First, thanks for the PM
I just want to say to you that there will be no miraculous change in your diving when you go to the BP/W. You won't mysteriously fall into perfect trim, have exceptional buoyancy control and see your SAC rate drop through the floor.
Im sharing this with you because you should be prepared for the reality check that I realized when I made the switch. From all of the crowing on the board, I half expected a piece of gear to transport me to super diver.
I didnt really think that but you get the idea.
Its just gear.
Its solid gear. Its well made gear. Its minimalist and low tech. Its harder to get into. Its less comfy than my fluffy Black Diamond.
The upside: I have less weight on my belt. My cylinder is much more rigidly attached to me. The plate fits closer nothing sliding around, so I move better with it on underwater than I did with my fluffy, padded BC. You assemble it this is critical, as it means you know your stuff. I had no idea where some straps went or terminated behind the padding of my other BC. It was loaded with manufacturer installed clips, rings, straps and other stuff I never used.
But its just gear.
What is DID do for me was make me practice more. I needed to break this horse. I wanted to diver with precision and control. I wanted to get this thing working for me. It drove me to actually practice diving. That is what drove the improvement in my skills, not the gear - but the desire to master the gear. I'm still working on it, but I'm getting better.
My change to BP/W was completely independent of my choice to dive DIR. It was a first step, but it wasnt the trigger event. Im diving in cold water, steel 130 (used to use hp100) drysuit with 8 pounds on the belt. I use the 36# Halcyon with no worries.
I documented my public humiliation pretty clearly on these pages. Heres a
link to me assembiling this thing when it all arrived. Here's a
link to my first dives in my BP/W, and my thoughts.
Its a ride, my friend. You'll dig it.
Ken
