Halycon BP SS or Alu

[maccajim]

Hiya,
I have finally decided on the Halycon Bp with 27lb Pioneer wing, Can anyone tell me if i should get the steel or Alu backplate. I will mostly be diving in sydney temperate water avg 18 to 21 celsius, with the odd trip to tropical waters.

Do u have to buy both Alu and SS for diving in different water temp and swap b/w them???

Any help appreciated

 

[Aquamaniac]

Have a go at the search button, it can be a bit of a pain to find things, but there has been alot of discussion on this issue.
Im sure you will find heaps of answers.

BTW, What Tank configuration are you diving?

Dave

 

[ckharlan66]

It depends on what kind of tanks you are using and your exposure protection.

If you are using steel you will probably be overwieghted with SS plate. But with AL tanks you will probably be OK with the SS.

Like Aquamaniac said there has been alot of discussion on this so you might find a more through answer or even, gasp, a differing opinion.

Chad

 

[Genesis]

and how much weight do you carry?

Here's a quick guide....

The SS BP + Harness will weigh ~6lbs and be -5 buoyant (the harness is close to neutral)

A "heavy" STA will be another 5lbs, and close enough to that negative not to matter. You thus have -10 in the BP + STA (if you use one - the STA is optional!)

If you need at least 6lbs of lead to dive now, the SS BP will allow you to take that off your belt. If you carry at least 10lbs, the STA will allow you to take that much off (with the SS BP) If you're diving a single tank, with the new Halcyon wing and plate, the STA is optional.

The AL BP + harness is about 2lbs and with the harness is roughly -1.

So the real question is how is your weighting now?

If you need the lead, the SS BP will let you take quite a bit off your belt. If you don't need the lead then the SS BP is unsuitable as it will cause you to be overweighted, which is not good.

 

[Ghostdiver]

I am facing the same decision myself. Here are some links to discussions I turned up.


http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13368&highlight=steel+aluminum+backplate

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14950&highlight=steel+aluminum+backplate

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18697&highlight=steel+aluminum+backplate

Personally, I am leaning towards Aluminim because I fly to most of my diving. However, I am a big guy and use 18lbs with a 3mil and a Stab Jacket so steel may potentially leave me with +- 12 lbs on my waist (probably less because cruddy rental stabs are likely a little positively boyant). So I may suck it up and drag steel around the globe.

 

[lucid]

I asked my LDS for the price of the SS Halcyon BP and Harness. I was floored by how expensive it is. Do yourself a favor. Ebay and get a BP even if its used. Think about what your buying. Its a bent piece of metal with a couple of d-rings and 5$ worth of webbing. It isn't worth $175-$200. Then get a Halcyon wing if you want.

 

[FredT]

lucid once bubbled...
Do yourself a favor. Ebay and get a BP even if its used. Think about what your buying. Its a bent piece of metal with a couple of d-rings and 5$ worth of webbing.

There are other options. PM or e-mail me for details.

FT

 

[Doof]

Excuse my ignorance, but what does STA stand for? I've managed to muddle my way through all of the other acronyms I've encountered on here, but I'm having trouble with this one.

 

[ericfine50]

STA = Single Tank Adapter

Allows you to use your BP and a smaller wing (27 or 36 lb.)
Eric

 

[Doof]

Oh, wait... is it Single Tank Adapter?