Finally got the chance to try a BP/Wings

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ZoCrowes255

ZoCrowes255

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Scuba Instructor
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Last Sunday I finally had the opportunity to try a BP/Wings setup. Before I get into that here is a quick background.

I started diving eight years ago with the Scubapro Classic style BCs and I think they are GREAT BCs. Extremely well made and never had a problem with them. Still have one as a backup. About 5 months ago I decided to try something different and purchased the Scubapro Knighthawk (weight integrated/rear-inflate) and I LOVE it. A very comfortable BC. Well. I constantly read about how great the BP/Wings setup is and one of our DM candidate dives one and decided to give his a try on Sunday.

The two rigs I used sunday:

Scubapro Knighthawk with AIR II
Scubapro MK25/S600
UWATEC AIR Z Nitrox
XCEL 5/4/3mm wetsuit and 8 pounds on the integrated weight (I wear two extra pounds to hand off to students)

&

Halcyon SS BP with 27# Wing
Scubapro MK16 G250/R190
Cochran Pressure gauge clipped off on left hip D-ring
Genesis ReACT CPU
XCEL 5/4/3mm
No ditchable weight

I liked the BP/Wing setup. It felt nice and "solid." I liked the simplicity of it. I REALLY liked the short inflator hose on the Halcyon wing (but not as much as I like my AIR II.) However the webbing felt quite stiff across my shoulders and I found that to be very uncomfortable. We only did a quick setup so maybe with a little tweaking it would have been more comfortable to me.

Underwater I did not notice much difference between the Knighthawk in terms of buoyancy characteristics. It was easy to use and very stable but not the end all be all of buoyancy compensator systems that many make it out to be.

Nevertheless it was still a VERY good system and I would not discourage anyone from purchasing one. Eventually I will pick up one for myself since I plan on getting into doubles later on in my diving career but at the moment I do not see the need for the type of diving that I do.
 
You mention that it is not very comfortable at your should part. Do you feel that way also when you are under the water?
 
nomoreno once bubbled...
You mention that it is not very comfortable at your should part. Do you feel that way also when you are under the water?
Click to expand...

It was not profoundly so but I was aware of the webbing. I think it's really all a matter of what you are used to. I am used to the Knighthawk so I barely notice it when it's on. The BP was just different so I think I was a little more "aware" of it.
 
I am shopping for my first back inflate system and am leaning towards a BP&W using an Oxycheq wing with heavy back plate and light STA.

If I go with a non component back inflate set up, I was considering the Knighthawk but was concerned about the single tank strap and the bungees.

1. What were the differences on the surface? Does either system tend to face plant you in the water?

2. Is the single tank strap on the Nighthawk as secure as the double tank strap on the BP&W and did you use an STA on the BP&W?

4. Is the single tank strap on the Nighthawk easy to adjust when trying to tighten the cam bands grip on the tank? I had heard that you have to remove the tank to adjust the cam band to a tighter setting. Is this true?

5. Do you find the Nighthawk hard to orally inflate fully due to the bungee straps? I noticed the bungee straps are not adjustable.

6. Did you check to see if you could could reach your tank valve as easily with both systems while diving? This might be more of an issue if you used an STA on the BP&W and which one was used. Oxycheq makes a lower profile STA that I have been considering.
 
Do the bungees on the nighthawk wing cause the dump valve to exhaust at different rates?

I would think that there would be a faster exhaust rate as the wing gets fuller due to the pressure increase caused by the bungees. I would expect this to be confusing when you want to dump air causing you to adjust your exhaust release time to compensate for the air capacity and resulting back pressure held in your wing.
 
deepdiverbc once bubbled...
I am shopping for my first back inflate system and am leaning towards a BP&W using an Oxycheq wing with heavy back plate and light STA.

If I go with a non component back inflate set up, I was considering the Knighthawk but was concerned about the single tank strap and the bungees.

