BP/W that you find works best for cave diving?

[Crass3000]

I know the best answer is to find my instructor and ask them what they recommend but I'm a way out from getting training as it will take me time to acquire all the gear I need.

In your opinion, what is the best BP/W for cave diving? I assume I'll be diving doubles and will likely have a 40cf deco bottle so what wing do you think would be best.

I seem to have a hard time venting the APEKS BP/W (horseshoe type wing) now and am thinking a donut wing might be best. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to either style of wing. I like my BP/W now except for the venting but know it's not really a good set-up for cave diving.

 

[TSandM]

For use with backmounted doubles, you want a backplate with a reasonably deep bend. This is the ONLY time I'll recommend against Deep Sea Supply stainless plates; we have had problems getting them onto rented doubles in a number of places, when the bolts were too short.

The most important thing with a wing is the lift. You can use a smaller wing with Al80s in MX than you need for big steel tanks in FL.

People will swear up and down that horseshoe or doughnut are superior, but I am convinced with Tobin George's analysis -- If you are anywhere near horizontal trim, the tanks are holding the channel at the bottom down onto the plate, and air just won't go down there to pass from one side to the other. The upper arc, on the other hand, is a much easier and more attractive route for air to get from one side of the wing to the other, and requires much less of an excursion from trim. So, since both types of wings have an upper arc, and doughnut wings are generally more expensive, I go with horseshoe wings.

With the exception of bungied wings, or the Frog wings we had on the boat in the Red Sea (where the bladder didn't fit properly into the outer shell, and crumpled up and gas-trapped as a result), most properly made wings will vent. How easily can depend on the placement of the takeoff for the inflator hose and the dump valve, but if you are having significant issues venting your wing, it suggests that you may have trim issues, or be using a very oversized wing where the gas is "taco-ing" in the side pontoons.

 

[PfcAJ]

Most wings out there today are fairly reasonable. Some considerations:

Some wings have the OPV positioned on the back side of the wing, which places it against the tank. That's less than ideal. At least one has a d-ring attached to it. I recommend against that (towing stuff from your wing doesn't have an advantage over towing from the rear crotch d-ring, and it might stress your wing). At least 1 has an option to add another OPV to the right side. I recommend against that (not needed). Some wings try and get too slick and are very narrow, and some of their lifting ability gets compromised between the plate and the tanks. There was a recent thread on here about it.

I like donuts. I can dive a horseshoe just as well. The donut allows for venting from both sides at weird attitudes in the water which I find myself in from time to time. I find it handy, but its not the end of the world either way.

For 8inch tanks, you're really looking at a ~55lb wing. 7inch tanks generally call for a 40lb wing. I'm sure you can find some exceptions, but this is a good rule of thumb.

 

[ajduplessis]

Great inputs and stuff I never even cosidered.

I was lucky enought to end up with a Halcyon dougnut wing and can't complain. Any serious manufacturer will have great kit. The big names out there know what they do, pick a look you like and you will not regret your choice.

My 2 cents.

 

[lv2dive]

For recreational dives, I sometimes dive a single aluminum 80 with a small steel BP, a 3 mil with x-shorts, and no additional weight - so although I do have some bioprene I am not *exceptional* floaty . I give you that information solely to provide perspective... until I started diving stages, I had no problem diving dbl steel 104's with a 40lb donut wing while running a drysuit with minimal gas. I even took Cave2 (one stage, one AL40) with a 40lb wing. I was definitely testing the limits of that wing, though, and I do not recommend that. So it depends on how far you plan on going... frankly a lot of people I know have more than one wing by the time they get into stage diving in caves so that is something to consider as well

RE: shape - I thought I *really* preferred donut over u-shaped (and I do like my donut wings). However... I got a great deal on a u-shaped wing and took it to mexico the last time I went down there, thinking I'd just leave it if I found a place to store it. The first day I dove it, it was a bit awkward but after the first day I forgot it was a different shape. I think it makes more of a difference when one is first learning to dive a BP/W than once one has been diving them a while.

 

[j2s]

Gear is a combination of personal preference and the environment you dive in.......I use different wings w/different tanks in different environments....I still use a BC in shallow ow dives on boats mainly because DM's are use to those when switching tanks.......And I'll use side-mount ( which I don't particularly care for ) if the caves/environment dictates it.......I have certain brands I prefer because over the years they've proven to work best for me........And some things I just have custom made.......Personal preference and environment......

 

[OkByMe]

I seem to have a hard time venting the APEKS BP/W (horseshoe type wing) now and am thinking a donut wing might be best. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to either style of wing. I like my BP/W now except for the venting but know it's not really a good set-up for cave diving.[/QUOTE]

I have a DivRite REC wing, horseshoe style. I simply added another dump valve on the un-vented side to release air when head down or horizontal. Before I would have to roll to my left to vent. I also use the doughnut Rec xt with the clips. I dive double steel 85's and 2 side mount 80's without weights in a medium weight wetsuit. Both work very well side-mount only and/or single BM tank. I may sell or retire the horseshoe, since the Rec xt is more stable.

 

[Doc Harry]

For use with backmounted doubles, you want a backplate with a reasonably deep bend. This is the ONLY time I'll recommend against Deep Sea Supply stainless plates; we have had problems getting them onto rented doubles in a number of places, when the bolts were too short.

1+

OMS backplates have a shallow bend and sometime the bolts are too short to get the backplate screwed into place.