BP/W for OW Student

[rstofer]

My grandson will soon be taking the PADI OW course.

I am thinking about buying him a BP/W (DSS, no doubt) with a plastic plate for the pool work (so he will have ditchable weight) and a SS plate for the OW portion. Or, maybe he will just be overweighted in the pool portion - a couple of pounds is no big deal. Just something to drop.

I would really like to avoid the jacket BC and, while the back-inflate BC's are adequate, he will probably never dive with one.

So, what are the opinions on this? It would be no big deal to rent the LDS equipment for the class but I would prefer he train with what he is going to use.

It's my understanding that he will be using an AL 50 to keep the weight down.

Richard

 

[tc]

As long as the instructor is OK with it shouldn't be a problem.

If the instructor isn't OK with it I might be asking why?

 

[ZzzKing]

When I got certified, we had a girl in the class who's proud father had bought her a HUB. The instructors spent a few minutes making fun of it but otherwise there was no problem. I wouldn't think the instructor would mind.

 

[spectrum]

We have a local instructor who uses OMS rigs as his standard OW training equipment.

IMO the biggest impediment to a diver starting out with a BP&W is the sometimes lack of peer support or instructor familiarity. In this case he seems to have a mentor standing by so start sizing the harness.

 

[diveandclimb]

It seems fine to me but I would check with the instructor. As a teen I can tell you that you have one lucky grandson.

 

[beanojones]

Here's the problem: Back inflation rigs don't go well with typical open water classes. Because typical open water classes are taught by typical Open Water instructors (and those instructor are taught by typical certifying agencies), and they (both the instructors and the agencies) like the students on their knees for skills. (Don't ask why they like their students in this position, they just do.)

A back inflation rig will make the student tend to pitch forward, and the student will have to wave their hands around to keep themselves planted on their knees. And then the instructor will keep telling them to stop waving their hands.

Really, unless you have an instructor that allows for skills to be done in natural diving positions, (and since I am not teaching the class, you probably will not have such an instructor), you are better off letting him use the standard rental gear for the class.

The minute he is out of the class go diving with him in the BP/W, and tell him to never ever put his knees on the bottom again, because it is a useless thing that Open Water instructors force students to do. No one should ever put their knees on the bottom, least of all in a training class. But instructors (and certifying agenices) are set in their ways, and PADI/NAUI/etc still force their would-be instructors to learn and be tested for their instructor rating with students in this position.

 

[scubafanatic]

...good observation, beanojones...I was thinking the same thing.....that will only be the first of a long list of things the new student will have to unlearn when he starts to dive in the real world.

Karl

 

[super7]

...unless you have an instructor that allows for skills to be done in natural diving positions, (and since I am not teaching the class, you probably will not have such an instructor), you are better off letting him use the standard rental gear for the class.

The minute he is out of the class go diving with him in the BP/W, and tell him to never ever put his knees on the bottom again...

Same opinion here. Having the experience with regular BCDs should let your grandson appreciate the merit, and maybe some drawbacks of BP/W. Don't forget being young means more flexibility and adaptability, so a couple of dives in the conventional BCD won't hinder his skill development.

My daughter will be going OW in a couple of years, and I'll be buying her a BP/W. Luckily, her instructor-to-be is my current TEC instructor, advocates the use of BP/W.

 

[rstofer]

Thanks for the heads-up re: planting the knees. I don't recall doing those drills that way but it's been a long time.

There's no issue with using rental gear for the class.

Richard

 

[Standingbear56]

As long as the instructor is OK with it and knows how to properly teach someone in BP/W there should be no problem. I teach students in BP/W all the time.
As far as students being on their knees, it's just an easy way for students to "sit" while learning techniques. A better way would be for them to be on one knee, and on one foot (knee bent 90 degrees). Far more stable, especially with the BCD remove and replace skills (down on left knee, right knee up).
While "sitting" on the bottom for skill demos, there should be little or no air in the BCDs, so being pushed forward by the wings shouldn't be a problem. Once a student has mastered the skill while "sitting", then they can be practiced in horizontal diving position while being neutral. A natural training progression.
Safe Diving,
George