1. What were the differences on the surface? Does either system tend to face plant you in the water?

2. Is the single tank strap on the Nighthawk as secure as the double tank strap on the BP&W and did you use an STA on the BP&W?

4. Is the single tank strap on the Nighthawk easy to adjust when trying to tighten the cam bands grip on the tank? I had heard that you have to remove the tank to adjust the cam band to a tighter setting. Is this true?

5. Do you find the Nighthawk hard to orally inflate fully due to the bungee straps? I noticed the bungee straps are not adjustable.

6. Did you check to see if you could could reach your tank valve as easily with both systems while diving? This might be more of an issue if you used an STA on the BP&W and which one was used. Oxycheq makes a lower profile STA that I have been considering.
Click to expand...

1) I have never had a problem with the Knighthawk planting me face first in the water and I did not have that problem with the BP/Wing either. However both systems you cannot inflate either all the way or it will tend to put you in a face first position. However the Knighthawk has a larger lift capacity than the wing I used (46# compared to 27#) so you do not have to inflate it as much.

2)I did not use an STA. The Scubapro single tank band is EXTREMELY secure. I've been using Scubapro BC's since I started diving in 96 and have never lost a tank or had one come loose. I liked the Halcyon system too.

3) On the older Scubapro tank bands you did have to remove the tank band to adjust for tank size. However Scubapro JUST came out with a new tank band where you can adjust the band on the cylinder. It's just as secure as the old one but easier to adjust. As soon as we got them in stock I put it on both my Classic and my Knighthawk.

4) I've been using the Knighthawk for about 5 months now and have never had a problem with oral inflation (and I do it a lot both at depth and on the surface instead of using the power inflator.) I wish it had a smaller, non bungeed wing but it's not too big of a deal.

5) I did not try to reach the tank valve on the Halcyon so I can't speak on that. It's not a problem for me on the Knighthawk.

The guy who uses the BP is a Divemaster candidate so I plan to use his rig a few more times just so I can get a better feel for it.
 
deepdiverbc once bubbled...
Do the bungees on the nighthawk wing cause the dump valve to exhaust at different rates?

I would think that there would be a faster exhaust rate as the wing gets fuller due to the pressure increase caused by the bungees. I would expect this to be confusing when you want to dump air causing you to adjust your exhaust release time to compensate for the air capacity and resulting back pressure held in your wing.
Click to expand...

When the wings are inflated at the surface the bungees do tend to cause the wing to deflate quicker. At depth when the wing is only partially full it is not really a factor.
 
ZoCrowes255 once bubbled...


It was not profoundly so but I was aware of the webbing. I think it's really all a matter of what you are used to. I am used to the Knighthawk so I barely notice it when it's on. The BP was just different so I think I was a little more "aware" of it.
Click to expand...

I routinely wear my double LP-95s, SS plate and 10lb V-weight with just a light shirt on, on land. If properly adjusted and broken in, the straps should not chaff or hurt.

I also dove a Propak, then Classic for a number of years and I wouldn't go back.

Some of the questions in this thread have been...enlightening.

Good writeup.

MD
 
MechDiver once bubbled...


I routinely wear my double LP-95s, SS plate and 10lb V-weight with just a light shirt on, on land. If properly adjusted and broken in, the straps should not chaff or hurt.

I also dove a Propak, then Classic for a number of years and I wouldn't go back.

Some of the questions in this thread have been...enlightening.

Good writeup.

MD
Click to expand...
We did not take to long to do a good setup I think with a bit of time taken on it I could have gotten a better fit.

The only reason I can see myself switching out of the Knighthawk at this is if it starts to crap out on me. It's served me well and I am extremely comfortable in it.

I did like the BP/Wings setup and I would not discourage anyone from getting it
 
The ScubaPro tank straps are really nice. I think i remember reading here about one or two people who get replacement tank straps from a ScubaPro dealer and then use them with their BP/Wings.

True, you did used to have to remove the tank to adjust, but once it's adjusted to a particular tank diameter, they seem to stay put fairly well.
 
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