First BP/W. Need advice. Big guy.

[Dpahlman]

I've been doing a lot of research and I'm beginning to agree that a BP/W setup may be the best bet for me. I'm 6'2" , 300lbs. 44" waist and a 54" chest. I carry most of my weight in my chest, back, and arms.

I like what I've read about the DSS rigs, but I'm not opposed to anything at the moment. I mainly dive warm rec, but hoping to broaden over the next couple of years.


Any advice?

Dave

 

[kelemvor]

BP/W is pretty much infinitely adjustable. They're also a scuaboard darling. I dive bp/w for warm dives in Florida. I switch to sidemount for more frigid 72f dives.

 

[decompression]

Hey Dave, we are very similar in measurements. I've used a lot of BP's, generally not a lot of difference. When they are fitted they are great. I have had a Large plate by DSS and if its in your budget, it's the way to go for bigger sizes. If you only want one plate, the large SS plate is a great start. It'll add lead to your back for cold water, neutral an AL80 when warm water diving and a solid plate for doubles/tech diving. I hope that helps.


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---------- Post added May 31st, 2015 at 08:19 PM ----------

BP/W is pretty much infinitely adjustable. They're also a scuaboard darling. I dive bp/w for warm dives in Florida. I switch to sidemount for more frigid 72f dives.

Hee Hee......72f frigid.....that's funny.....


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[tbone1004]

What these guys have said. DSS has a large plate which is the same length as standard, but a bit wider so it is more comfortable for wider people. $500 for the singles set is actually quite reasonable for a BCD, so I'd look hard into that.

 

[victorzamora]

Hee Hee......72f frigid.....that's funny.....

Right??? The Marianna area has caves that are 68F....THAT is frigid!! . I even had a deco stop at 66F.....my regs were freezing up and everything!!

Jokes aside, one of the many perks of a BPW is that they're practically infinitely adjustable. tbone and I are both big guys as well (6'4" and 6'6" and neither of us "skinny") and nothing fits as well. Spend up to the DSS "Large" plate....and call Tobin at DSS to determine what material you need it out of.

 

[tbone1004]

I have the long plate fwiw, but the length was more important than the width for me. I'm not big enough around to need the large one. Best solution is to talk to Tobin.

 

[buddhasummer]

Right??? The Marianna area has caves that are 68F....THAT is frigid!! . I even had a deco stop at 66F.....my regs were freezing up and everything!!

Jokes aside, one of the many perks of a BPW is that they're practically infinitely adjustable. tbone and I are both big guys as well (6'4" and 6'6" and neither of us "skinny") and nothing fits as well. Spend up to the DSS "Large" plate....and call Tobin at DSS to determine what material you need it out of.

68f? That's almost tropical for me, over winter my local drops as low 52. I guess it's all relative. Started out with a BZ200, woefully inadequate, moved into a heated BZ400, comfortable but not as toasty as I'd hoped. Guess cold is cold.

Back to topic...

 

[tbone1004]

cave humor buddha, they stay 68-72 year round, so we get picked on if we head down there in the winter to escape the cold water. That said I was diving last week and it was low 50's locally, and in November we had a low of 48, so there's that....

To the OP, when you're looking at the DSS rigs, depending on how much of your weight is bioprene and how much lead/exposure protection you are wearing, consider investing in the bolt on weight plates that Tobin offers. They aren't cheap, but with the plate itself at 5.8lbs, the weight plates add another 8.1, so you're up to 14lbs total ballast removed from your weight belt for local diving and you can remove the plates for travel.

 

[buddhasummer]

cave humor buddha, they stay 68-72 year round, so we get picked on if we head down there in the winter to escape the cold water. That said I was diving last week and it was low 50's locally, and in November we had a low of 48, so there's that....

To the OP, when you're looking at the DSS rigs, depending on how much of your weight is bioprene and how much lead/exposure protection you are wearing, consider investing in the bolt on weight plates that Tobin offers. They aren't cheap, but with the plate itself at 5.8lbs, the weight plates add another 8.1, so you're up to 14lbs total ballast removed from your weight belt for local diving and you can remove the plates for travel.

Cheers, missed that. Didn't realize caves were so warm. For some reason, no idea why, I imagined they'd be freezing cold.

 

[tbone1004]

Florida caves are nice and consistently refreshing. Ginnie/Peacock et all fluctuate between 70 and 72, Jackson Blue et al fluctuate between 68/70. The 66 he saw in deco was in a pretty big chamber with a lot of pond water mixing in so there was a legitimate thermocline, but the cave is relatively low flow so the water wasn't pushing out. They had a chilly winter this year.... That is obviously Florida only, other locations are different, but the Florida caves are nice and refreshing. Not warm by any means, which is why the jokes about cooling off come up, the ocean waters get much warmer than the caves in the summer, but consistent is nice. Only part that sucks is when you dress for 70* cave water, then have a boat ride out in the dark when it is pushing freezing, then you have a bit of a problem on your hands. Little nippy on that boat ride home