BP&W vs Integrated

[victoriadave]

I've been perusing the posts in this thread and found some relevant info, but thought I would put forth a question specific to myself..

I'm a novice diver, with less than 20 dives. So far all my diving has been wetsuit using integrated BCD's. I'm taking my Advanced OW next month, and have the opportunity to purchase some of the rental gear from the shop I'm doing the course through. Titan LX and SeaQuest BCD.

Here's the quandary.

I'm very interested in taking a commercial scuba course, and am looking at doing this in roughly one year from now. This will give me time to get a great deal more dives under my belt, and make a realistic assessment of whether this is the right path for me.

I'm planning to stick with diving wet for the next while as I simply can't afford to purchase a drysuit AND life support, in the near future. However, I'm not sure purchasing the ex-rental gear would be the best choice for what would ultimately be used in a commercial application. Would it be better to go with something like DSS BP&W with a Hog harness? What are the advantages/disadvantages of BP&W in terms of comfort over an integrated harness?

I will definitely be switching to drysuit in the future as the diving here qualifies as cold water year-round.

Hope this hasn't been too convoluted a question to follow.

 

[fisheater]

I recently switched from an integrated back-inflate BCD to a DSS hog-rigged backplate.

The difference is wonderful. My trim and buoyancy improved immediately and my surface swims are no longer a royal PITA. I really didn't think that there would be THAT much difference in water resistance. I was wrong. I can even accellerate on my surface swims. Couldn't do that before.

All in all, I think that you'll love a BP/W system.

 

[victoriadave]

Thanks Fisheater!, Are you using an aluminium or SS backplate? I'm thinking SS would be the best choice for me as I'll be using either a 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit with a fairly heavy undergarment.

I like the option with the DSS plates of being able to bolt the SS weight plates directly to the BP, do you know if this is an option other BP manufacturers offer? I haven't seen this offered elsewhere but seems like an excellent idea to minimize drag.

 

[TSandM]

What kind of commercial diving are you contemplating? I don't know much about the topic, but I think they don't usually use recreational scuba equipment, so I'm not sure it makes sense to choose your own gear based on what you might need for work.

The Titan LX is a nice regulator -- I own one and like it a lot.

 

[victoriadave]

The commercial work would be a variety that could potentially include dock repair, hull inspection and cleaning, zinc replacement, prop clearing or replacement, habitat restoration, possible some commercial harvesting work such as sea urchin.

To the best of my knowledge, the main difference in gear for the commercial scuba realm, is the use of full face mask with audio capability. Surface Support Diving is a whole different ball of wax, but at this point that is not in the cards for me.

As I stated above...I'm a total rookie, so any and all information is appreciated, and dispelling of any of my misconceptions is encouraged

 

[C-stone]

Hi Victoriadave. As an ex commercial diver on Vancouver Island the best advice I can give you for gear is to buy the cheapest equipment that has some decent quality. I think buying ex-rental gear for the right price would be a great choice. That or used gear. The fact of the matter is for the type of work you will be doing BP&W will not make much of a difference. if you are going to be working full time as a diver doing any sort of harvest or fish farm work your gear will get run down and stinky VERY fast. It just isn't cost effective to use any expensive gear commercially.

I use a BP&W for recreational diving. I would never take my $700 BC on a fish farm thats for sure.

Same goes for a drysuit. It will get run down very fast so get the least expensive one you can find.

The only equipment I would spend the money on for commercial gear is your 1st and 2nd stage regulators.

Hope this helps and good luck with your new career.

 

[fisheater]

Thanks Fisheater!, Are you using an aluminium or SS backplate? I'm thinking SS would be the best choice for me as I'll be using either a 7mm wetsuit or a drysuit with a fairly heavy undergarment.

I like the option with the DSS plates of being able to bolt the SS weight plates directly to the BP, do you know if this is an option other BP manufacturers offer? I haven't seen this offered elsewhere but seems like an excellent idea to minimize drag.

It's a stainless steel backplate. I don't know of any other manufacturers that offer the bolt-on plate weights like DSS. (And the DSS ones don't fit on anyone else's backplates. At least not without major machining.) With 7 mm, steel's the way to go.

 

[rstofer]

Boat and dock work are normally done with a long hose to a compressor on the surface. I have never seen a boat worker using a tank. Nobody want them banging into their precious hull.

I am not a fan of integrated weights for cold water wetsuit diving. The rig just gets too heavy to lift. Similarly, I am not going to be buying weight plates any time soon. But, if I change my mind, my DSS rig can certainly handle them.

I will always recommend a DSS rig. I love my SS plate with the LCD30 wing. I like my DUI Weight & Trim Classic weight harness.

You would like to meet the following requirements: First, your rig should float without the buoyancy of you and your wetsuit. Second, you should float with all you wearable weight without the benefit of your wing. This will allow you to don your gear in the water as might be required when diving from an inflatable.

OxyCheq makes a Mach V Extreme wing that is supposed to be nearly indestructible. If you decide to get one later, it will fit the DSS backplate setup.

Richard

 

[C-stone]

All good points Rstofer.

I can testify to the OxyCheq Mach V Extreme. It is very well built. I have had one for a few months now and love it.

Again though if you will be doing fish farm work I would recommend having separate set of gear a cheap one for work and your nice stuff for play.

Chad

 

[deepseafalcon]

Since you don't seem to know very well yet if/what type of commercial diving you'll do
I suggest a BP/W setup:

- flexibility: different wing sizes, singles vs. doubles
- avoidance of clutter around your chest and belly which certainly helps in any type of underwater work
- possibility to replace individual components (as commercial diving will cause more wear)

and you make no mistake for rec. diving

Specifically, I suggest a stainless steel BP and a singles wing with around 30lbs lift.
Be it DSS, Oxycheq or any of the other vendors.

I second the advice to buy low cost (yet quality) gear. Either from suppliers with good value like DSS, and/or good condition used (lots of people start diving, buy equipment, just to learn it's not for them)

However, unless very cheap or in truly excellent condition I would not buy rental gear. Just too many people who didn't own it banged it around.

Instead, I'd look for cheap online place like leisurepro, they also have some BP/W stuff, although mostly OMS (and I think some Hollis)