How was your transition from jacket to BP?

[Skinsfan1311]

First...a little background....I've logged around ~25 dives, and, with the exception of the OW cert dives in a quarry, the majority of the dives have been in warm water.

All of the dives have been in with rental BC's and regulators. We travel to the Caribbean 2-3 times a year, and that is probably the only time I will dive. No caves, no cold-water, no tech diving, treasure-hunting, etc. I dive within my limits and am comfortable under water....My buoyancy control and air consumption are pretty good. (no dives have been called because of my air consumption)

In my brief dive "career", I've been very fortunate. I was certified at a local college by an instructor who teaches, not for the money, but for his love of diving. I got my AOW in St. Lucia, and my luck held as I had an excellent instructor, (not just a guy going through the motions, as is often the case)

My run of luck continued, as I had the good fortune to have a vacationing Dive Instructor as my buddy on a couple of dives in Belize....he was kind enough to take me under his wing and offer some of his priceless knowledge.

Thus far, I've been happy with rental equipment,(all jacket-style BC's) until, on a dive in Cayman, a regulator hose blew....that incident convinced me that it is now time to buy my own gear...I'm researching BC's. Now, if you haven't fallen asleep with my background stuff....my question for all who have made the transition from jacket's to BP & BP/W set ups is...

How difficult was the transition? Thanks everyone!

 

[Darnold9999]

Not difficult at all. The only slight issue I found was that you are not quite as stable on the surface in the BP/W. It has a slight tendancy to push you nose first toward the water. Does not push you into the water, just is not as stable as the jacket which when inflated holds you vertically in the water on the surface. The BP does not do this, you have to either roll on your back or pay attention. This is not at all difficult, just a difference. Mostly I just stay on my back.

 

[cyklon_300]

Hardest part is adjusting the straps on the harness. Using it is simple.

I've never had any sensation of being pushed forward at the surface.

 

[NAVMED82]

I started in one (Just a few days of OW class in a rental back inflate), so there really wasn't that much of a transition.

 

[gander]

I just recently swapped from a jacket BC (Tusa Platina) to a BP/W setup. I had about 37 dives when I swapped. My interest is in technical diving, so I have started the gear transition.

I bought an OMS backplate, OMS wing, and QR harness. While the QR harness is not required, it does make the unit slightly easier to get in an out of. I bought the gear and a set of doubles just before Christmas. I spent about 2 hours in the LDS pool then went to the Florida Keys for a week.

I had never dove with the BP/W or doubles (other than the pool time). I also used new fins (Jetfins) and a different mask and a new reg (Apeks ATX 50). In other words, I had a completely new kit that had never been truly dove. Once in O/W it took me about a dive to regain about 80 % of my bouyancy control that I had previously. Within 2 or 3 dives, my buoyancy was as good as I have ever been.

I have to say that I love the BP/W. It definitely helps with any trim issues you might have. I was real close to horizontal with the jacket, however, with the BP/W, the design really helps to keep you horizontal. We dove for 6 days in the Keys with the last two days being the Speigel Grove and the Duane (BTW, I enjoyed the Duane much much much much more than the speigel). Each day of diving, I felt more and more comfortable and loved the BP/W more and more.

I haven't tried my BP/W with a single tank yet. I will probably try that out in the quarry once it warms up a bit.

I recommend finding somebody that has a BP/W at your LDS and ask them to let you try it. Once you try it, I think you will love it.

Greg

on edit:
(I actually dove doubles even for the shallow reef dives in the Keys just for the practice. I looked ridiculous (doubles for 30 to 40 ft deep dive, but you have to get the experience somewhere. lol)

 

[TSandM]

I took my OW class in a jacket, which I didn't like -- it wasn't stable on my body, and I didn't like the feeling of being squeezed when it inflated. I bought a back-inflate when I finished class, and used that for about forty dives. It was okay, but didn't fit me very well. I switched to a borrowed BP/W in preparation for DIR-F, and I had some amusing problems figuring out the harness, but DIVING in it I loved from the very first dive. And still do.

I don't find it any less stable at the surface than my back inflate was (and can't think of a reason why it would be). The only time I've noticed being pushed forward was when I had to overinflate it because of a dry suit flood, and even then, the problem was distinctly manageable. I love the modularity of it -- and that's a plus for travel, because you can take the thing apart and put the backplate one place and the deflated, rolled up wing somewhere else in your luggage if you want.

 

[Diver0001]

How difficult was the transition? Thanks everyone!

I'm going to make myself unpopular with this post but someone has to say it....

The difference is about as big as drinking water from a glass or drinking water from a mug. If you know how to drink you'll be able to drink out of either. The feeling is a little different but for the most part the whole wing vs. jacket debate is much adieu about nothing.

It's clear that a jacket is useless for tek diving but percieved improvments in buoyancy control and stability are heavily overblown on the internet and (in my opinion) often related to divers who don't have their buoyancy control entirely sorted out blaming their equipment for the problem as opposed to any mind-boggling difference in how the various devices perform.

You'll also hear divers saying they can't get horizontal in a jacket, or it's not stable, or it's *so* much better in a wing..... I say bullocks. follow the link to my image gallery and look at the pictures of a diver in a *gasp* jacket showing perfect trim and buoyancy.

It's not about the tool. It's about how proficient you are with the tool.

Oh, and to answer your question, there was no "transition".

R..

 

[TSandM]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, that switching gear is NOT going to give somebody magically improved buoyancy. Nothing does that but work and time. However, the difference in fit and the difference in stability of the tank on my back BECAUSE of the better fit did make things a bit easier. I also agree that a skilled diver can show good skills in almost any gear -- but for those of us who are just learning, minimizing the variables can help.

And for very little people, the infinite adjustability of a harness can be a very nice thing.

 

[Darnold9999]

The reason that a BP/W is different on on the surface is that all your floatation is behind your back. This has a tendancy to push you forward. The very thing that makes it great for trim while diving makes it want to put you in the same trim position while on the surface. It doesn't push your face in the water because as the tank comes out of the water it provides a counterbalance to the floatation. A jacket BC has floatation around you supporting you in a more vertical position in the water when inflated. So in comparison I find wearing a BP/W I am slightly more face toward the water than similarly weighted in a jacket BC.

All of this is not a huge issue or even a problem, just a slight difference. One most people don't even notice, but it is a difference. (for me anyway)

I also agree that the "difference" re boyancy control is minimal. I choose BP/W because I want the diving experience to be as unencumbered as possible, particularly in warm water. I always felt squeezed in a jacket, and I liked the idea of going back to the BP with the added Wing on the back instead of as a horsecoller in front. (I don't like turtlenecks, socks or shoes either, and haven't worn a tie to work in 10 years)

 

[adrisen]

i Used to dive a jacket but decided to make the switch to a bp/w. Not for the purpose of tech diving because I am strictly a rec diver. The switch was mainly because I am a cold water diver and use a 2 piece 7mm wetsuit so I needed a lot more weight. The stainless steel back plate with tank adapter allowed me to drop a lot of weight off by belt. Though It is still the same weight it is now off my waist. Add my steel tanks and now no weight.

I find that when I am at the surface I fight because too much air and I end up face first in the water. I have yet to grasp the concept on my back on the surface becasue I can't look around. Regardless i am very happy. I tried various harness setups, by OMS and ended up with the IQ pack because it is comefortable.