BP/W newbie question

[GulfDiver77]

I have seen alot of post about BP/W. But what is the difference in them and a back inflate BCD? I am still fairly new to diving and I am curious about them. Also I am looking to buy a BCD would a BP/W be a choice for me?

 

[rockhound13]

Maybe, a bp/w is very versatile. It will accommodate any level of diving with the proper wing. The fit can be tailored to fit any body type, you have a variety of weighting choices, belt, vest, or add weight to the plate itself if you don't want wear any weight, or even different plate materials, steel, aluminium, plastic. You even have choices to go padded or unpadded as far as the shoulder straps. You can mix and match the majority of components from different manufacturers if you want as well. I went for the bp/w because I wanted something that could adapt as my experience increases in time, without having to change the entire setup. I would like to dive doubles eventually, and it just seemed the way to go from the start.

 

[H2Andy]

yeah... basically, the bp/wings is a piece of steel or aluminum, a harness, and an inflatable bladder (the wing).

simple, streamlined, infintely configurable.

less bulk, less drag, less stuff...

if you are serious about diving, chances are you'll end up in a bp/wings anyway, so why not start there?

 

[TSandM]

The major difference between a BP/W and a back-inflate BC is that the metal plate which composes part of the BP/W can be significantly negative. This means that you simultaneously move weight up onto your back, where most people need it to trim out properly, and off your waist or weight pouches, where most people find it annoying. This is the primary reason for the "Aha!" moment that people have when switching -- For the first time, their weight is distributed so that they can be horizontal without effort.

A properly weighted back-inflate BC can do the same. My husband has dived a Seaquest Balance for a year, using the trim weight pockets, and he has had an enviable horizontal position and been very stable.

The problem is that most people aren't taught how to move weight around to make horizontal balance easy.

I love my BP/W setups because I like the minimalism of them. Nothing is there but what needs to be, and the front of my body is unencumbered. They also make the tank incredibly stable on your back, which I appreciate. If you use the one-piece harness, they are also infinitely adjustable, which is good for those of us who fall on the far end of the bell-shaped curve for diver size. This also makes them very "lendable", because you can resize them for a very wide variety of people with a few minutes of effort.

A BP/W setup is not the magic prescription for perfect diving. But they have a lot of advantages.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I have seen alot of post about BP/W. But what is the difference in them and a back inflate BCD? I am still fairly new to diving and I am curious about them. Also I am looking to buy a BCD would a BP/W be a choice for me?

Here is another, functional difference between the two options:

Generally speaking, BC’s offer features that bp/wing rigs do not. A generic BC might have plastic triangular rings sewn onto the fabric in different places, pockets, chest straps with plastic quick release buckles, Velcro cumberbunds around the waist, straps sticking out to hold hoses coming over your shoulders, foam padding in the back or in the shoulder straps for comfort, nylon strap ‘handles’ near where the top of the tank would sit, weight pockets for non-ditchable weight, secured with either Velcro or quick release buckles, ditchable weight pockets with small T-shaped handles that allow the weight pockets to be ditched, two or three D-rings on each shoulder, adjustable straps hanging down in the front which you pull on to tighten the BC over your shoulders, some offer another waist attachment strap, also often with its own quick release buckle. Every place there is a buckle or fastener, there is a nylon strap that allows adjustment, and the free ends of these straps wave about underwater. BCs are complex affairs, and they offer numerous edges, seams, fabric panels, clips and rings and releases and handles – all of which could conceivably catch in monofilament fishing line, fish net, electrical wiring hanging down, cable trays inside wrecks, ropes and lines and broken panels in shipwrecks, small cracks in rocks, etc. In particular, a diver worming their way through small holes or tight restrictions in caves can become hung up by some item of equipment wedging itself into a crevice such that the diver can neither go forwards or backwards. As this can be annoying, cave divers seek to avoid it. Avoiding it means eliminating all the various rings, straps, quick-releases, and assorted widgets that come on many BCs.

BP/wings rigs offer very little of this. They are simple affairs. They appear uncomfortable to the uninitiated, as they are metal plates, wingnuts, and nylon straps. No padding. No pockets or adjustable straps or buckles. Just one long nylon strap, 5 D rings, some keepers, and one waist buckle. They tend to leave the front of the diver appearing less cluttered.

The goal is simplicity, elimination of all possible potential points for failure or ‘things that could go south below 200 fsw’’. And yes, they are harder to don and doff than a BC – above water and below. The thing is, though, the last thing you want to do below 200’ fsw is to have your rig come off.


In terms of which would be right for you, if you are a new diver then most of the above does not apply to you. It is doubtful that you will be performing technical level dives for the next 12-24 months at least, if indeed you ever intend to do them.

Its a personal choice that only you can make. There is no huge benefit to bp/wings in a standard, warm ocean, vacation/recreational diving environment. On the other hand, there is no downside, either. There is a bias on this board in favor of bp/wings, but many divers enjoy their diving fine in a standard BC. These divers are generally not penetrating wrecks on mixed gasses or cave diving, however.

Best of luck with your decision, don't be afraid to ask questions, and also try searching through the archives - this question has occurred frequently and there are many threads that discuss the matter.

Welcome to ScubaBoard,

Doc

 

[drew52]

In terms of which would be right for you, if you are a new diver then most of the above does not apply to you. It is doubtful that you will be performing technical level dives for the next 12-24 months at least, if indeed you ever intend to do them.

Its a personal choice that only you can make. There is no huge benefit to bp/wings in a standard, warm ocean, vacation/recreational diving environment. On the other hand, there is no downside, either. There is a bias on this board in favor of bp/wings, but many divers enjoy their diving fine in a standard BC. These divers are generally not penetrating wrecks on mixed gasses or cave diving, however.
Welcome to ScubaBoard,

Doc

This is my point exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[reefugee]

TSandM - The tank on my old ScubaPro KnightHawk was much more stable than the tank on my BP/W. Do you need a STA in order to make the tank more stable?

They also make the tank incredibly stable on your back, which I appreciate.

 

[cool_hardware52]

TSandM - The tank on my old ScubaPro KnightHawk was much more stable than the tank on my BP/W. Do you need a STA in order to make the tank more stable?

Some backplate designs do require a STA to mount a tank at all, and some designs benefit from STA.

Often however it's the manner in which the BP&W is being used tha leads to an unstable tank.

Can you describe the plate and wing, and exactly how you are mounting your tank?

Tobin

 

[reefugee]

I have a Dive Rite Transplate with Venture wings. The cam straps are two 2-inch tank strap with stainless steel CAM buckle. I find it hard to keep my tank perfectly verticle when strapping down the tank. That's why I think a STA might help me with the alignment.

Minh

 

[cool_hardware52]

I have a Dive Rite Transplate with Venture wings. The cam straps are two 2-inch tank strap with stainless steel CAM buckle. I find it hard to keep my tank perfectly verticle when strapping down the tank. That's why I think a STA might help me with the alignment.

Minh

Minh,

Are you describing an alignment problem, or a stability problem?

Tobin