Deaths due to Backplate/Wing or Rear Inflation BCDs

[peterbj7]

I have done many dives with a wing, and my experience is that generally they do tend to push you forwards when on the surface. It's managable, but it does happen. When I use a steel backplate the effect is reduced but not eliminated.

That said, I am in no doubt that most people on most dives are better off with a jacket-style BC. More comfortable and more predictable. That's what I use for all my recreational diving. I use a wing with manifolded doubles, but rarely a backplate as I'm not keen on them, when I need the facility.

I know that the reason some people use a wing, and usually nowadays also a backplate, is because they think it makes them appear to be more experienced divers. When I see some of these people in the water it makes me laugh, the vanity of it all.

 

[sea nmf]

I have a SS plate. I have never felt pushed forward. I am super comfortable on the surface.

Did you friend try yours out? Do you feel like you are being pushed forward?

 

[24940]

I know that the reason some people use a wing, and usually nowadays also a backplate, is because they think it makes them appear to be more experienced divers. When I see some of these people in the water it makes me laugh, the vanity of it all.

ehm.... How does it make them look more experienced?

 

[ektess1]

My first BC was in the late 70s. It was a jacket style. It worked fine. Since I use the minimum amount of weight needed, I also use very little air in the BC. Now, with a back inflated BC, nothing has changed. Neutral bouyancy requires little or no air. Trim is not a problem, floating on the surface is easy. If I inflated the BC until the relief valve vent, it tries to push me face down. However, that much air is never needed to be comfortable on the surface.

There is a hybred on the market. Mostly back inflated with a small amount of inflation low in front. I have never tried it myself, but it may be an option.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

I have done many dives with a wing, and my experience is that generally they do tend to push you forwards when on the surface. It's managable, but it does happen. When I use a steel backplate the effect is reduced but not eliminated.

That said, I am in no doubt that most people on most dives are better off with a jacket-style BC. More comfortable and more predictable. That's what I use for all my recreational diving. I use a wing with manifolded doubles, but rarely a backplate as I'm not keen on them, when I need the facility.

I know that the reason some people use a wing, and usually nowadays also a backplate, is because they think it makes them appear to be more experienced divers. When I see some of these people in the water it makes me laugh, the vanity of it all.

. The acceptance of BP/Ws may divide along lines of warm and cold water. Here on Southern California I would say that the majority of active divers are using BP/Ws. And I would also say they are common up and down the Pacific Coast but we all have relatively cold water and the thermal protection to go with it. The weighting and trim characteristics of the BP are a real plus in that case. That is not vanity. They simply work better for the diving we do. Also no one that I know of has had any issues with being pushed face forward so it is safe to assume this is not an inherent characteristic of a BP/W.

But BP/Ws do seem to be less common in warm water. And honestly I think they offer relatively less advantage when not much thermal protection is used. The face forward issue is usually caused by over inflating the buoyancy cell. So you can simply not do that, or fix that by design by getting a BP/W without excess buoyant capacity. That is usually ~30 pounds for a single tank setup. So by either choice of setup or technique this problem can be overcome.

 

[Thalassamania]

In answer to the op ... if memory serves there were several fatalities on the west coast in the 1970s and early 1980s where At Packs and Scuba Pro back inflation systems were, at least, contributing factors. At least one of the incidents involved a diver's inability to release the lead shot housed in the back of the device.

That said, I don't think that modern BP/Ws should be be looked at in the same light, they are very different devices and are most often used with dry suits while all those early incidents were (I believe) wet suited divers.

 

[BKP]

I know that the reason some people use a wing, and usually nowadays also a backplate, is because they think it makes them appear to be more experienced divers. When I see some of these people in the water it makes me laugh, the vanity of it all.

Damn... busted...

Well... I guess I can get rid of the wing, now that the cat's out of the bag, and go back to my horsie tube and floaties...

 

[spectrum]

Hi All,

My friend is in the process of picking out his first BC. I have a backplate/harness/wing that I love so I am of course suggesting that. He is very concerned about floating face down if he becomes unconscious. So two questions:

Do any of you know of deaths directly related to backplate/wings or rear inflation jacket style BCs?

How much more protection does a jacket style BC really give you in terms of drowning on the surface?

Thanks all,
Sam

I'm a big fan of "plan for the worst and hope for the best". I an curious how comfortable your friend is on/in the water?

 

[peterbj7]

"Backplate" and "wing" are two separate issues and need not be combined. I've probably done four dives with wing and WITHOUT backplate for every one with wing AND backplate. I use a backplate if I have a lot of junk behind me, otherwise I prefer a softback like a DiveRite Transpac.

Why the acronym BP/W?

 

[swinchen]

Lets see, there were a few questions in here... I will try to hit them all.

I do not feel pushed forward in the water much at all. In fact I much prefer the snug fitting BP/W, laying back int the water to the loose and sloppy feel of the over padded, bulky, too-many-strap jackets. Although getting into a BP seems harder for me out of the water, slipping it off is really easy. I couldn't be happier with it. At first the short inflater hose seemed way too short, and no pull dump really got to me... but I very very quickly got used to it.

My friend and I went to the pool yesterday and he tried my backplate... (luckily we are the same size... if I had to adjust it I might not have let him) He noticed a slight forward pushing. Basically what happened is he read some posts about the face down issue and got heavily influenced by them. Without the experience of owning one, I can see how the thought of being pushed face down would be scary.

He is very comfortable in the water and has taken to diving very quickly. He used to be on the swim team in high school so he is no stranger to the water. I don't think he is nervous, just trying to make cautious decisions and I can't really fault him for that.

I almost think I have him convinced on it. The best part is that he lets me pick out his gear that he is going to buy. Odd I know... he doesn't realize that is half the fun. Guess he will be getting an Oxycheq Mach V Sig, with either a OMS or Deep Sea Supply backplate

ooooo... I don't know if I want to make myself jealous.