How do you keep a back inflated B.C. from dunking your face in the water ???

[Bruce Sinclair]

I tried a new Scubapro Knighthawk out in the pool today with a Steel 95, four pounds each in the back trim pockets and four pounds each in the front integrated weight pockets. When I fill the B.C. and try to float on the surface, it tips my face into the water. My old B.C. (a Scubapro Double-Black) would float me head up.

The Knighthawk has lots of nice features, but would happen in an emergency if a diver passed out after surfacing. Wouldn't the back inflated B.C. push his face in the water and drown him?

The Knighthawk balanced out perfectly in a horizontal position and is very comfortable, but I have this question about it's safety.

Also, how does one don a B.C. with integrated weights. It is too heavy to throw up over my head like I did before. Do you take the weights out on the boat, don the B.C. and then put them back in?

 

[Rick Murchison]

Unlike a life preserver, which is designed to float an unconscious victim face up on the surface, a BC is not. Period. That's why there is a warning to that effect on every BC recently manufactured.
You can float face up quite comfortably with a back inflate BC by kicking back onto your back to the point where the bladder is essentially under you - but it'll still roll you face down eventually if you do nothing to stay there.
Rick

 

[WileEDiver]

Bruce Sinclair once bubbled...
When I fill the B.C. and try to float on the surface, it tips my face into the water.

Bruce,

I noticed the same thing when I was testing out back-inflate BCs. (FWIW, I ended up choosing the Zeagle Ranger LTD.) What I found was the key to not having the BC put me face down, is to not fill the BC completely. Filling it put me too high up (and unstable) in the water so I tended to tip forward. Just inflate it partially (enough to keep your head above water) and see if that works better for you.

As for donning a weight-integrated BC without having my buddy hold it, I try to rest it on a sufficiently high flat surface (even a rock will do) and climb into the BC from a seated position and then stand up (like I would if I was on a boat). If that doesn't work for you, you can always take out the weights first and then put them in after you've got the BC on.

 

[mrducks]

dive steel tanks.... back mounted wings with a single aluminum tank is wacko.
never had any luck with integrated weights in a bc....lost weight pouches, made my kit way too heavy and stressed my bc.

 

[ZoCrowes255]

Bruce Sinclair once bubbled...
I tried a new Scubapro Knighthawk out in the pool today with a Steel 95, four pounds each in the back trim pockets and four pounds each in the front integrated weight pockets. When I fill the B.C. and try to float on the surface, it tips my face into the water. My old B.C. (a Scubapro Double-Black) would float me head up.

The Knighthawk has lots of nice features, but would happen in an emergency if a diver passed out after surfacing. Wouldn't the back inflated B.C. push his face in the water and drown him?

The Knighthawk balanced out perfectly in a horizontal position and is very comfortable, but I have this question about it's safety.

Also, how does one don a B.C. with integrated weights. It is too heavy to throw up over my head like I did before. Do you take the weights out on the boat, don the B.C. and then put them back in?

The Knighthawk has 46 pounds of lift (litte much for single tank but oh well) so at the surface it requires very little air in the BCD to keep the diver vertical at the surface. Just inflate a little bit and kick back.

You were wearing sixteen pounds and a steel tank today? What type of build are you and what type of suit were you wearing?

A backinflate BC will never float you face up if you are unconcious and fully inflated. A BC is not made to be a life preserver however some do a good job of keeping you face up.

 

[Cave Diver]

Dont fill the bladder completely, just enough to float you. Then lean back like you're in a recliner and add air til it floats you at a comfortable level out of the water.

If you fill it completely without leaning back on it first, it will have the tendency to push you face first, in my experience.

YMMV

 

[Bruce Sinclair]

I had no problem floating on my back with the back-inflated B.C. This was comfortable, but trying to float straight-up was impossible without kicking. It was a breeze to float straight-up with my old Scubapro Double-Black.

My tanks are the steel 95's. When I have done resort dives in the past, all they offered for rental was aluminum 80's. With those, I could throw them over my head. With the new B.C. and the integrated weights, there is no way that I can throw it over my head, especially with the steel 95's.

The idea of only partially filling the B.C. when floating was very good. I found this out on my own. With the old jacket style, I could completely fill it and wait for the boat. With this one, I will have to keep swimming.

 

[Bruce Sinclair]

<<< You were wearing sixteen pounds and a steel tank today? What type of build are you and what type of suit were you wearing? >>>

I'm 6'1" and 340 Lbs. I was trying this new one out in a swimming pool with no wet suit. Just the B.C. jacket, a steel 95, four pounds each in the back pockets and four pounds each in the front pockets (16 lbs. total).

 

[bridgediver]

mrducks once bubbled...
dive steel tanks.... back mounted wings with a single aluminum tank is wacko.

um, OK... Could you explain why this is wacko?

 

[ZoCrowes255]

Bruce Sinclair once bubbled...
<<< You were wearing sixteen pounds and a steel tank today? What type of build are you and what type of suit were you wearing? >>>

I'm 6'1" and 340 Lbs. I was trying this new one out in a swimming pool with no wet suit. Just the B.C. jacket, a steel 95, four pounds each in the back pockets and four pounds each in the front pockets (16 lbs. total).

Ok so you're not a little guy but try trimming off just a bit of the weight. If you're overweighted underwater it's easy to compensate for (but not ideal to do) however at the surface it can be a very big pain in the a$$.

BTW how did you like the Knghthawk at depth? I've been diving mine for a few months and love it.