Is rear inflation better for underwater photography?

[Walter]

It doesn't matter. When you are prone, all the air will be along your back regardless (a horse collar is an exception) of which BC you use. You merely need to get back into practice diving. It's your skill level that will make the difference, not which BC you are using.

 

[RiverRat]

Riverrat... Okay, that's food for thought. I saw Zeagle has one made of titanium. That would be lightest of all wouldn't it?

Hummmm...Titanium? I would bet it's expensive and probably overkill. Aluminum should last forever.

 

[RiverRat]

It doesn't matter. When you are prone, all the air will be along your back regardless (a horse collar is an exception) of which BC you use. You merely need to get back into practice diving. It's your skill level that will make the difference, not which BC you are using.

Walter, I agree, skill is most important. And knowing your gear. But can you honestly say there is NO difference in diving different BC's? Backinflate, BP/W or "air all around you"? When I did my OW dives in a rental "stab" jacket the thing I hated the most was the damn thing riding up on me at the surface. When it was inflated I felt like I was in the death grip of a Boa Constrictor. Now granted, I was just learning, and most likely overweighted, but that's why I went the route I did. I just ordered a cheap jacket BC for divemaster training, pool work etc. so it will be interesting to see how I trim this thing out after diving the BP/W for 2 years. I'll be able to make a better comparison.

CJ, I'll be in GC end of July and San Salvador in Sept. if you want to try my wing...

 

[Walter]

can you honestly say there is NO difference in diving different BC's? Backinflate, BP/W or "air all around you"?

No, but then, that's not what I said. I said there's no difference in stability in a prone position. When you wear a vest, all the air will be along your back when you're prone (the position about which UpSideDown was inquiring). When you are vertical (as in your example) there will be differences. The vest will be easier to maintain a vertical position than in a rear inflate or a BP/wings BC. Neither are especially difficult to overcome the very slight tendancy to push you forward. That tendancy is completely absent with a vest.

When I did my OW dives in a rental "stab" jacket the thing I hated the most was the damn thing riding up on me at the surface.

That is a result of not having a crotch strap. Any BC will tend to ride up when you are vertical at the surface if you don't have a crotch strap attached. Personally, I'd rather have a BC ride up than to contend with the discomfort (pain) of a crotch strap, but to each his own.

When it was inflated I felt like I was in the death grip of a Boa Constrictor.

Two mistakes led to you being squeezed. First, the chest strap is not necessary and the only purpose it serves it to enable the BC to squeeze you. I never connect the chest strap. IMHO, they shouldn't come with chest straps. The other mistake you made was over inflating your vest.

I prefer my vest, but I've used a BP/wings as well as rear inflation and horse collars. Most vests and rear inflate BCs are poorly designed, IMHO and I'd rather use a BP/wings BC than most others on the market today.

I saw Zeagle has one made of titanium. That would be lightest of all wouldn't it?

Actually, you can get a plastic BP.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I didn't know the Sopranos came on at 2:00 in the afternoon.

 

[BILLB]

I woke up to this post this morning and it caught my funny bone. No Pun!

Walter as always simplifies the things we dread the most. Whatever floats your boat and is safe is what you go with. A back plate always uses a back inflation (wing) except when Walter uses a horse collar. The "soft" pack BC's may have a hard mount attached (and usually only one tank strap) while some others have two straps with no tank mount (Dive Rite Trans pack and maybe Zena) (DrBill should answer this). As to a back inflat BC tipping you forward, this can be balanced by lowering the tank or adding weights. But at most it is more of a nusiance and easily counteracted by simply leaning back on the BC when on the surface. Remember, A BC is NOT a life perserver.

If you go with a steel back plate and a single tank adapter (STA) you should not need any weights in the enviroment you dive in. This also packs easily,when flying, especially if you do a Hogarthian harness. "Hogs" have there own forum on the SB!

 

[Bill51]

The ONLY time I’ll dive with a jacket BC is if I’m going to be spending a lot of time at the surface with students. It is easier for me to stay vertical at the surface with a jacket, but at all other times I want my buoyancy on my back. Maybe it’s just what I’ve gotten used to, but I seem to burn more air when I do have to dive with a jacket because I never feel balanced around my pitch axis.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Sometimes it's illustrative to look at what the top dogs use.
So I found the ones I could...
Michele Hall - Scubapro Classic stab jacket
Mike deGruy - Scubapro Stab jacket
Doug Perrine - Seaquest Explorer (tropical jacket) / US Divers Sonic 1 (jacket)
Stan Waterman - Scubapro jacket
Marty Snyderman - Scubapro Glide Plus (jacket)
Howard Hall - Scubapro Stab jacket
Stuart Westmoreland - bare-bones Mares (jacket)
T. Charles Erickson - Oceanic (jacket)
Chris Newbert - Oceanic Contour Bioflex (jacket)
---
Me? For photography I prefer a Seaquest Explorer in the tropics and a Pro-QD in cold water. As for back inflation, I own and use a Transpac, an Aluminum and Fred-T heavy steel backplates; Dive-Rite Travel, Rec and Classic wings... but none of them are as good for photo work as the jackets.
Rick

 

[RoadWarrior]

Sometimes it's illustrative to look at what the top dogs use.
So I found the ones I could...
Michele Hall - Scubapro Classic stab jacket
Mike deGruy - Scubapro Stab jacket
Doug Perrine - Seaquest Explorer (tropical jacket) / US Divers Sonic 1 (jacket)
Stan Waterman - Scubapro jacket
Marty Snyderman - Scubapro Glide Plus (jacket)
Howard Hall - Scubapro Stab jacket
Stuart Westmoreland - bare-bones Mares (jacket)
T. Charles Erickson - Oceanic (jacket)
Chris Newbert - Oceanic Contour Bioflex (jacket)
---
Me? For photography I prefer a Seaquest Explorer in the tropics and a Pro-QD in cold water. As for back inflation, I own and use a Transpac, an Aluminum and Fred-T heavy steel backplates; Dive-Rite Travel, Rec and Classic wings... but none of them are as good for photo work as the jackets.
Rick

Finally, someone giving it to me straight. You mentioned ScubaPro 5 times. Another dive shop I know carries ScubaPro. I think I'll take a look at those.

*** cj

 

[drbill]

Sometimes it's illustrative to look at what the top dogs use.
So I found the ones I could...
Michele Hall - Scubapro Classic stab jacket
Mike deGruy - Scubapro Stab jacket
Doug Perrine - Seaquest Explorer (tropical jacket) / US Divers Sonic 1 (jacket)
Stan Waterman - Scubapro jacket
Marty Snyderman - Scubapro Glide Plus (jacket)
Howard Hall - Scubapro Stab jacket
Stuart Westmoreland - bare-bones Mares (jacket)
T. Charles Erickson - Oceanic (jacket)
Chris Newbert - Oceanic Contour Bioflex (jacket)

Are you serious, Rick? Obviously these newbies know nothing about diving and underwater image making! (Just teasing).