Dive Rite BP: Stainless or Aluminum?

[deep_6]

Hi all, I would like to ask users of the DR Transplate BP system on the differences of the S/S and the aluminum plates.

Aside from the weight (Al being lighter) which would be a better choice and why.

Cost is not a consideration.

Thank you for your help fellow divers!

 

[will_tekkie]

Hi all, I would like to ask users of the DR Transplate BP system on the differences of the S/S and the aluminum plates.

Aside from the weight (Al being lighter) which would be a better choice and why.

Cost is not a consideration.

Thank you for your help fellow divers!

This is a good questions..i think it depends of your likes and dislikes...

i prefer aluminum because it´s ligher and hence easier to handle once the gear is dismantled...( i hate heavy gear) always considering single tank config...if you dive doubles using wetsuit...i think you must use a aluminium one with a weight belt...doubles steel tanks and SS BP is a potencial danger if a fail occurs in your BCD using a wetsuit. ( well ,if you are not a DIR diver you have the option to use a redundant or a double bladder wing).

If you dive using a drysuit..the choice is clear SS backplate will help you to save a lot of weight in your weight belt..SS BP is also more corrosion resistant..But as i said everything depends of you...for examples sometimes i use a SS backplate and a 100ft3 steel tank..this config allows me to dive without weight belt..which is a very confortable rig...and still being possible swim to surface in case i have a problem with the wing..

well these are just a couples of ideas..i hope this help...

 

[fgray1]

I have a back that hates me if I turn the wrong way so weight is a consideration. I usualy carry my weights to the waters edge and place the in the pockets just before i go in.
I dive with a single steel 112. I do alot of cave dives not long ones mind you. By the time I get the reels and lights and all the other gear on I weigh enough already. The hard part is getting to the water. So the less weight the better for me. I still need to add about 6 lbs if I use my 7mm wet suit. 5 mm I need around 3 lbs. If I had a ss plate I would need none but then I have to carry the added weight all the time. The aluminum gives me the opion of not carring it till I need it.
Fred

 

[JPBECK]

It all depends on where you live and what type of equipment you carry--Also how much wieght you carry to get down---

I think SS is better for me do to the fact that I live here in Southern Cal. where the water is cold--I wear a dry suit--I need 21lbs to get down-- So I Have my SS BP which is 6 lbs negative and the rest on my harness.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

As the others have said it's a weight required issue. In drysuit I'm SS, warmer waters, 3mm wetsuit AL bp all the way. Doubles with an SS, definately not without a redundant buoyancy of some kind.

 

[deep_6]

I now get the point. Most of you who posted wear SS with drysuits and AL on warm water dives. Thank you to will_tekkie, fgray1, JPBECK, and cd_in_SeaTac for the very informative posts.

Thank you.