I want to buy my first BC

[Rapunzal]

Where should I start? What is the difference between a regular weight intergrated BC and a Back plate with wings?
Thanks!

 

[AmyJ]

Hi there... I am not the most knowledgable, so I won't directly answer your question .... although I have worn both (YES, a BP&W boys, I have tried it!)

I might suggest you do a search on some particular BC's. I have the Zena and just love it... it is weight integrated, BACK inflate... love... if you do a search on the Zena you will get lots of info... same for any other BC. Good luck and let us know what you find!

Forgot to say........WELCOME TO SCUBABOARD!!! enjoy your time here.

 

[ae3753]

Where should I start?

There's a ScubaBoard article recently that provides a high level view of the different BC types.

For more detailed information, you can search ScubaBoard. Or you can start at this thread: New diver..what's a backplate & wing?.

 

[Rapunzal]

Thank you Amy. ae3753 I will check out those links now. Thanks!

 

[wunat]

Weight-integrate is not a type of BCD (the way I see it :10: ). It is a feature of a BCD.

The different types of BCD you could be looking at are:

BCD Jacket
Back-inflation BCD
BP+Wing

There might be other type of BC out there which I might not know.

You should be able to find weight-integrated features of the jack and back-inflation type BCs. By adding designed weight pockets, the BP+Wing would have the weight-integrated features.

I agree with your intention of make research on the equipments before making your decision. I first bought my SeaQuest ProQD+ (jacket style BC) and used it for 8 dives only. Then I discovered this web boards and BP+Wing is recommended. I tried it and I love it. Now my ProQD+ is sitting as a spare. (I wish I had knew about this site earlier.)

Don't hesitate to ask questions on this board, folks out there are very helpful!!!!!!

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Where should I start? What is the difference between a regular weight intergrated BC and a Back plate with wings?
Thanks!

You know when you go shopping for shoes? How what you buy sort of first comes from what you want them for, hiking, beach, work, etc.? Then after that you generally want something that fits, is comfortable, stylish, and is generally low maintenance but keeps on working well?

Shopping for BCs is like that too. There are lots of them. But they fall into only a few categories. In terms of your question:

"what is the difference between a regular weight-integrated BC and a BP/wings"?

both of those are categories of products. Specifically speaking, the difference is that with wings, the wing sits between the tanks and the diver. When it inflates there is no pressure on the diver's torso, lungs, chest, etc. With a back-inflate BC, like Amy purchased, the same may be said. With BCs that are more of a jacket-style BC the panels that wrap around the diver also hold the bladder - which inflates as air is admitted to the BC. The inflated panels hold the diver upright in the water, however, for SOME divers, this inflation of the bladders around them can result in uncomfortable pressure as straps and the bladders themselves press against their chests and torso.

It really comes down to what type of diving do you plan to do (off a little boat? (remove those weights and hand them up separately - oops, it gets expensive if you drop one), off the shore?, etc.), and generally speaking what fits you well, what is comfortable for your body size and shape, etc. Sort of like shoes.

Don't be in a hurry. Spend some time to research the issue, and perhaps rent a few different BCs to see how they fit IN THE WATER. You learn very little, comparatively, from trying them on in the store. You won't be using them in the store.

There are many threads in the archives on selecting and comparing BCs. Spend some time searching through the archives. And a mentor is often the best way to learn, if there is a club in your area. You can also find a mentor on this board.

Best of luck. Here is a picture of one type of backplate and wing design:
http://www.halcyon.net/mc/eclipse.shtml

Dive safe,

Doc

 

[Vie]

The different types of BCD you could be looking at are:

BCD Jacket
Back-inflation BCD
BP+Wing

There might be other type of BC out there which I might not know.

There is another type; the harness with soft back pack (i.e. no BP) +wing. The best example of this is the Dive Rite Transpac II. Other examples are the Scubapro X-Tek/S-Tek (a copy of the original Transpc I), OMS IQ Pack, Deep Outdoors Matrix, and to a certain extent, some Zeagle BCs.

 

[wunat]

There is another type; the harness with soft back pack (i.e. no BP) +wing. The best example of this is the Dive Rite Transpac II. Other examples are the Scubapro X-Tek/S-Tek (a copy of the original Transpc I), OMS IQ Pack, Deep Outdoors Matrix, and to a certain extent, some Zeagle BCs.

Vie, thanks for the addition to the list. I did left that out. That's one type I don't have first hand experience with. What are the advantages of such setup? The only advantage I can think of would be the comfortness over BP set up. I understood that you won't be able to use such setup for double tanks...................... What are some reasons why people would choose such setup over other considering that the price is much higher than the BP setup?

Hope you might be able to enlighten me. Thanks!

 

[Vie]

I understood that you won't be able to use such setup for double tanks...................... What are some reasons why people would choose such setup over other considering that the price is much higher than the BP setup?

The one “advantage” I can think of for the non-BP harness is the ability to comfortably sidemount (http://www.diverite.com/products/bcd/sidemount_kit.htm) This enables penetration into extremely narrow overhead environments (there is some debate whether sidemounting should be considered safe diving, but that is perhaps better discussed in a separate thread). As for price, it varies with manufacturers. The Dive Rite Transpac was very expensive in Thailand about five years ago—in the US, their prices are quite competitive. Why would anybody choose such a setup? It’s very comfortable and superior to a jacket BC, and not everyone dive doubles. One could in fact use the Dive Rite Transpac/Scubapro S-Tek with doubles without resorting to using a BP by attaching small stabilizing plates (http://www.diverite.com/products/bcd/harn_acc.htm). I don’t know how great it is to dive doubles with a Transpac but it can be done.

What is sidemount? http://www.scubaboard.com/t83914-.html

 

[wunat]

Thanks a ton!