Halcyon aluminium versus stainless steel BP

[simonc]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice. My LDO recommeded that I chose the Halcyon Eclipse 30 lb wing with aluminium BP for tropical water diving in Asia.

I normally dive in a 3mm full-length wetsuit using a jacket style BCD and 8 lbs integrated weights. I hate this!!!!

I'm looking to improve my underwater trim and was recommended a BP/W setup from Halcyon. My LDO is pushing me to go aluminium BP as he feels my weight (87kg), height 6 foot 1 inch together with my 3mm wetsuit and the fact that I'm only diving saltwater = aluminum BP. I normally use 15 L aluminium tanks too. He said that I would not require any more trim weights etc if I went aluminium BP. I initially though a stainless steel BP would be the best for my purposes as I would have though the aluminium BP too bouyant at the end of a dive.

I only dive recreationally and do a lot of photography of reef life etc. For me the Halcyon is for simplisity and I do not want to carry a weight belt or trim weights etc. I'm seeking your opinion on whether to go aluminium or steel BP.

Any advice?????

Thanks in advance.

 

[mixdiver]

The al will req weights if you need 8kgs to get down you will still need almost that. An al Bp is what guys diving doubles use in the ocean. the steel BP will take about 5-6lbs off the weight you need to carry. Go stainless if you want to get rid of some trim weight.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice. My LDO recommeded that I chose the Halcyon Eclipse 30 lb wing with aluminium BP for tropical water diving in Asia.

I normally dive in a 3mm full-length wetsuit using a jacket style BCD and 8 lbs integrated weights. I hate this!!!!

I'm looking to improve my underwater trim and was recommended a BP/W setup from Halcyon. My LDO is pushing me to go aluminium BP as he feels my weight (87kg), height 6 foot 1 inch together with my 3mm wetsuit and the fact that I'm only diving saltwater = aluminum BP. I normally use 15 L aluminium tanks too. He said that I would not require any more trim weights etc if I went aluminium BP. I initially though a stainless steel BP would be the best for my purposes as I would have though the aluminium BP too bouyant at the end of a dive.

I only dive recreationally and do a lot of photography of reef life etc. For me the Halcyon is for simplisity and I do not want to carry a weight belt or trim weights etc. I'm seeking your opinion on whether to go aluminium or steel BP.

Any advice?????

Thanks in advance.

Don't forget that your current jacket BC is likely 3-5 lbs positive even when the bladder is empty. Empty the bladder and throw it in the pool, how much lead is needed just to sink the BC?

Lets assume you need 3 lbs to sink the BC. Current weighting is 8lbs.

8 - 3 = 5. SS backplate is 5-6 lbs. Al plate is ~2

If you go with a AL plate you will still some other weight, with the SS plate you will be potentially very slightly overweighted.

I'd go SS if travel weight is a none issue, and if I anticipated using a thicker exposure suit. I'd go AL if travel weight was key, and if I anticipated less exposure suit (dive skin)

Good luck,


Tobin

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

I'd go SS. I use my SS plate with a 3mm suit and need no other weight. My weighting requirements sound similar to yours. It is very nice having all the weight spread out over your back. Makes getting into a trim position trivial.

Cheers!

 

[SangP]

simonc,

In tropical waters, an Al or Kydex plate is fine, but why Halcyon?

Anyway, if you are using 8lbs now with a jacket, you might need minimal or even no weights when using a bp/w.

You really don't need a steel plate unless you are thinking of doing some dry suit dives as Tobin said.

SangP

 

[GreenDiverDown]

SS... if you don't want to use a belt or a can light.

A Halcyon plate, standard STA and camband buckles adds up to 7 to 8 pounds. How buoyant is your empty Al cylinder? 4 pounds? That leaves 3 to 4 pounds for you and your wetsuit. An Al plate and STA combo is going to be about 5 to 6 pounds... 4 of that belongs to your cylinder leaving only 1 to 2 pounds to offset you and your wetsuit.

Even IF you are a pound or two heavy with the SS plate, it's no big deal and, IMHO, it's better than having to put 1 or two pounds on a belt.

Then again, just get both plates. You'll need 'em eventually anyways!

 

[Cacia]

I have the SS eclipse backplate, wear a 3mm and lug a big camera. Pretty close to perfect. Plus the SS is shiny. make sure and get a ss spool to match it.

 

[Hank49]

How do you trim now? Do your feet sink? I dive warm water and with my former jacket bcd and 3mm suit, I used 6-8 lbs on a belt. My feet normally sank without some waggling of the fins. With the 6 lb SS plate, I use only 2 lbs if any and stay horizontal with no effort at all.

 

[simonc]

Thanks everyone for you honest opinions. Very much appreciated!!!!!!

I'm only going on what the LDS guys told me. He sells lots of Halcyon BPs and runs a very successful dive shop in Singapore. He told me that he sells 10:1 AI v SS backplates for tropical water diving. He takes groups diving all the time and they all use AI eclipse 30's. No other weights needed, not even trims. I told him I felt that was not possible given the physics.

(As Stephen Ash points out...An Al plate and STA combo is going to be about 5 to 6 pounds... 4 of that belongs to your cylinder leaving only 1 to 2 pounds to offset you and your wetsuit).

In the end AI might work, but I would definitely need to take some trip pouches on a trip just in case I was underweighted at the end of a dive.

Thanks heaps..........

 

[SangP]

simonc,

I didn't see that you were in Singapore lOL! If you want to test out a bp/w first, pm me your number and we can arrange a meetup.

Cheers,

SangP