Dive-Rite BP

[scubasean]

Until recently, I dived the transpac II with a rec wing...and loved it.

My wife bought my the Dive Rite SS Backplate for XMAS, and I am now using it with the rec wings. Right now, I uise the cam bands from the transpac to secure single tanks to my BP. However, I also recently purchased a set of doubles which bolt on fairly quickly to the BP....

Nice setup...

 

[simbrooks]

I take it in SF that you dive dry and have plenty of total weight (SS plus ditchable, maybe steel tanks to offset some of that weight)? What kind of weight are you using to have the 51# lift of the rec wing?? I can see with doubles needing more lift, do you find that you every at the beginning of the dive need to inflate a great amount of the wing??

 

[OneBrightGator]

Got it, I understand now. A quick scan of the board will show you that lots of people like Apeks regs and the new DR Venture is a round design instead of a horseshoe design like the Zeagle wings, which is not preferred for a single tank wing.

Remember, a drysuit has more inherent buoyancy than a wetsuit and it's buoyancy will not fall below a certain amount, however it is more variable than a wetsuit. Someone with more experience in drysuit should probably take over from here, but without getting into the specifics the amount of buoyancy varies more with a drysuit, but you should always use it with the minimum amount of gas to be comfortable, therefore if you do have a wing failure it can provide substantial lift, with proper weighting you should not need anymore lift than 30 or so lbs.

My feeling is that you should have a minimal amount of ditchable weight, say 2 to 6 pounds, that will still give you enough positive buoyancy on the surface if you need to ditch it for an emergency, but will not make you shoot to the surface like a rocket if it accidently comes off underwater.

Ben

 

[scubasean]

I take it in SF that you dive dry and have plenty of total weight (SS plus ditchable, maybe steel tanks to offset some of that weight)? What kind of weight are you using to have the 51# lift of the rec wing?? I can see with doubles needing more lift, do you find that you every at the beginning of the dive need to inflate a great amount of the wing??

Not sure what you really mean...."steel tanks to offset some of that weight"?

Also not sure what you are asking when you say "What kind of weight are you using to have the 51# lift of the rec wing?" Are you asking how much weight I use? If so, I use 21 on my belt, with the 5lb SS backplate....I presume you are trying to reconcile why I use the rec wing...Although a wing may have a given lift rating, it doesn't mean you'll use it all, on each dive.

Haven't dived the doubles yet, but hope to do so in the next week or two (am waiting on an Apeks DS4 first stage from the UK.).

As for inflating a great amount of the wing, I only have to put enough air in it to provide the lift I need at any given depth. It is rarely completely full, with a single, even on the surface.

I dive dry with a 300 wt. fleece undersuit.

 

[fgray1]

Hey Simon
If your thinking of going cavern/cave sometime in the future.
Make sure the system you buy can adapt easily to side mount configuration
You may find as you get into the caves you may want to carry deco bottles or even go pure side mount instead of back gas. Make sure you ask before you spend all that money then find you have to make big changes to accomidate side mount. Side mount is nothing like doubles on your back.
Just something to think about.
Fred

 

[simbrooks]

Ben - I have heard good things about the Apeks regs (from posts) and also that the Zeagle regs are pretty much the same under a different name (or at least from what GDI and a few others have told me). As for drysuiting, as can be seen in Scubasean's response, the weight required is more, so a larger wing might be useful in the future - but i think what i have heard of the donuts are more advisable than the horseshoes for singles for sure.

Sean - i meant that the steel tanks would be more negative than AL and so you would carry less weight on your belt. So you have about 26# weight, so a 30# wing would not effectively carry that, so the next size up would be fine, and i guess if you are moving to doubles, again you need more lift. That is why i was questioning you about the wing size.

Fred, as for caving, i was thinking of the cavern course, but not going into full on caving for a good while if at all. So i am not sure side mount would be such an issue right now, but it wouldnt hurt to have a rig for rec diving (singles or doubles on back) and one for more tech diving - i might even save up some more money by then!

