General question about back-inflated BCs

[Aquaphile]

Hi All,
I've been using a jacket-style BC for the last 10 years. I now would like to get a bit more streamlined. I asked an instructor friend of mine about which BC she uses. She uses and loves a back-inflated BC.
My concern is about putting my fins on while in the water. When I beach dive, I'll walk into the water, swim out past the surf zone, and then put my fins on. I'm worried that having all the lift in the back will roll me onto my face once I get a little past vertical and forward to reach my feet. My friend said she never had that problem.
I'd like to hear other opinions and suggestions.

Thanks very much!

-Karen

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Its not been a problem for me.

The face down thing is over-hyped unless you insist on poor placement of integrated weights (all in front) and have an over-sized wing that is fully inflated.

FYI: A set of spring staps will make donning of your fins much easier regardless of what type of BC you have.

 

[fppf]

I have a 51 lbs rec wing which I also used in HI with a single.
Even with it fully inflated I just had to lean a very little bit and it was not a problem.
I too thought this was going to be a big issue, I now also think its way over hyped.

 

[Arizona]

Hi Karen,

Mine (Knighthawk) has trim pockets in the back as do many others. This helps offset rolling fwd. Anyway you can borrow your friends to give it a go?

 

[spectrum]

Karen,

You're anticipating the physics correctly. The good news is that they are easily managed as others have described.

If you have a near empty cylinder, your weight biased to the front and you pump the wing up then yes, it will plant your face in the water.

The potential streamlining may be debatable but if you feel like a new BC what the heck!

Pete

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi All,
I've been using a jacket-style BC for the last 10 years. I now would like to get a bit more streamlined. I asked an instructor friend of mine about which BC she uses. She uses and loves a back-inflated BC.
My concern is about putting my fins on while in the water. When I beach dive, I'll walk into the water, swim out past the surf zone, and then put my fins on. I'm worried that having all the lift in the back will roll me onto my face once I get a little past vertical and forward to reach my feet. My friend said she never had that problem.
I'd like to hear other opinions and suggestions.

Thanks very much!

-Karen

As others had said the face plate problem is WAY over stated.

In addition why do you care? Put your reg in and then put your fins on.

When I walk through the surf with doubles on I'm often negative by ~20 lbs. I have to have a bit of gas in my wing (BP&W is a type of back inflate) to stay at the surface.

I always end up with my face under water as I (struggle) to reach my damn feet

As long as I can breath it doesn't really matter much.

Love those spring straps.

Tobin

 

[fppf]

Tobin, if ya slim down the front side its easier to reach your feet
Just kidding with ya

 

[herman]

Actually, I prefer it roll me face forward when putting on my fins. I do the same as you but when I get ready to put my fins on, I put my reg in and go face down, pulling my knee up, grabbing my ankle and putting on my fin then do the other one. It's so much easier than trying to keep upright and I can easily see what I am doing. The face forward thing does get overblown but in this case, if anything it's a help not a problem. And another vote for spring straps, best thing in dive gear since the reg.

 

[D_B]

... swim out past the surf zone, then put your fins on?

I always have my reg in my mouth going out (even if not breathing from it) and put my fins on as soon as waters deep enough to float me (-chest) ... reg in & face down just works faster for me
As others have said, it's not much of an issue, and unless you have the BC all the way full, only just noticable

 

[Web Monkey]

Hi All,
I've been using a jacket-style BC for the last 10 years. I now would like to get a bit more streamlined. I asked an instructor friend of mine about which BC she uses. She uses and loves a back-inflated BC.
My concern is about putting my fins on while in the water. When I beach dive, I'll walk into the water, swim out past the surf zone, and then put my fins on. I'm worried that having all the lift in the back will roll me onto my face once I get a little past vertical and forward to reach my feet. My friend said she never had that

A back inflate will do nothing to help your streamlining. All it does is trade easier horizontal stability for more difficult stability in other positions.

If you're having trouble being horizontal, I'd suggest working on your weighting and trim with your current BC, since it's possible to be perfectly horizontal with what you already have.

Terry