jacket style vs. back inflation

[alan_lee]

Just a token mention- BP/W

LOL! Was gonna suggest that but I thought it'd be best to avoid mentioning it. Woohoo! Xmas is coming, and so's my BP/W!

 

[goodeatsfan]

Hi OP, have you gotten your BCD yet? The best way to decide is to try the 3 different styles out for yourself. I personally tried and owned all 3 types and they ALL have their pros and cons which I like and dislike. Currently diving a BP/W, BUT find the convenience of pockets in a Back inflation a good compromise between the extreme ends. That said, I love my BP/W.

 

[goodeatsfan]

hey Alan, wat BP/W are/have you got?

 

[alan_lee]

hey Alan, wat BP/W are/have you got?

Dude! How's it going? Will be picking up the Halcyon Eclipse first cos won't be going technical just yet. BTW, thanks for the info about the dive comp, what a great buy! Ok, shan't stray off-topic now.

Yea, I agree that the downside to BP/W is the lack of pockets, but personally, I'd rather be more comfortably streamlined.

 

[terrasmak]

I dove a back inflate first dive out of OW with no problem , the only problem i had is wasting my money on it and not getting a BP/w off the bat.

 

[successoutdoors]

Well if you are a bean pole like me they can tend to push you face first towards the water when you are on the surface.

 

[wallacm]

IMHO back inflation is much much more comfortable and a better ride. If your used to jacket style, it will take a dive or two to get used to where it inflates, just as it would someone used to a back style going to jacket. Its not a new diver problem, its a new diver question. They are differnet but make a couple dives with both and then decide.

 

[ClayJar]

All the students on the last checkout dive I was on with a local shop had jacket BCs... except the little Scuba Rangers girl. Her BC was back inflation. It was entertaining to me to see how easily she handled her trim compared to all the adult students they had.

That said, my buddy and I were there for Rescue and Search & Recovery, and neither of us had any problem maintaining our trim. I seem to recall it took a couple dives way back when to home in on it, but it was hardly intractable.

Oh, but by the way, when you're being "rescued" and your rescuing buddy inflates you like a burning marshmallow (if you've never burnt a marshmallow all the way to the shell, try it sometime and you'll understand the simile), you *certainly* feel a bit compressed by the jacket-style BCs I've used.

 

[Teamcasa]

I too use either a BP/W or my Seaquest Malibu. I like both.
http://www.aqualung.com/products/malibu.html

Dave

 

[GA Under Water]

here is a question. If your bouyancy is set by being eye-level at the surface with a fully deflated BC and you breathe out to sink, what does it matter which BC you use. I dive with very little air in my BC and I set my trim with weight positions or my own personal gear. As in my feet like to float more than my body so I bought a negative bouyancy set of fins to trim out.

Am I doing something wrong? Or have I just not gotten into the more Technical diving that requires enough air in a BC that would make it un comfy?

Either way, I have tried Vest, and Back and besides the sometimes hard time at the surface with the Back inflate, I don't see a real difference.