BP/W For Cold and Warm Water Suggestions

[samuel990]

Hey guys,
I am looking for some advice in regards to getting a bp/w. I am currently diving with a Aqua Lung Pro HD, which I really think is to bulky and gets in the way while spearfishing. It has served me well, and I had a really good deal on it, but I would like to get an upgrade. I have only ever dived in Florida and Alabama, but am moving back to Ohio soon. I would like to get a rig that is good for cold water quarries and The Great Lakes, but can also be used on trips back down South and in warmer places. I currently dive with 3mm wetsuit, with 10lbs non-ditchable weight and 14lbs ditchable. It has 33lbs lift. From what I have read, a SS backplate and 30lb wing. Does this sound good? Any suggestions on what exactly to get? I have looked at dive rite's website, but really am not sure. Also, I weigh 170ish and am 6ft tall.
Thanks,
Sam

 

[Trailboss123]

Hey guys,
I am looking for some advice in regards to getting a bp/w. I am currently diving with a Aqua Lung Pro HD, which I really think is to bulky and gets in the way while spearfishing. It has served me well, and I had a really good deal on it, but I would like to get an upgrade. I have only ever dived in Florida and Alabama, but am moving back to Ohio soon. I would like to get a rig that is good for cold water quarries and The Great Lakes, but can also be used on trips back down South and in warmer places. I currently dive with 3mm wetsuit, with 10lbs non-ditchable weight and 14lbs ditchable. It has 33lbs lift. From what I have read, a SS backplate and 30lb wing. Does this sound good? Any suggestions on what exactly to get? I have looked at dive rite's website, but really am not sure. Also, I weigh 170ish and am 6ft tall.
Thanks,
Sam

See if this helps- Review: XDeep Ghost BCD- BP/W

 

[jlcnuke]

I'd start with suggesting that you're almost certainly massively over-weighted with 24lbs at your height/weight with just a 3mm. But that's not the question you asked...

For a BP/W, I'd go aluminum if you only want one setup, since you'll likely find when you get your weighting dialed in that a tropical dive with a SS backplate will again have you over-weighted, but you can always add lead for your cold water dives. Personally, I prefer to have both AL and SS backplates and they can be swapped quickly/easily, so that's an option as well. 30lb wing should be adequate for both sets of diving, depending on your specific gear. There's a calculator on here somewhere for determining required lift, but I don't remember where at the moment.

 

[drk5036]

Did you really mean you use 24 lbs with a 3 mm wetsuit? Weighting is obviously very dependent on the person, but I’ve never seen anyone correctly weighted with a 3 mm over 10 lbs...I’m currently using 2 lbs and my girlfriend 4 lbs with Al80 tanks...

Anyway I’d you really need so much weight, definitely get a steel backplate, because you can save from putting about 4 extra pounds on your harness somewhere.

 

[mmerriman]

Did you really mean you use 24 lbs with a 3 mm wetsuit? Weighting is obviously very dependent on the person, but I’ve never seen anyone correctly weighted with a 3 mm over 10 lbs...I’m currently using 2 lbs and my girlfriend 4 lbs with Al80 tanks...

Anyway I’d you really need so much weight, definitely get a steel backplate, because you can save from putting about 4 extra pounds on your harness somewhere.

agreed - that's an insane amount of weight. plus 170 at 6 ft to me says not a lot of fat. weighting guidelines (https://elearning.padi.com/company0/tools/BasicWeightGuidelines.pdf) say you should be at 8-9 #. granted your mileage may vary, but to have 3 times that is wrong.

 

[hilljo88]

I dive Halcyon Infinity. Great build quality, but expensive. I feel much more stream lined and agile underwater than in a jacket style bcd.

I’m 6’ 180lbs. In a well worn 3 mill, I dive with 6 lb STA and 8 pounds ditchable weight, and I’m over weighted by at least 2 pounds.

There are factors beyond simple BMI measurements that determine buoyancy, but you should experiment with dropping some weight from your kit.

 

[Dave616]

I have a SS DGX plate and a 30# Oxycheq Extreme wing for all my cold/fresh water diving. When I travel to the warm salty bathtub I have an Oxycheq "wishbone" SS travel plate with an Oxycheq 18# Extreme wing. Essentially, I have two separate sets of gear and if you want to do both, you may end up with two separate sets also.
I really like the Oxycheq wings (or the VDH is basically similar) because they have a small streamlined profile. The "Extreme" version isn't necessary but Edd at Cave Adventures gave me a screaming deal. The standard Mach V signature series will do just fine.

The DGX 30# wing looks pretty awesome for the money but I don't know enough about it to actually recommend it- other than recommending that it probably warrants some further research.

 

[arcticat99]

i was diving the same aqua lung pro hd for a couple of years just switched to the oms lite (no steel back plate but can add one later)only used at the pool for one session but already noticed a huge difference in movement .best decision to trade up on

 

[Darcimus]

I'm a fat kid (6'2" 245#) and with my waterproof 2.5mm suit I wear 10 lbs in pool. I'd do a weight check for sure if I was you.

I'm going BP/W soon and I already have a SS backplate (Zeagle) with one piece webbing. Now I'm thinking I'll buy a setup with an aluminum wing and a 30-40# wing, plus a 20# wing for tropical diving. (Swap stuff out based on where I'm diving.)

 

[divad]

For a BP/W, I'd go aluminum if you only want one setup, since you'll likely find when you get your weighting dialed in that a tropical dive with a SS backplate will again have you over-weighted, but you can always add lead for your cold water dives. .

I Agree. I used to dive a SS BP and zero weights with a drysuit/double-fleece in fresh water. Eventually I switched to an AL BP so I could move weight to my waist. That was a good day.