BP/W Options

[Technology_Shark]

Ok, Thanks for all the input in my comparison against the Trans-Pack. Since I have decided to go with the BP/W I need help on deciphering some of the options. For background info, I dive 50/50 between fresh and saltwater. The ocean is where I like to be but the springs around here are just too convenient to squeeze in quick daytrips with the family. The technical diving I am headed towards is deep wreck diving. I would like to schedule a trip to the Bikini Atoll in the future and that is the goal in mind.

1. Aluminum vs. Stainless BPs - I will be diving large single cylinders with this configuration for quite some time before I switch to doubles. Since I frequently dive both aluminum and steel cylinders, what type of BP should I choose and why?

2. Weights - I hate weight belts (or have'nt found the right one yet), So should I get weight pockets which attach directly to the plate or what are my options?

3. Wings - I am going to buy a wing for diving large singles first, later I will buy another for doubles. How much lift should I look for? Any specific recommendations?

Any links you guys can post to great deals/pricing on a complete setup would be appreciated.

 

[cmufieldhockey8]

I was told if you're thinking about eventually going into cave diving, an aluminum backplate may be the way to go.

I've got a DUI weight harness and I love it. It was well worth the money.

 

[Wayward Son]

I dive one of these:

http://subseasports.com/store/product1.html

with an aluminum plate. I presently dive AL tanks as well, steel has to wait a while.

I find the weight pockets & yellow weight thingies to work quite well & to be very comfortable. It's availabel with a steel plate, if you're the bouyant sort that may be better. But we're only talking 4 lbs either way, not a big deal.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Ok, Thanks for all the input in my comparison against the Trans-Pack. Since I have decided to go with the BP/W I need help on deciphering some of the options. For background info, I dive 50/50 between fresh and saltwater. The ocean is where I like to be but the springs around here are just too convenient to squeeze in quick daytrips with the family. The technical diving I am headed towards is deep wreck diving. I would like to schedule a trip to the Bikini Atoll in the future and that is the goal in mind.

1. Aluminum vs. Stainless BPs - I will be diving large single cylinders with this configuration for quite some time before I switch to doubles. Since I frequently dive both aluminum and steel cylinders, what type of BP should I choose and why?

Lightweight vs SS plate is a function of total weighting. If you need ballast a SS plate, or SS + weighted STA or SS plate + bolt weight plates all should be considered. Total weighting is a function of exposure suit, and tank type / size

2. Weights - I hate weight belts (or have'nt found the right one yet), So should I get weight pockets which attach directly to the plate or what are my options?

In many cases once a diver is using a SS plate and a steel tank, the weight belt required is quite modest. A 20 lbs weight belt is no fun, but a 4-6- lbs weight belt is no big deal. hanging all your ballast on your rig can make it quite heavy to hump around, and can in some cases increase the size of the wign required. Weight belts are cheap, available everywhere.

3. Wings - I am going to buy a wing for diving large singles first, later I will buy another for doubles. How much lift should I look for? Any specific recommendations?

Wing size is mosly a function of exposure suit, not tank size

Any links you guys can post to great deals/pricing on a complete setup would be appreciated.

Look here http://www.deepseasuply.com
In the interest of full disclosure, I do represent DSS.

Regards,


Tobin

 

[TheRedHead]

I dive with a SS plate and a steel tank with a wetsuit and require little to no additional weight, depending on the thickness of the suit. It is very libertaing not to have to haul around dead lead. For a 7 mm suit, I bought 8 lbs in the form of DSS plate weights and will need a 2 or 3 on the tank band. Another way to avoid the weightbelt. The weight pockets don't work for me as I have too little real estate on my waist strap. I don't use a canister light, but use a bellows pocket instead and it takes up all the usable space on my right side.

There are a lot of novel options for weighting a BP/W.

 

[CompuDude]

Check out the pocket-style weight belts from XS Scuba for a considerably more comfortable, and easily adjustable, option. I love it. It does help that I never dive aluminum in my local waters.

If you must have weight pockets, the feedback I have read indicates the Dive Rite and the Halcyon pockets are the most popular, with the Dive Rite pockets being a bit more popular (and cheaper) than the Halcyon.

The weight plates mentioned by TheRedHead are another option. Personally, I prefer to have some weight separate from my main rig so I don't have to lug around a fully-loaded setup at all times.

I dive a full 7mm wetsuit in cold CA waters, so bear that in mind when taking my advice if your situation is different.

Oh, and if I have learned anything on SB, Tobin makes a fine product and has sage advice to offer that is well worth considering.

