BC's seem to be popular with most LDS's and instructors due to institutional inertia - and, like it or not, the fact that they do the job pretty well for a single tank recreational diver.
The BP/wing begins to shine in technical diving where doubles, stage and deco bottles are used as most BC's will not accommodate them very well and/or are not very stable with doubles and/or the extra weight of stage bottles, etc.
The BP/wing design is both more streamlined and much more adaptable to different kinds of diving. So it may be the way to go for a new diver who thinks he or she might gravitate toward technical diving eventually as it would save money by eliminating the intial purchase of equipment that does not work all that well for technical diving.
On the other hand, most BC's are a known quantity with most insturctors and are more likely to be encountered as rental gear meaning new divers are probably more familiar and more comfortable with them.
Another plus for the BC is that most BC's will float the diver upright in the water when fully inflated while many BP wings tend to tip you face forward when fully inflated, especially with a single tank. Careful placement of weight and stopping at a but less than full infaltion usually resolves the problem, but it is one more thing to learn and be proficent with.
There are a few cross over back inflate BC's that work pretty well for technical diving. These include the Genesis Recon (which can be fitted with a backplate for use with doubles), as well as the OMS IQ pack and the Dive Rite Transpac which can accommodate stabilizing plates for doubles and are otherwise well set up for technical diving with the same modular capabilties as a full fledged BP wing.
Practically speaking, a lot of it also comes down to local culture, who you dive with and what the accepted norm is among your dive buddies.
The BP/wing begins to shine in technical diving where doubles, stage and deco bottles are used as most BC's will not accommodate them very well and/or are not very stable with doubles and/or the extra weight of stage bottles, etc.
The BP/wing design is both more streamlined and much more adaptable to different kinds of diving. So it may be the way to go for a new diver who thinks he or she might gravitate toward technical diving eventually as it would save money by eliminating the intial purchase of equipment that does not work all that well for technical diving.
On the other hand, most BC's are a known quantity with most insturctors and are more likely to be encountered as rental gear meaning new divers are probably more familiar and more comfortable with them.
Another plus for the BC is that most BC's will float the diver upright in the water when fully inflated while many BP wings tend to tip you face forward when fully inflated, especially with a single tank. Careful placement of weight and stopping at a but less than full infaltion usually resolves the problem, but it is one more thing to learn and be proficent with.
There are a few cross over back inflate BC's that work pretty well for technical diving. These include the Genesis Recon (which can be fitted with a backplate for use with doubles), as well as the OMS IQ pack and the Dive Rite Transpac which can accommodate stabilizing plates for doubles and are otherwise well set up for technical diving with the same modular capabilties as a full fledged BP wing.
Practically speaking, a lot of it also comes down to local culture, who you dive with and what the accepted norm is among your dive buddies.
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