I'm too fat!

[Wayward Son]

Use their BC with the extensions to finish the course & get certified. In the meantime, study up on your options before buying anything. Then take your business to the other shop

Being a large guy who's working hard on losing wt, a BP/W has one super plus going for it, in addition to the other plusses. That's the fact that the harness is simply 2 inch webbing, which is cheap. Lose enough that it doesn't fit right? Snug it up, cut off the excess, reposition any D-rings you have attached to it & keep going. Really enjoy your new wife's home cooking and slam on another 30 lbs? Buy an inexpensive roll of webbing & simply replace the now too small set. Keeping it, it case you turn it around & drop those lbs again.

Congrats on the impending doom, err, nuptuals, BTW

 

[Michael_Lambert]

Okay,

I was talking to the shop that i like, they said that i should concider a "Suspenders set" for the weights, Just because using weight belt it might keep slipping down on me.. ?

So with the packplate and Blatter setup? What do i need??

1) Harness
2) Backplate
3) Bladder
4) Weight belt

Is that it?

 

[darkstar]

Okay,

I was talking to the shop that i like, they said that i should concider a "Suspenders set" for the weights, Just because using weight belt it might keep slipping down on me.. ?

So with the packplate and Blatter setup? What do i need??

1) Harness
2) Backplate
3) Bladder
4) Weight belt

Is that it?

Cam bands and perhaps an STA (single tank adapter) depending on the wing/plate/preference.

Round shaped folks often have a hard time keeping a weight belt up. Suspenders are one solution, weight pockets (with some way of ditching the weight) on the BP harness are another.

You should really wait to buy equipment until after you see if you actually take to the sport. Most folks who take basic cert courses dive maybe 20 times and then just never get around to it again. Also, you will have a better idea of what kind of equipment you really want.

 

[Heffey]

Okay,

I was talking to the shop that i like, they said that i should concider a "Suspenders set" for the weights, Just because using weight belt it might keep slipping down on me.. ?

Michael,
If you do get a cummerbund extension figured out I would recommend trying to use a BCD with integrated weights. Being able to split up your weights between the BCD and weight belt really helps.

I am also overweight and I needed 30lbs of weight for my first cold water dives. IMHO 30 lbs on a weight belt is a real pain. The weight was the most difficult part of the dive, above water and below.

Good luck,
Jeffrey

 

[flyguy]

If you'd rather a backplate then you can rent your BC during your open water and buy one afterwords. Then finding a BC that'll fit you will become more of the LDS's concern.

I may suggest renting anyhow so you're not stuck with a BC that you may not like very much. You'll then be able to rent other gear until you find what you like.

If they're really being sticky about the BP/W issue or don't have a rental that'll fit, you can look around somewhere else as well. There's lots of diveshops in your area. My LDS is pro backplate as they do a lot of tech diving as well, so doing your OW with a backplate or softpack probably wouldn't be an issue.

 

[CameronMartz]

Thanks Camron,

Well the two shops i have spoken two said this,

Shop1 : They could make me up a rig to do the courses, Backplate setup.. as they would suggest that for me being the larger diver, i would find it more confortable, only thing is during the class dives in pool i may want to wear a wet suit for comfort, They advised me that they could get a BCD to fit me, but it would be a custom order from Zegal. So thats the shop i do plan on dealing with once i get the cert.. unfrotunetly i did not find this shop till it was too late.

Shop2, Said that they can't cert with a backplate, that using a BCD and a Backplate are two totally different ways to dive? but they said they have XL BCD's that they can use the Cumberbun extentions on so it will be Functionable but not pretty!.. and then they suggested that i buy my own BCD so i would be able to enjoy the hobby in comfort.

what i don't get is, I cant be the only large diver looking to rent!.. i mean i agree i dont want to spend $800 on a BCD only to have to go pay $500 next summer for a new one, But i want to be able to dive from now till then! So im sure im nto the only large diver, and these BCD's are avaible.. so i dont understand why they do not stock atleast one for this reason..

I'm glad you have access to a shop other than Shop #2, as I think some of their statements are misleading, at best. <g>

If you are absolutely obligated to OWC with Shop #2, my advice, like that of others, is to just use the cumberbund extensions, no matter how un-pretty they are, then get hooked up with Shop #1 for club dives, etc., where you can try out other gear.

Cameron

 

[liberato]

Not to change the subject but what are you going to do about a wetsuit? That seems to be more of an issue for most big guys. Does the shop have a rental that will fit?

Also, do you have friends who dive? Is fiance interested? Only important to know because as was mentioned earlier most new divers do not continue. You need to gauge your likelihood of continuing. One factor that influences whether a new diver continues is whether they have their own gear or not. If getting your own gear is a strain then that is one more barrier to continuing.

The Zeagle Ranger with a mixed XXXL waist and probably XL shoulders would fit and have some adjustability in either direction. Whatever you go with the main problem you will have is the amount of lead weight you have to carry for cold water diving. No way will you be able to carry it on an unsupported belt. It will go straight to the bottom and you will go straight to the top. So, you will have to come up with a way of distributing it such that it is stable and yet still easy to dump a large percentage of it.

All of your gear problems are solvable. It is unfortunate that money is the solution.

 

[Michael_Lambert]

The wetsuit will be naother thing to worry about i guess.

They have one that will fit they claim.. they say it will be tight.. but will fit.. other than that.. i can allways order one if i need it..

 

[smoritz0370]

Better go try that wetsuit on. You WILL need it.

 

[haneym]

my coworker i mentioned above got one from http://www.liquidfit.com/ and love it. very reasonably priced and they custom made it to fit his dimensions.