Had enough from jacket...

[RJP]

I can honestly tell you the following: IF (and with practice it isn't an issue) but IF you have trouble removing a HOG harness either from yourself or from an impaired diver, simply take your shears and cut it off!

Diving in Curacao a few months back and the DM told my insta-buddy to take note of the fact that I was diving a "non-standard configuration" as he referenced my BP/W, etc. They proceeded to raise the concern that if there was a problem they couldn't get me out of my one-piece harness without cutting it.

Me: So?

He: I don't have a knife. (And I'm diving a "non-standard" configuration?)

Me: I have three cutting devices: here, here, and here. If I have a problem, feel free to use any of them to cut me out of my gear.

He: How will I know if the problem is serious enough to cut you out of your gear?

Me: Simply ask me if you should cut me out of my gear. If I don't answer - START CUTTING! If I tell you to get your ****ing hands off my gear, I'm fine.

 

[bryanmc57]

He: How will I know if the problem is serious enough to cut you out of your gear?

Me: Simply ask me if you should cut me out of my gear. If I don't answer - START CUTTING! If I tell you to get your ****ing hands off my gear, I'm fine.

You owe me a keyboard LOL

 

[maged_mmh]

thanks all for your constructive feedback; would really appreciate opinions about the OxyCheq rig mentioned before...

 

[Colliam7]

Tobin has provided (as always) excellent information and advice. As many posters have mentioned, the whole idea of a BP/W is 'simple', reliable, streamlined bouyancy. Unnecessary padding, dumps, D-rings, etc. may tend to compromise the quest for simplicity. For what it is worth, I find having thigh pockets on my exposure suit is far preferable to using the pockets on my jacket (pool) BC.

as for now, here is the setup that I found to be "appealing" to me:
1. OxyCheq Ultra Lite Back Plate reviews and discounts, OxyCheq

2. OxyCheq Mach V Extreme Series Wing reviews and discounts, OxyCheq

would really appreciate opinions about the OxyCheq rig mentioned before...

Oxycheq equipment is well made, very durable (one of my wings is an Oxycheq Signature 50#, and I am very pleased); many users praise the Mach V extreme. I have no personal experience with, or awareness of other user experience with, the Ultra Lite BP. Out of curiosity, why do you find these items particularly 'appealing'? Not suggesting they should not be, just trying to better understand you individual preferences.

 

[maged_mmh]

Mainly for weight issues while traveling, and inter-changeability with other configurations and/or brands.

 

[halocline]

The ultra light plate is not really a plate, it's made out of fabric and basically provides attachment points for the harness, wing, and cam bands. I've never dove with one, but a friend has and he kind of likes it. It's not going to be like a full size metal plate in terms of stability and weight distribution.

If you need 6lbs or more of weight, it's very tough to beat a steel plate. Try to evaluate gear and make choices based primarily on it's performance underwater, not how it fits into luggage.

 

[bdshort]

There are a couple good threads in the OxyCheq forum about the UltraLight plate. I have one, but have yet to use it in the ocean. I've tested it the pool though, and it felt very stable with both steel and aluminum tanks. I'm using a separate soft STA since I have an older Mach V wing that supposedly needs an STA. It was purchased solely for warm water diving in a 3mm wetsuit where I'm not going to need the extra weight of a steel plate.

 

[realdiver7]

I highly recommend the Oxycheq BP with Mach V 30 lb. wing and single piece HOG harness. It's truly one of the best diving investments I've ever made, and several of my students and a family member use the same setup. It doesn't get any better in my humble opinion.

 

[maged_mmh]

The ultra light plate is not really a plate,

my understanding is that it is like the older "plastic" plates

If you need 6lbs or more of weight, it's very tough to beat a steel plate. Try to evaluate gear and make choices based primarily on it's performance underwater, not how it fits into luggage.

what's wrong with weight belts? (even my present jacket has weight integration - i never used it!) BTW, I usually use 12lbs.

There are a couple good threads in the OxyCheq forum about the UltraLight plate. I have one, but have yet to use it in the ocean. I've tested it the pool though, and it felt very stable with both steel and aluminum tanks. I'm using a separate soft STA since I have an older Mach V wing that supposedly needs an STA. It was purchased solely for warm water diving in a 3mm wetsuit where I'm not going to need the extra weight of a steel plate.

yeah, i've followed them, very informative, even for how to setup the rig.
but r u sure that you need the STA for securing the wing; their website says any mach V wing will attach directly with cam bands going through its slots, does yours has these slots?

I highly recommend the Oxycheq BP with Mach V 30 lb. wing and single piece HOG harness. It's truly one of the best diving investments I've ever made, and several of my students and a family member use the same setup. It doesn't get any better in my humble opinion.

BP= conventional SS BP?? which wing (30lbs) signature or extreme??

 

[divestoclimb]

what's wrong with weight belts? (even my present jacket has weight integration - i never used it!) BTW, I usually use 12lbs.

I really like weight belts because they're the most streamlined way to wear weight around the waist area, but they don't work well with a crotch strap unless you don't want your weight to be ditchable (a decision that must be made carefully...). To get proper trim you may also need to find a way to wear weight further up your body and a steel plate is a good way to do that. It would be a pain to fly with one though.

yeah, i've followed them, very informative, even for how to setup the rig.
but r u sure that you need the STA for securing the wing; their website says any mach V wing will attach directly with cam bands going through its slots, does yours has these slots?

I don't know anything about the BP/W in question but although many come with the cam slots that doesn't mean that they will keep the tank in place. It can be very difficult to keep the tank from yawing on your back without a STA (there are wings specifically designed to correct this though).