BP wing from the start???

[wrongkey]

This is an easy question:

1) Train yourself.
2) Log at least 50 dives in rental or borrowed gear to get experience.
3) Buy the BP/W setup if you still want it.

I'm very happy with mine, but I bought it after 300+ dives, when I was really sure what I wanted and did the apropiate research for the gear I wanted.

Welcome to the sport and buy only quality gear, avoid the cheapo stuff, you may end up spending more in the long run.

Mandy, I respectfully disagree. I think most new divers will get weary of paying the rental charges long before they get to 50 dives, and I don't know where I could rent a BP/W if I wanted to do so. There are also issues with varying quality [or lack thereof] and fit with rental gear. The new diver I dove with last weekend had a rental BC that was pretty new and of good quality -- actually about the nicest rental gear I've seen -- but he and that vest BC just did not get along, and he was having issues with it throughout the dive, which was a freshwater practice dive in about 3 - 5 feet of visibility. Someone of more modest means than he would have more painfully felt the pinch of all those rental charges to do a practice dive in 3 - 5 feet of visibility in equipment they were struggling with.

Personally, I went the BP/W route right off the bat and am happy with that decision. If I'd decided to get a different BC and later ended up thinking that it was a mistake that needed to go on e-bay, I still think I'd be better off than paying rental charges for 50 dives. All those rental fees add up. If uncertainty, confusion, and the expense of what the diver thinks he/she really wants is holding back a purchase decision, it's always an option to get something on e-bay, get diving, and put whatever it is back on e-bay when the diver is comfortable enough with the purchase decision to put the money down.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Good point wrongkey,

Ebay is the diver's friend. As I said earlier, I love my BP/W but it took me 3 other BC's to get to it. Nevertheless, those other BC's all went on Ebay and sold for close to what I paid for them new. Dive gear that has been well serviced holds its value very well unlike other sporting gear.

However, I still would take the class and dive about 10-20 times to make sure that you are addicted to it and will continue to do it in the future. Plus, you will be able to make a more educated buying decision based on atleast a small amount of experience.

Waiting for 50 dives may be overkill though depending on how much you dive. My buddy has 50 dives and it took him 10 years to get them. Then again, if he owned his own gear, he may have many more than 50 dives as renting can be expensive in cold water diving.

Cost to rent a full set of gear in the keys is give or take 30 bucks a day and less if you get it for the whole week. Cost to rent in the north or in cold water can easily be triple that when you add a thick wetsuit, hood, gloves etc...

Just some random and not totally contradicting thoughts....

 

[spectrum]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has reponded so far, many have obviously put a lot of thought into sharing their experiences in lengthy replies, I appreciate the effort. I have read all of the postings and I'm keeping an open mind as I digest it all. I look forward to any additional perspectives.

Regarding one diversion the thread took, can't the crotch strap be uncomfortable (downright painful) for a male?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[RiverRat]

What?

Use the crotch strap. It functions as a "swing seat" on the surface. If you don't have one your BP/W may "ride up" causing you problems at the surface. It's there to keep everything in place among other advantages with the associated 2 D-rings. It does not have to be tight if that is a concern. It's part of the whole system.
I don't even know mine is there when I'm diving.

 

[detroit diver]

I just wanted to thank everyone who has reponded so far, many have obviously put a lot of thought into sharing their experiences in lengthy replies, I appreciate the effort. I have read all of the postings and I'm keeping an open mind as I digest it all. I look forward to any additional perspectives.

Regarding one diversion the thread took, can't the crotch strap be uncomfortable (downright painful) for a male?

Thanks,
Pete

Short answer: no, not at all. This isn't an excersize in bondage. It's not that tight.

Now, if you were to have someone pick you up by your rig, THEN you might be singing an octave or two higher.

The crotch strap does a wonderful job of stabilizing the entire rig while diving-both singles and doubles.

 

[RiverRat]

I rented a BC during my OW and AOW training (I went right into AOW 2 weeks later).
At the time I had to learn many things so the BC was really a non-issue for me in OW.
In AOW was when I became frustrated swimming along nose high like the Concorde with 28#'s of lead on my hips. I started to research trim/neutral buoyancy/weighting concepts in detail and spent many a late night on SB learning from the pros here. After I determined what weight plate I needed I went ahead and built a custom rig. So glad I did. I was truly amazed when I went to G. Cayman and dove with 3# of lead on my belt and was flat as a pancake. My advise is to take it slow at first during OW dives. Then do some research so you know what weight plate you want, what type of diving you'll do (think ahead), what type of tanks you'll dive etc. etc. etc......
Don't the the local shops try to sell you something you don't want. I was repeatedly steered towards a jacket BC. Anyway take your time and when you're ready go for it!
You'll be glad you did!