Hybrid vs. BP/W vs. Jacket

[markmud]

There is NO simple answer for the OP's question.
We are all individual and have different requirement even for a simple BC.

Hi Westcoastsaucey

Centrals is 100% correct.

I switched back to a jacket because I dive warmish water one day and cold water the next day. Also, I like floating more face up on the surface. The BP/W sucked for that. The jacket is almost self-adjusting whether am I wearing 10 mils of rubber, or 5 mils of rubber, or a 1/2 mil of rubber.

My wife switched back to her jacket; it is dog-eared and faded. It is maintained and still works well.

Further into this thread, Kharon said that his BP/W floated him back-up and not face-up which was a problem for him Request for information not covered in any course

For recreational diving, I don't use my BC inflator (down to 110 fsw anyways). For me, strategic placement of the bladder does not matter to me, because my bladder is usually completely empty.

Unfortunately, there is no single bromide for the diving community at large.

The BP/W fanbois who populate this alter, will vociferously disagree with me. And for them their choices work perfectly. Their choices may not work for you.

Everything on the ocean is a compromise.

Buying a regulator is easy. Buying a computer is easy (as long as it is a Shearwater--ha-ha). Buying fins is easy.

Buying a BC is not as easy IMHO. Rent until you figure out what YOU like.

Good Luck,
m

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Odd how it kept multiplying......Its like the Magical Bean of scuba diving...

Ah, a millionaire in how much you’ve spent, not that it brought in a million dollars? I understand now.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I know people who have been in diving for decades and almost never purchased new gear except for maybe an updated computer or latest greatest LED light, a mask, and maybe wetsuits.
All their stuff was obtained as used stuff from garage sales, eBay, Craigslist, given to them for free, etc.
Regs and BC’s fall into this category.
One guy I know never bought a new BC in over 40 years of diving. He’d get something used for pennies on the dollar and wear it out completely, shredded, faded, falling apart, completely used up. He’d throw it away and find something else used and do the same thing again. He just made whatever he had work. To him gear was nothing more than just a tool to get to the end which was the diving. In 40 years he might have spent $200 on BC’s and dived all over the world including here on our coast. Never missed a dive either. No high dollar BC’s to be “cool” or a “pro”.
This guy wasn’t easy on his stuff either.
It can be done.
Just sayin.

 

[Centrals]

Every road leads to Rome!

 

[wgw04024]

Went from back inflate to bpw after a couple years, love it. It feels SOOOOO good in warm water.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

I have 4 BP/W rigs. I’m a technical person and I love to tinker. Since I also love diving, I spend time tinkering with dive gear.

When my wife needed a new BC, I bought her a BC. It was the appropriate tool for the diving she does and her level of interest. She’s not interested in tinkering with the harness and working on trim. She’s not a gear head, she just wants to see fish. She doesn’t even know the make and model of her regulator or her computer. She just doesn’t care. It’s a shame on our family that I’m forced to live with...

 

[divad]

I have 4 BP/W rigs. I’m a technical person and I love to tinker. Since I also love diving, I spend time tinkering with dive gear.

When my wife needed a new BC, I bought her a BC. It was the appropriate tool for the diving she does and her level of interest. She’s not interested in tinkering with the harness and working on trim. She’s not a gear head, she just wants to see fish. She doesn’t even know the make and model of her regulator or her computer. She just doesn’t care. It’s a shame on our family that I’m forced to live with...

And you still let her in the house?

 

[Caveeagle]

I know people who have been in diving for decades and almost never purchased new gear except for maybe an updated computer or latest greatest LED light, a mask, and maybe wetsuits.
All their stuff was obtained as used stuff from garage sales, eBay, Craigslist, given to them for free, etc.
Regs and BC’s fall into this category.
One guy I know never bought a new BC in over 40 years of diving. He’d get something used for pennies on the dollar and wear it out completely, shredded, faded, falling apart, completely used up. He’d throw it away and find something else used and do the same thing again. He just made whatever he had work. To him gear was nothing more than just a tool to get to the end which was the diving. In 40 years he might have spent $200 on BC’s and dived all over the world including here on our coast. Never missed a dive either. No high dollar BC’s to be “cool” or a “pro”.
This guy wasn’t easy on his stuff either.
It can be done.
Just sayin.

This is so true! I got back into diving after a long break. I still had all my cave diving gear, mostly purchased new in the early 90s. I had one local show give me the “that’s all trash” and you NEED all new gear line of bs.

At the same time, three of my kids all started diving too. That’s a huge hit to the wallet if your are trying to buy all new gear. I ended up with a mixed bag of new and used gear.

On topic, I am a big fan of Dive Rites TransPac BC for single tank diving. I also have BP/W rigged for single tank, but find that the TransPac is a really good compromise with a nice harness, a soft “plate” and a modular wing system.

I have found great examples of these used on Craigslist for as little as $40. More typically around $150 will get you a good used set.

I think I currently have 5 of these in my gear locker for my kids, as well as loaners for visiting friends. Only one of them was purchased new.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I have 4 BP/W rigs. I’m a technical person and I love to tinker. Since I also love diving, I spend time tinkering with dive gear.

When my wife needed a new BC, I bought her a BC. It was the appropriate tool for the diving she does and her level of interest. She’s not interested in tinkering with the harness and working on trim. She’s not a gear head, she just wants to see fish. She doesn’t even know the make and model of her regulator or her computer. She just doesn’t care. It’s a shame on our family that I’m forced to live with...

Maybe she has other sensibilities that you are oblivious to?

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

Maybe she has other sensibilities that you are oblivious to?

She definitely has other qualities that more than make up for her lack of interest in SCUBA gear. Lol