reubencahn
Contributor
So yesterday, I tried a BP/Wing for the first time in preparation for the DIR-F I have scheduled for this coming weekend. Usually, I dive with a regular BC (Scubapro Classic w/ no weight integration) an HP steel 100 and 2 lbs weight. The setup I tried was a Halcyon Eclipse Wing w/ a steel backplate. The STA appeared to be aluminum but I'm not sure. So the first dive I used my usual HP 100 but with no weightbelt. As I expected, I was heavy--though not so much as I thought. However, as soon as I put my head down a bit, the rig wanted to turn me straight down. The second dive, I used an AL 80--again with no weight. This time no trim problems but I found myself a bit light at the end of dive. Once I was above 10 feet (w/1000 psi), I couldn't control my ascent as well as I would have liked. After the dive was over, I asked someone at the shop about renting an AL BP for the fundamentals class. He seemed to think this was a bad idea but didn't indicate why.
So here's my questions. Shouldn't an AL BP with the steel 100 tank give me roughly the same buoyancy and trim characteristics as the steel BP with the AL 80? Is there any real reason not to go to this setup? Assuming I follow through with the purchase of a BP/Wing, I really don't enjoy the thought of also giving up my hp 100s. For one there is the money issue. Two, I like having the extra gas in a two inch shorter package. Three, the AL BP would be easier for travel. I know some will say "DIR says don't dive steel tanks wet." I should have mentioned, I was wearing a 3 mil suit. But I'm looking for a reason, not an axiom. Also, at the time I signed up for DIR-F, I asked the instructor about this and he said steel would be fine so long as I had a balanced rig that I could swim up. No matter which setup I use, I won't have more than a pound or two of ditchable weight, so I don't see any real advantage in that area. Am I missing something?
So here's my questions. Shouldn't an AL BP with the steel 100 tank give me roughly the same buoyancy and trim characteristics as the steel BP with the AL 80? Is there any real reason not to go to this setup? Assuming I follow through with the purchase of a BP/Wing, I really don't enjoy the thought of also giving up my hp 100s. For one there is the money issue. Two, I like having the extra gas in a two inch shorter package. Three, the AL BP would be easier for travel. I know some will say "DIR says don't dive steel tanks wet." I should have mentioned, I was wearing a 3 mil suit. But I'm looking for a reason, not an axiom. Also, at the time I signed up for DIR-F, I asked the instructor about this and he said steel would be fine so long as I had a balanced rig that I could swim up. No matter which setup I use, I won't have more than a pound or two of ditchable weight, so I don't see any real advantage in that area. Am I missing something?
