help buying my first BC

[eelnoraa]

I got OW certified and start diving now. I am looking to buy my first BC. I want to do it right the first time. I am currently looking at Dive Rite TransPac and Dive Rite TranPlate + SS backplate. Their price are the same at DiveRiteExpress. So I need your help to choose one.

here is what I am diving and what I can see myself diving in near future:

1. recreation dive
2. single tank mostly, I don't plan to dive double, but may happen if situation called for
3. will get AOW in near future, and very like more advance diving cert
nitriox
4. I will probably dive mostly in N. Ca, so cold water, but I can definitely see myself dive in tropical travel destination quite a bit.

here are my questions:

1. I am leaning toward the Pac for comfort (in water and out of water), easily of packing for travel, I know the differences between the Pac and the Plate is mainly soft backplate vs hard backplate. What is the advantage of hard backplate (for my useage)?

2. I am 5'6", about 135lb. I used SeaQuest QDPro in OW class, I have 6.5 farmer john, 6.5 jacket, 6.5 hood for exposure protection in Monterey. I have to carry 30lb of weight, 20lb on belt, 10 BC integrated, very umcomfortable That is with a steel 100 tank (the 3000psi kind). If I go with Pac or Plate, will I be able to reduce weight? I ask this because DiveRiteExpress package has option to go with 32lb weight packet or 16 lb weight pocket, so I want to know which one would be more optimal.

Thanks for any comment and advices.

 

[rstofer]

The stainless steel backplate is used to provide 6# of weight and position it over your back as opposed to on your hips. This also takes 6# off your weight belt. I don't know enough about the Trans Pac to comment. Having the weight centered over your back tends to keep you horizontal in the water.

In my view, you don't want to add weight to the BP/W other than the SS backplate. A full HP 100 weighs 43# + 6# for the BP + 2# for the regulator and, in the case of these padded harnesses, another couple of pounds. So, you have to lift 53# to get the gear up. My back is too old to add much to that.

I prefer to wear my ballast on a DUI Weight & Trim Classic harness. It is easily ditched and I put it on before the BP/W. That way I don't add the 20# to my BP/W.

If you want to compare prices, the Deep Sea Supply BP/W with the SS backplate, the ProFit harness (not quite as much padding) and an LCD30 wing is about $70 cheaper. If you buy it with the Hogarthian harness (no fluff at all), it's $120 cheaper ($470). OK, you gotta pay Calif sales tax...

I'm not aware of any 3000 psi STEEL tanks. Your weight seems heavy for your size. Are you sure you're diving steel? I could believe the numbers if you are using an aluminum 80 because that would require 6# of additional lead.

I'm 6'1", 210# with a 7/8mm wetsuit and I use a 6# BP and 20# of lead.

Richard

 

[JenCell]

I got OW certified and start diving now. I am looking to buy my first BC. I want to do it right the first time. I am currently looking at Dive Rite TransPac and Dive Rite TranPlate + SS backplate. Their price are the same at DiveRiteExpress. So I need your help to choose one.

here is what I am diving and what I can see myself diving in near future:

1. recreation dive
2. single tank mostly, I don't plan to dive double, but may happen if situation called for
3. will get AOW in near future, and very like more advance diving cert
nitriox
4. I will probably dive mostly in N. Ca, so cold water, but I can definitely see myself dive in tropical travel destination quite a bit.

here are my questions:

1. I am leaning toward the Pac for comfort (in water and out of water), easily of packing for travel, I know the differences between the Pac and the Plate is mainly soft backplate vs hard backplate. What is the advantage of hard backplate (for my useage)?

2. I am 5'6", about 135lb. I used SeaQuest QDPro in OW class, I have 6.5 farmer john, 6.5 jacket, 6.5 hood for exposure protection in Monterey. I have to carry 30lb of weight, 20lb on belt, 10 BC integrated, very umcomfortable That is with a steel 100 tank (the 3000psi kind). If I go with Pac or Plate, will I be able to reduce weight? I ask this because DiveRiteExpress package has option to go with 32lb weight packet or 16 lb weight pocket, so I want to know which one would be more optimal.

Thanks for any comment and advices.

