop 13 lbs going from single alum 80 and BC to double alum 80's with SS BP (same thermals). I drop 5 more lbs if I am carrying a deco bottle and other pieces of gear.

--Matt

 

[ScubaDadMiami]

Unfortunately, it also depends on your overall right. I have used a single aluminum 80 with a singles wing in a wet suit without issue.

On the other hand, in a drysuit with 200 gram thinsulate, and using double E-7 120s, I had to do a lot of fine tuning with my gear before I finally got it where I wanted. You can go with low pressure steels, and you will likely not have to deal with these issues. However, they are heavier when climbing up the boat ladder, and they are a bigger tank to swim around under the water.

Everything has trade offs. The learning curve with the new gear is just part of initiation. Once it is done, you will be in great shape.

 

[lamont]

when i used to dive AL80s (w/drysuit, 200g thinsulate and 6 lbs steel plate) if i did nothing it would tend to tip me over on my face at the end of a dive. it didn't "plant me on my face" though, it was just a little annoying. steel tanks fixed this issue, and fixed my trim problems underwater as well..

i don't know about warm-water diving, but for cold, i'd definitely recommend either steel tanks or a weighted STA...