Confused by various BCD types?

[mikerault]

Here is an article that tries to cut through the fog.

http://scuba-diving.suite101.com/article.cfm/choosing_a_scuba_bcd

Mike

 

[m3830431]

short and sweet. The BP&W people may be offended

 

[mikerault]

I hope not, I dive a BP/W myself!

 

[PerroneFord]

You know, after helping a number of new divers recently, I have come to appreciate the BP/W for a number of reasons. And they have nothing to do with technical diving. In helping newer divers, usually who have weight intergrated BCs or weight belts, the most frustrating thing is trying to help them get their knees up to get in proper trim.

Generally, the first order of business is to get some of that excess OW weighting off. After doing that, trying to find a way to shift weight further up the diver becomes a real problem with a traditional BC. You can shift the tank up a bit. It's hard to thread a softweight pouch onto the tank straps. Putting something around the yoke of the tank is awkward.

So for me, trying to help new divers solve problems, the BP/W offers a number of solutions including a number of weights to adjust the center of weighting so we can more easily get divers into good trim position. I have seen a number of other BCs where a backplate could be slipped in. This might be a solution, but it's obvioulsy not ideal.

Since transitioning to a BP/W myself, I'd have occasion to use a more common BC, and frankly had no difficulty at all. So I think one could get into proper trim with anything *if* weighting up high isn't needed.

 

[herman]

Don't see why the BP fans should be offended, it appeared to me to be pretty accurate. Every BC has it's place.

 

[MSilvia]

Not offended, but a couple of observations from a BP/W diver:

At least 75% of the dive shops I've been in in this area in the last year have "off the shelf" BP/Ws that don't have to be special ordered. Many of them carry several brands. In fact, 75% might be unduely conservative... of the top of my head, I can only think of one shop that didn't carry them (they may now). To say few shops carry them is not at all accurate in the Northeast, and I suspect the same is true in at least some other regions, like PNW and cave country.

I don't think hogarthian harnesses are so much more popular that other harnesses should be marginalized. I prefer hog myself, but know many divers who use more elaborate harnesses.

 

[mikerault]

Atlanta must be behind the times...at least the three dive shops I visit here can order them but don't carry them.

 

[chipwd]

The three local LDs in my area do not carry BP/Ws.
Only a small part-time shop run out of the owner's garage carry them.
In fact, the three LDS discourage use of them!

If not for SB, I would not even have heard of BP/W's!

For the record, I currently dive a back inflate BC......but I am thinking of getting a BP/W.

 

[dschulte]

The article was a little bias toward more traditional style BC's but not offensive. I personally like the BP/W because of the versatility. If I need an additional D-ring or pocket, I put one on. If I am diving a 3mm suit I switch to a aluminum BP and hit my buoyancy mark; for 7mm in the winter I dive the steel BP with a steel tank and pony bottle and require no additional weight. Your BP/W system can adjusted into any configuration you desire quickly and economically. I also dive a Balance, a back inflate BC, mostly with students and river diving.
:monkeydan

 

[k4man]

I agree, however, simple comparison....short and sweet for the basics of each system.