Changing to wing/bp Double w/sgl adaptor?

[litlhouse]

Starting Tec diving in March. Switching from back inflate to BP/wing. Strongly considering OMS system . My wife dives as well and we do several shallower single tank dives in the summer. Am told the OMS has a single tank adaptor that works well.
Is this a reasonable way to go? I read that the size between double steels and single aluminum is to greta to do this effectively...Any thoughts?

 

[marchand]

I have a Zealge BP/W set up, and I can change the width of the wing when I switch between singles and doubles. Also, the Zeagle wing has an elastic fabric around the inner bladder instead of bungee cord, so there is no need to worry about trapped air.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Most single tank adapters work well. One of the nice things about a BP/wing is that everything is set up on 11 inch centers so the system is very modular and brand really does not matter much if at all. Mixing and matching plates, harnesses, wings, STA's and accessories like weight pockets, mask pockets, etc, is very common.

Plates differ a bit in terms of hole patterns on the perimeter for accessories and in terms of how flat they are in profile. The former is not real critical while the latter can be with doubles as it impacts the bolt lenght required.

In general there are very few (and arguably no) wings that work well for both singles and doubles. At best a wing that works ok with both single tanks and with doubles, will usually have too much "taco" effect and excessive air trapping with a single, and will be too narrow in profile and/or have inadequate lift for doubles once you also start adding deco bottles, stage bottles and a cannister light.

You are better off spending a little extra for dedicated single and doubles wings.

Cross over BC's can work but are always less than optimum, are not as adjustable in terms of size, D-ring placement, etc and they no not offer the modular flexibility of a BP/wing. They will also make many tech instructors cringe or in some cases provoke an apocolyptic fit. Similarly, items like the Dive Rite Transpac or OMS IQ Pac are lightweight and compact but do not offer the stability or growth potential of a backplate and are not as well suited to doubles. On a semi positive note, since they use no backplate, the wing does not get pinched between the plate and tanks so the capacity of a narrow profile wing is not restricted when used with doubles. And since they are less not as stable to start with compared to a backplate, you don't notice the poorer stability of the dual purpose wing quite as much.

I am also not a bungee wing fan. If the wing is properly matched to the rest of the system, bungees are not needed. And using bungees will aggravate any air leak and make oral inflation very difficult. If you feel you have to have a bungeed wing, the Diver Rite Rec Wing is a better way to go in that it uses a bungee around the permimeter that can be de-tensioned during the dive. (On the Rec Wing it is also essential if you use the wing on a single tank, but it is not needed at all when used with doubles - and it is important to note the Rec Wing is fairly narrow in profile, which makes it useable as a singles wing, but tends to limit it's rated lift capacity when used with doubles and a plate. Basically, any dual purpose single/double wing is going to have some serious compromises with one or the other.)

STA's also involve some compromises. Some plates are set up with slots to allow the bands to go directly through the plate. They tend to be slightly less stable and take a little longer to swap from single to doubles configurating, but they offer a lower profile as the tank is closer to the plate. STA's raise the tank higher above the plate but they are quicker and easier to convert from singles to doubles and are usually a little more stable as the tank in cradled a bit more securely so the connection to the plate is a bit more rigid. And STA's are available in weighted and unweighted versions. However even th0e unweighted SS STA still weighs 1.5 to 2.0 pounds though, so if you tropical dive in a Tee Shirt the no STA option is nice to have and a slotted plate is worth considering.

 

[shurite7]

I realize you a favoring OMS, but I have a Halcyon bp/w and I don't have a problem switching from singles to doubles. I forget the name of the single wing I use but it does not have to have a single tank adaptor, which is nice.

 

[Mandy3206]

I agree with DA comments except the one about it being dificult to inflate, granted it's not the same as a non bungied wing, but by no means dificult at all.
The STA is a great piece of equipment in the sense that it's a rock solid attachement to the BP and shaves a couple of pounds from the weight belt, but the valves are more dificult to reach if that's an issue to the diver.
I got the 45# "hybrid" wing and have no problems at all, I agree that for singles is a bit overkill, and not as optimum as a single tank dedicated wing, but with a few tricks, it work without any problems.
As you can see I got no taco on mine and trap air isn't a problem right now.
If I was to do it again, I would probably buy a dedicated singles wing such as the DSS Razor, or the OMS 32# wing, once I saw a 18# wing somewhere that would be enogh lift for my style of diving.
Doubles are a very distant future in my diving if it ever occurs, so if the time comes I will get another wing for that.
I also got a modified DR Travel wing that can be used with my BP, but I personally don't like the Travel wing, so it only dives when traveling.
Since I don't plan on buying any more wings right now, the 45# "hybrid" will have to do for the next few yrs.
I specially like that when I surface and wait for the boat to arrive, I just lay back on my fully inflated "zodiac" until picked up:14:

Get the BP and a dedicated wing for each type of diving, if you get into tech diving, $300.00 for a dedicated doubles wing should be pennies in the budget.

 

[Druid]

I use an OMS backplate and it doesn't need a STA when I dive singles.

I do use a different wing for singles and doubles though, my doubles wing doesn't have the slots to thread cambands through