I'm 5'5 and 145 lbs and dive like you in cold water, with the same exposure suit as you.
I dive with aluminium tank and have less than 20 lbs total...Are you sure your buoyancy is ok? With a steeltank you should take less...
It seem you are overweighted...You should check it very closely....

jen

 

[halocline]

Get the steel plate. In fact, don't even bother with the transplate, just get a dive rite steel plate, a simple one piece harness, 2" crotch strap, a pair of cambands, and a travel EXP wing. That's if you want to get all dive rite stuff. Don't get a bigger wing, you will not need it, no matter what dive rite says. They always recommend larger than necessary wings.

If you want to look elsewhere consider either an oxycheq set up (steel plate, mach V wing, cam bands) or a deep sea supply single tank rig.

With the kind of weight you're carrying you will definitely prefer a steel plate. Wearing that much neoprene, you will not need any padding on the plate or harness, in fact, it will just add to the weight you need to carry. I agree that 30 lbs with a steel tank sounds unusually high.

 

[eelnoraa]

I'm not aware of any 3000 psi STEEL tanks. Your weight seems heavy for your size. Are you sure you're diving steel? I could believe the numbers if you are using an aluminum 80 because that would require 6# of additional lead.

Richard

I just check with my dive shop. I was wrong, you are correct, it was aluminum tank that I have been using, not steel.

Get the steel plate. In fact, don't even bother with the transplate, just get a dive rite steel plate, a simple one piece harness, 2" crotch strap, a pair of cambands, and a travel EXP wing. That's if you want to get all dive rite stuff. Don't get a bigger wing, you will not need it, no matter what dive rite says. They always recommend larger than necessary wings.

If you want to look elsewhere consider either an oxycheq set up (steel plate, mach V wing, cam bands) or a deep sea supply single tank rig.

With the kind of weight you're carrying you will definitely prefer a steel plate. Wearing that much neoprene, you will not need any padding on the plate or harness, in fact, it will just add to the weight you need to carry. I agree that 30 lbs with a steel tank sounds unusually high.

With SS plate + travel wing, let's say I dive in hawaii, which I am going to do in Sept, I will probably having a 3mm shorty only, will I be weight too much? will I have enough lift with travel wing?

 

[JenCell]

I just check with my dive shop. I was wrong, you are correct, it was aluminum tank that I have been using, not steel.



With SS plate + travel wing, let's say I dive in hawaii, which I am going to do in Sept, I will probably having a 3mm shorty only, will I be weight too much? will I have enough lift with travel wing?

The travel wing has a 27lbs lift capacity which is ok for single tank diving. You have to perform a buoyancy check with the 3mm shorty because you will need less weight than full 7mm wetsuit....

Also like I said I'm surprised that you have 30lbs of weight on you...Are you sure you can stay at 15 feet with 500 PSI or less in the tank?

When I began scuba I was weighted to much....the instructor put me 30lbs on my belt...but I realized quite rapidly it wasn't adequate.....I was sinking like a stone..

jen

 

[scubafanatic]

I got OW certified and start diving now. I am looking to buy my first BC. I want to do it right the first time. I am currently looking at Dive Rite TransPac and Dive Rite TranPlate + SS backplate. Their price are the same at DiveRiteExpress. So I need your help to choose one.

here is what I am diving and what I can see myself diving in near future:

1. recreation dive
2. single tank mostly, I don't plan to dive double, but may happen if situation called for
3. will get AOW in near future, and very like more advance diving cert
nitriox
4. I will probably dive mostly in N. Ca, so cold water, but I can definitely see myself dive in tropical travel destination quite a bit.

here are my questions:

1. I am leaning toward the Pac for comfort (in water and out of water), easily of packing for travel, I know the differences between the Pac and the Plate is mainly soft backplate vs hard backplate. What is the advantage of hard backplate (for my useage)?

2. I am 5'6", about 135lb. I used SeaQuest QDPro in OW class, I have 6.5 farmer john, 6.5 jacket, 6.5 hood for exposure protection in Monterey. I have to carry 30lb of weight, 20lb on belt, 10 BC integrated, very umcomfortable That is with a steel 100 tank (the 3000psi kind). If I go with Pac or Plate, will I be able to reduce weight? I ask this because DiveRiteExpress package has option to go with 32lb weight packet or 16 lb weight pocket, so I want to know which one would be more optimal.