 

[Biodiversity_guy]

I use a DSS SS BP + bolt weight plates, and the 4 pocket XS scuba pocket style weight belt. Still getting my proper weight dialed in for my new DS, but in salt water it appears I will have less than 10 lbs on my weight belt. Much better than the 20+ I used before.

And since the bolt weight plates come off easily, and the pocket style weight belt is easily adjusted, you would be able to easily change appropriate weights when going between fresh and salt waters.

 

[Dive-aholic]

Ok, Thanks for all the input in my comparison against the Trans-Pack. Since I have decided to go with the BP/W I need help on deciphering some of the options. For background info, I dive 50/50 between fresh and saltwater. The ocean is where I like to be but the springs around here are just too convenient to squeeze in quick daytrips with the family. The technical diving I am headed towards is deep wreck diving. I would like to schedule a trip to the Bikini Atoll in the future and that is the goal in mind.

1. Aluminum vs. Stainless BPs - I will be diving large single cylinders with this configuration for quite some time before I switch to doubles. Since I frequently dive both aluminum and steel cylinders, what type of BP should I choose and why?

It depends on how much weight you need in your bp, not the material it's made of. AL plates are typically 2 lbs. SS plates range from 5 to 17 lbs. I dive an AL and am still heavy in doubles. When I dive single tank, I just throw a P-weight on the plate and all is good.

2. Weights - I hate weight belts (or have'nt found the right one yet), So should I get weight pockets which attach directly to the plate or what are my options?

P-weight or V-weight is your best option if you need more weight than your bp can give you. Figure out what you need in terms of diving doubles, AL or SS, and use a P-weight in your single tank set up to compensate. However, I still have to use a weight belt when diving an AL80 in my dry suit or 7mm wetsuit. I'm using FredT's bullet weights, which are the most comfortable ones I've found.

3. Wings - I am going to buy a wing for diving large singles first, later I will buy another for doubles. How much lift should I look for? Any specific recommendations?

You should have enough lift to keep you and your gear at the surface. You don't need any more than that. Whatever kit you're diving, you should be able to swim it to the surface without the help of your wing. If you can't do that, you shouldn't be diving that setup. For doubles, I went with redundancy, not lift. I wanted a dual bladder because I dive my doubles wet in the summer. Some choose to use 2 wings for the redundancy. I didn't see the point when a dual bladder exists on the market.

Any links you guys can post to great deals/pricing on a complete setup would be appreciated.

For some great information sheets, pm FredT here on the board. He has a few pdf and word files with some great information. He also makes a nice bp.

 

[PerroneFord]

I am just down hte road from you, and apparently have many of the same goals as you. We apparently are diving some of the same places.

First, good call on the BP/W if you are headed toward technical diving. It's just the smartest choice.

Let's see now:

1. I feel the SS plate, especially since you're going to be in single tanks, is the best choice. If you were doing steel doubles only, I might suggest a different option. Being 3 pounds overweight (gap between Al and Steel plates) is FAR preferable to being 3 pounds too light.

2. Hold off on the weight pouches. You have many options for weighting available, and quite frankly, you might not need anything depending on your complete rig. I don't wear any weights.

3. Honestly, we can't tell you you how much lift you'll need. We need to know you're overall weighting first. But chances are with a single tank, and a 5mm suit, you're going to need about 12-20 pounds of lift.


-P

Ok, Thanks for all the input in my comparison against the Trans-Pack. Since I have decided to go with the BP/W I need help on deciphering some of the options. For background info, I dive 50/50 between fresh and saltwater. The ocean is where I like to be but the springs around here are just too convenient to squeeze in quick daytrips with the family. The technical diving I am headed towards is deep wreck diving. I would like to schedule a trip to the Bikini Atoll in the future and that is the goal in mind.

1. Aluminum vs. Stainless BPs - I will be diving large single cylinders with this configuration for quite some time before I switch to doubles. Since I frequently dive both aluminum and steel cylinders, what type of BP should I choose and why?

2. Weights - I hate weight belts (or have'nt found the right one yet), So should I get weight pockets which attach directly to the plate or what are my options?

3. Wings - I am going to buy a wing for diving large singles first, later I will buy another for doubles. How much lift should I look for? Any specific recommendations?

Any links you guys can post to great deals/pricing on a complete setup would be appreciated.

 

[rongoodman]

I started with a SS plate and weight-wise, it's fine--I only need a little extra weight with my LP-85. It turns out, though, that I'm top-heavy, which is keeping me from getting my trim fixed. I could switch to an aluminum plate so I can move the weight lower on my body. OTOH, it's time to move into warmer underwear, so the extra weight needed for that will go lower and maybe fix the problem. Things are never as simple as they seem to be when reading about them...