BP/W in Coz

[Rick Inman]

For those of you who have diving experience in Coz, how often do you see divers kitted up in DIR/HOG style with Backplate/Wings and long hose? I made about 16 dives in Kona last year and never saw another BP/W or LH. Is it more common in Coz?

For those of you who dive this config, do you/will you adjust your rig at all for Coz diving? Maybe even just add pocket snorkel?

 

[CALI68]

I'm thinking of using my Al. BP with some trim pockets on the top Cam straps. I usually get foot heavy with Jets in a 3mm so I'll put some weight up top to compensate. My HID will account for some weight as well so I don't want to over weight with a SS BP.

 

[Harro10]

In 30 dives in Cozumel this year I have only seen one Backplate/wing and that was on a DM.

 

[michaelp68]

I don't have lots of diving in Coz, but in 3 days of diving there a few weeks ago, I didn't see any.

Michael

 

[lawofgravity]

My GF dives normally with SS Bp/W but didn't bring it to Coz. Way too heavy to lug around. She needed 10lbs to descend warm water, which meant she would have only needed 2 lbs ditchable weight in Coz. I think that would have been a little dangerous. Obviously a plastic or al bp would have been required. Oh, and we didn't see one person wear a Bp/W during our 4 days of diving with some very experienced divers.

 

[azsilver]

Our DM in April 2004 used Bp/W...He also does technical diving in Cozumel.

If I had Bp/W I would use it in Cozumel.

AZ Diver

 

[Jim Baldwin]

I think I dive in Cozumel a lot. Four times last year and a trip already in January. I dive with a Dive Rite plastic BP and a 40# wing with a 7 ' hose. I wear a 3 mil suit with no weight belt. This is the same rig that I use wether I'm diving with an Al 80 , or steel 95's or 120's. At depth I have to use some air in my wing to get neutral so no need to carry extra weight.

I have never seen anybody else using a standard Hog rig and a 7 foot hose. I have seen several people using the Dive Rite Transpac. The only long hoses I have seen are 5' to 7' octos that some of the divemasters will carry and deploy when a diver burns through his air before the group is finished.

I have had people on the dive boats ask about the BP/W setup and when I explain the advantages for me they are satisfied.

The divemaster we've used on our last several trips even swapped with me underwater because he liked the way it looked.

Dove this same rig in Costa Rica last year got lots of questions. In the Cayman Islands two years ago I added a three pound weight on my belt when we were stuck using Aluminum 72's. They were ancient.

Jim

 

[5615mike]

with well over 100 dives in Coz I have only seen one BP/W set up.

 

[melfox26]

For those of you who have diving experience in Coz, how often do you see divers kitted up in DIR/HOG style with Backplate/Wings and long hose? I made about 16 dives in Kona last year and never saw another BP/W or LH. Is it more common in Coz?

For those of you who dive this config, do you/will you adjust your rig at all for Coz diving? Maybe even just add pocket snorkel?

When I went to Coz last year, I took my SS Bp/wings + long hose/bungeed backup. I didn't see anyone else using the configuration. I got a couple strange looks but no questions. It was nice only needing 6 pounds ditchable weight with a 3 mm wetsuit on, plus the BP really trims you out to fly in the currents like Superman.

I didn't adjust it one bit, except for the fit difference between my drysuit and the 3mm wetsuit.

I'm going back to Coz this July again, I'll bring the same wing/reg setup but might buy a Aluminum BP to save on the weight in my luggage.

BTW, what's a snorkel?

Mel

 

[Rick Inman]

BTW, what's a snorkel?

Mel

First step on the way to SNUBA.