Thanks for any comment and advices.

I think you're WAY overweighted, by about a factor of TWO ! I'm 5'8"/153 lbs, and with a full, brand-new 7mm wetsuit....and an AL80, I used 16 lbs of lead + 1 1/2 lbs AL plate.....totalling 17 1/2 lbs, and I was probably still a bit overweighted (Socorro Islands liveaboard-Nautilus Explorer). I'd suggest going to 20 lbs of lead, see how that does, then on each successive dive shave back 2 lbs per dive until you zero in on a realistic...and much more comfortable...lead requirement.

 

[rstofer]

With SS plate + travel wing, let's say I dive in hawaii, which I am going to do in Sept, I will probably having a 3mm shorty only, will I be weight too much? will I have enough lift with travel wing?

With a 6# SS plate and a 3mm shorty, you probably won't have any ditchable weight. Personally, I don't like the idea of not having ditchable weight but if it's just for a vacation, I might push it.

OTOH, you could use the OxyCheq Ultra Lite Travel Back Plate

Ultra Lite Travel Back Plate

It costs about $55 but it only takes OxyCheq Mac V wings I use this without a wing in the pool.

I also have the OxyCheq SS Travel Backplate which only weighs 2.2# with a HOG 32# wing. I use this one with my double hose regulators.

Oxycheq Travel Backplate OWB-4 with reviews at scuba.com
HOG 32 lb Wing for Single Cylinder Diving

For diving with a 7mm wetsuit in N Cal, you probably want a 6# plate with the rest of your weight in a harness. You can also move 8# of your weight to the backplate with the Deep Sea Supply weight plates. But they only fit the DSS backplate and the rig is getting pretty heavy.

So many choices...

Richard

 

[eelnoraa]

I think you're WAY overweighted, by about a factor of TWO ! I'm 5'8"/153 lbs, and with a full, brand-new 7mm wetsuit....and an AL80, I used 16 lbs of lead + 1 1/2 lbs AL plate.....totalling 17 1/2 lbs, and I was probably still a bit overweighted (Socorro Islands liveaboard-Nautilus Explorer). I'd suggest going to 20 lbs of lead, see how that does, then on each successive dive shave back 2 lbs per dive until you zero in on a realistic...and much more comfortable...lead requirement.

I wish you are right. I will try you suggestion again, but I doubt I can do with less weight with my current rental setup.

At the beginning, I was given a 20# weight belt and 6# on bcd. I couldn't sink with bcd fully deflated, so instructor added 4# to my bcd. I maybe just a little over because I do sink to the bottom once I get below a few feet of water. I need to put some air back to bcd to maintain neutural.

I think the problem maybe the double layer of the farmer john and jacket wet suit. Effectively, I have 13mm for my torso and upper thigh and 6.5 the rest of my body.

My goal is to be able to get a reasonabe bcd that I can use in N Cal cold water for regular weekends, and also be able to use it on tropical destination. I wonder if I go with SS plate, will I be over weight in tropical water. Or do you think the TransPac will be a more versatile solution??

 

[halocline]

With SS plate + travel wing, let's say I dive in hawaii, which I am going to do in Sept, I will probably having a 3mm shorty only, will I be weight too much? will I have enough lift with travel wing?

No you will not be overweighted (probably) and yes you will have enough lift. The AL tank you almost certainly will be using (rental) is 4 lbs positive empty, the shorty another 4 lbs (a guess), so maybe if you're lucky the steel plate is all you'll need for ballast. Don't listen to this nonsense about needing ditchable weight for warm water. I can tell you from experience with both advanced and beginning divers that it's simply not necessary. Just because one person keeps posting over and over about how you need ditchable weight diving with an AL tank in tropical conditions does not make it true.

The travel wing is probably around 30 lbs lift. If you need more than that with a single tank something is probably wrong. The wing is there to compensate for wetsuit compression and the swing weight of the gas in your tank. It also must float your rig without you in it. It's a shame to take off your rig in the water and see it disappear into the depths! Anyhow, 30 lbs will be enough for you with a single AL80.