first time using bp/wing - need tips

[mania]

OK
Saturday my friends gave me a new Pioneer 36lb and steel bp. So yesterday I tried it in the pool. Honestly - it was a sort of nightmare. I thought I did all the straps properly - nope - they were way too long, and everything was swinging to the sides.
Second thing – that was my mistake but I put tank much too high. Third - was difficult to find out how sensitive the inflator is - and because I have a steel plate plus 15l steel tank (empty - 15 kilos) so I was over weighted. In one moment I added a bit too much air and ended up in the surface (the pool is 4 meters deep). Or the opposite - I landed at the bottom.
Another thing - when I was trying to deflate the wing nothing was happening - the air didn't come out.
For the first 40 minutes I really had buoyancy problems - not yet completely solved . Another thing - when I tried to stay motionless my head was going down.
Till yesterday I was diving with the traditional BCD and didn't have problems neither with buoyancy nor with the trim.
So I'm looking for any tips.
And please don't laugh at me - I was already laughing yesterday because I must have looked like a total disaster.
And the final question – how long will it take to learn this thing???
Mania

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

OK
Saturday my friends gave me a new Pioneer 36lb and steel bp. So yesterday I tried it in the pool. Honestly - it was a sort of nightmare. I thought I did all the straps properly - nope - they were way too long, and everything was swinging to the sides.
Second thing – that was my mistake but I put tank much too high. Third - was difficult to find out how sensitive the inflator is - and because I have a steel plate plus 15l steel tank (empty - 15 kilos) so I was over weighted. In one moment I added a bit too much air and ended up in the surface (the pool is 4 meters deep). Or the opposite - I landed at the bottom.
Another thing - when I was trying to deflate the wing nothing was happening - the air didn't come out.
For the first 40 minutes I really had buoyancy problems - not yet completely solved . Another thing - when I tried to stay motionless my head was going down.
Till yesterday I was diving with the traditional BCD and didn't have problems neither with buoyancy nor with the trim.
So I'm looking for any tips.
And please don't laugh at me - I was already laughing yesterday because I must have looked like a total disaster.
And the final question – how long will it take to learn this thing???
Mania

If you are using a one-piece harness, you must adjust it for the exposure suit you're using. For cold-water divers this typically means a drysuit/undergarment in open water and a 3 mm suit in the pool. Therefore, the straps must be shortened for pool work. This is easily achieved by shortening the shoulder straps where they wrap through the lower slots in the plate.

Your "head down" issue can be resolved by placing your cylinder lower on the backplate, or by raising your wing. The wing ... and possibly the backplate ... have multiple sets of holes that allow you to move the relative position of the wing and backplate up or down to suit your personal trim requirements (this will also vary from one size cylinder to the other).

When finding the optimal position for wing and cylinder, it is important to understand the basic concepts of Center of Gravity/Center of Buoyancy. Once you do, it makes it easier to understand how the relationship between wing position and cylinder position affect your trim.

Finally ... give it a few dives and play with it. It usually takes some adjusting to get the trim exactly where it's right for you ... and it really is an individual thing.

Best of luck with the new gear. You'll love it once you get it dialed in ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[jagfish]

Yikes
Since I know you are a good diver, you can probably sorty a lot of this out yourself just by diving a dozen times or so. For your weighting with current exposure protection, if you are still that heavy in salt water, you may need to go to an aluminum plate, which will be about 4 pounds less.

I found it difficult to dump air horzontally at first as well. You have to rotate right a bit and kick your butt up in the air a little. Then pull the left rear dump and squeeze with elbow at the same time.

Trim (head up or down) is a real issue for me with new configurations. Foot heavy is an easier situation to deal with. In that case, you can just put a kilo on your top tank band. But foot light can be tougher. The long steel tank is contributing. Going to the lighter AL plate may help, since it will take weight off your upper torso...

Best of luck...

JAG

 

[matt_unique]

OK
Saturday my friends gave me a new Pioneer 36lb and steel bp. So yesterday I tried it in the pool. Honestly - it was a sort of nightmare. I thought I did all the straps properly - nope - they were way too long, and everything was swinging to the sides.
Second thing – that was my mistake but I put tank much too high. Third - was difficult to find out how sensitive the inflator is - and because I have a steel plate plus 15l steel tank (empty - 15 kilos) so I was over weighted. In one moment I added a bit too much air and ended up in the surface (the pool is 4 meters deep). Or the opposite - I landed at the bottom.
Another thing - when I was trying to deflate the wing nothing was happening - the air didn't come out.
For the first 40 minutes I really had buoyancy problems - not yet completely solved . Another thing - when I tried to stay motionless my head was going down.
Till yesterday I was diving with the traditional BCD and didn't have problems neither with buoyancy nor with the trim.
So I'm looking for any tips.
And please don't laugh at me - I was already laughing yesterday because I must have looked like a total disaster.
And the final question – how long will it take to learn this thing???
Mania

I did not follow, what was swinging to the sides? If you're talking about excess harness length you just need to cut and singe (melt the ends slightly so they don't fray). If you're talking about the tank swinging to the left you would need to adjust (tighten) the harness against your body.

Air in your wing wants to rise up as you know. If your inflator/deflator hose is on the left lean to your right to have the vent at the highest point.

If you are diving with an alum tank you need to be overweighted upon initial descent to be properly weighted at the end of the dive.

If you get horizontal, stop all motion (less breathing), and still roll forward; you need to trim weight to your lower body. This may be resolved by lowering the tank relative to the position of the wing or by using ankle weights. Your gear setup or body type may be such that you tend to be top heavy in the water. I am bottom heavy for example, so even with my tanks raised high on my BP relative to my wing and no ankle weights I settle with a head high position.

Good luck. My first time in a BP/W was an eye opener as well.

--Matt

 

[MSilvia]

You might also try extending your legs more than you're used to, especially if you use a frog or modified frog kick. That alone can shift your center of balance. If you're overweighted with no belt, you might want to consider an aluminium plate too.

 

[mania]

Because for the time being I only practice in the pool - it's really cold out here - so I did the harness according to my wetsuit which I use in the pool. But it is too long - that's one thing I know. As the trim - my bp (halcyon one) has only two holes so I can't move the wing ((((
I'll try to lower the tank as much as it's possible on Thursday and will let you know whether it's any better. As I go to the pool twice a week I do hope till the spring I'll be OK with all this.
If not - well I still have my jacket so I take use it

Mania

 

[WJL]

Adjusting the fit of a harness can be a bit of a challenge if you've never done it before. If there is anyone near you who has gone through a GUE course they probably can give you some good advice. There is a detailed explanation of how to adjust a harness here.

 

[mania]

Bill, thanks a lot. When i was doing it for the first time there was my friend IANTD Instructor and he did DIR F. But thanks for the link - it's great for a newbe as I am.

Mania

 

[RICHinNC]

I just love my adjustable harness on my bp and wing...not for all...but works for me.

 

[Mako Mark]

mania,

put on bp/wing, adjust harness.... go diving..