 

[fgray1]

Ben - I have heard good things about the Apeks regs (from posts) and also that the Zeagle regs are pretty much the same under a different name (or at least from what GDI and a few others have told me). As for drysuiting, as can be seen in Scubasean's response, the weight required is more, so a larger wing might be useful in the future - but i think what i have heard of the donuts are more advisable than the horseshoes for singles for sure.

Sean - i meant that the steel tanks would be more negative than AL and so you would carry less weight on your belt. So you have about 26# weight, so a 30# wing would not effectively carry that, so the next size up would be fine, and i guess if you are moving to doubles, again you need more lift. That is why i was questioning you about the wing size.

Fred, as for caving, i was thinking of the cavern course, but not going into full on caving for a good while if at all. So i am not sure side mount would be such an issue right now, but it wouldnt hurt to have a rig for rec diving (singles or doubles on back) and one for more tech diving - i might even save up some more money by then!

You can nothing better for yourself as far as improving your skills and diving attitude than take the cavern couse. But there are added exspenses.
Reels lights and so on. But let me tell you. it will build so much self confidence in your ability to handle and solve problems under water that you'll wonder why everyone doesn't take the course. Not only that but everything you learn is transferable to wreck diving as well as OW diving. Your SAC rate will improve and your understanding of just plan diving will be greater for it.
Well worth the money.
I haven't meet you personaly yet but from the questions you ask and the statements you make it sounds ot me as if you will be a great diver.
Just one mans opinion.
Fred

 

[simbrooks]

Thank Fred for the compliments, ask Walter how i dive, he was the last one! Alse Reefguy, but he couldnt really see me diving in 3in viz!! I am only trying to work out what is best for me, what works for others and to see if i can get some opinions from what i ask and read about. Maybe one day we will dive together! I do look forward to taking the cavern course, but after only 15 dives in 2 months of OW diving, i think it might be premature for me, other courses maybe, thinking of the PPB with GDI and we shall see from there.

Simon

 

[GDI]

Ben: i didnt mean that i thought i would be overweighted, just over-trimmed a little too much - nose heavy with all but 2# on my waist in freshwater (total of 8#). In saltwater i was thinking it would be to my benefit to have about 40% on my back and 60% on my belt, but 75% back 25% belt sounds a little too much. I have heard that cavers dont really bother carrying ditchable weight - most of it is in the form of the BP or tanks (main plus stages) - in that case extra weight wouldnt be advisable, but if you get in trouble, you could always ditch the spare tanks if you wanted to lose weight. I guess the reason i was thinking about ditchable weight comes from the OW training, whilst not advisable (last resort) at depth i would have thought even having some potential to remove would be better than having none. The other point as above is about where that weight (ditch or non) is distributed. As for the Zeagle/Dive-Rite(+Apeks) thing, i know i can get a good deal with either LDS, i am more "affiliated" with one and that is why i was still contemplating the Zeagle BP/Wings combos.

Chuck: I look forward to hearing what you think about the transpac w/trek. One day i will probably get into doubles, havent the money nor training to do anything really with them at the mo! Also i know i will need more lift in the future to offset the extra weight required for drysuiting up north - but that is in a while!

Fred: I didnt realise Rick (GDI) was that involved in it all, i just thought he knew the guy and had loads of gear from the range of diving he does. I will word up an email to him in the near future, i have a few weeks before i even get out to try one of these babies out - so more than enough time to get the background research done!! I feel bad as i still havent given him a definitive answer on his offer of instruction yet - nor the other two places i am considering (both LDS's that i am choosing over buying these items from) - what to build a good rapport up with at least one of these LDS's thru trips/instruction/sales whilst i am still around here - although the Dive-Rite/Apeks one i havent had much dealing with yet gave me a great deal without much haggling.

Decisions, decisions.... thanks for all the advice so far though, will keep pondering and trying to put something together.

Hey Simbrooks, Yes I'm very involved. I just got a Al BP for Fred. I do dive both. Mostly I wear the Zeagle. I have made dives with their delux and standard harnesses. You can mount a cylinder directly to either BP using standard tank bannds through the BP and wing. Contact me and I will be glad to talk to you about them.