Jacket vs back inflate for new diver?

[MichaelMc]

I try to avoid that in a dry suit.

A small part of the dive population.

It is just a calculus of is the swim far enough that it is worth getting into what may be an easier configuration for it, or is that change not worth it for the distance of the swim.

An easy change in a tropical or slick rig and suit, not so in a big tech rig or bulky suit.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

A small part of the dive population.

Touche! What about old people with bad shoulders? Even with adjustable straps, it is a PITA. And we divers are slowly getting older without many youngin's getting into the sport to replace us.

It is just a calculus of is the swim far enough that it is worth getting into what may be an easier configuration for it, or is that change not worth it for the distance of the swim.

Are we talking about differential calculus or integral calculus?

An easy change in a tropical or slick rig and suit, not so in a big tech rig or bulky suit.

I think most people prefer to put on/take off their rig once per dive.

 

[MichaelMc]

Are we talking about differential calculus or integral calculus?

Definitely integral, its the total work not the rate of change. But I did have to dredge that up.

 

[thomasj1107]

I think I’m just going to go on over to their shop and get someone to help me there… but looking at the site, how does the DGX gear compare to the stuff from dive rite or OMS? If you don’t get a harness like the sgx softpac for example, is your back just touching the plate? Is that uncomfortable?

Also, for the dgx packages with regs, what is the quality of their regs like, any reason to be concerned?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I think I’m just going to go on over to their shop and get someone to help me there… but looking at the site, how does the DGX gear compare to the stuff from dive rite or OMS? If you don’t get a harness like the sgx softpac for example, is your back just touching the plate? Is that uncomfortable?

What exposure protection do you wear? I've never gone shirtless diving, had at least a rash guard and didn't notice the BP/W without any padding on my back really, but I'm rather zealous about proper (minimal) weighting. You shouldn't feel much on your back. The padding may make sense for shirtless/bikini top diving, but I as I said, no experience for the possible chafing.

 

[jlcnuke]

I think I’m just going to go on over to their shop and get someone to help me there… but looking at the site, how does the DGX gear compare to the stuff from dive rite or OMS? If you don’t get a harness like the sgx softpac for example, is your back just touching the plate? Is that uncomfortable?

Also, for the dgx packages with regs, what is the quality of their regs like, any reason to be concerned?

If you aren't doing long walks with the gear on your back, then I don't recommend getting padding on the straps or backplate. That's the only time when you'll even consider feeling the weight of the rig, and it should be a minimal amount of time in general. With just a thin, quick-dry t-shirt I walk from my vehicle in the parking lot, across the beach entry area, across the beach, and into the water without any sort of padding when diving LBTS and have never had any issues with it. If I had longer walks for some reason, I might consider padding the shoulder straps as that's where the weight really is sitting on you while walking, but it's never been an issue for me so far.

 

[James79]

If you don’t get a harness like the sgx softpac for example, is your back just touching the plate? Is that uncomfortable?

I use a flat style aluminum plate with continuous webbing harness and have dove it shirtless (plate/harness against bare skin) and didn't have any issue wearing it walking from the car, to and across the beach into the water. In the water it darn near disappears. Some people have issues with stiffer webbing when shirtless, but those that do would have similar issues with the arm holes of most jacket BCDs if shirtless..... a rash guard is their friend!
If you can go to the store and try one on that's great... if they have a pool and will let you try one, even better.

Respectfully,

James

 

[mcohen1021]

I don't know where the problem of being pushed face down. My understanding is that it comes from being way overweighted, a big problem in the industry (hence one of top ten changes DAN requested in their 2016 report which with the exception of RAID seems to be ignored).

That's something I don't understand either. I typically swim on the surface on my back. So much easier. Don't most people do this? Unless you have to avoid kelp, I don't see the point of swimming face down.

So in 2017 I got sick of being 5'10 and 198# and decided to lose weight. My goal was to improve in competitive slalom (waterskiing) and to improve scuba efficiency so I could last underwater as long as my wife (I get close now). Hi Keto and 165# lol. When I lost the weight, the size large back inflate BC I had was spinning around on me even when adjusted to the smallest settings. So I basically got rid of the spare tire and the Jacket Style BC does not make me feel squeezed because theres nothing to squeeze.

I was never overweighted. Usually I used 2# more than I needed in case my wife needed it.

The way I made the back inflate work for the last few years I used it? I only put weights in the weight pockets (no bashing haha). It helped, but I also noticed I was still always kicking at the surface to stay upright waiting for the boat to pick us up (Cozumel). I also used less air in the bag, which reduced me fighting it to float to the top (putting me face down).

The new jacket style BC I am using distributes the air, including around my midsection and I float at the top without kicking or laying on my back. It's blissful.

And BTW, I CAN use the integrated weight pockets on the new BC - Caribbean dives with my 1.5 mil top, I use around 5#.

 

[doctormike]

I think I’m just going to go on over to their shop and get someone to help me there… but looking at the site, how does the DGX gear compare to the stuff from dive rite or OMS? If you don’t get a harness like the sgx softpac for example, is your back just touching the plate? Is that uncomfortable?

Here's my son diving in Bermuda. Seriously, very comfortable.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

So in 2017 I got sick of being 5'10 and 198# and decided to lose weight. My goal was to improve in competitive slalom (waterskiing) and to improve scuba efficiency so I could last underwater as long as my wife (I get close now). Hi Keto and 165# lol. When I lost the weight, the size large back inflate BC I had was spinning around on me even when adjusted to the smallest settings. So I basically got rid of the spare tire and the Jacket Style BC does not make me feel squeezed because theres nothing to squeeze.

I was never overweighted. Usually I used 2# more than I needed in case my wife needed it.

The way I made the back inflate work for the last few years I used it? I only put weights in the weight pockets (no bashing haha). It helped, but I also noticed I was still always kicking at the surface to stay upright waiting for the boat to pick us up (Cozumel). I also used less air in the bag, which reduced me fighting it to float to the top (putting me face down).

The new jacket style BC I am using distributes the air, including around my midsection and I float at the top without kicking or laying on my back. It's blissful.

And BTW, I CAN use the integrated weight pockets on the new BC - Caribbean dives with my 1.5 mil top, I use around 5#.

The next time I'm warm water diving, I'm going to have to pay special attention to see if I'm subconsciously laying back. Though as I have no ballast, I suspect I won't have an issue. Before I shed as much weight as possible, I placed extra weights in trim pockets on my cylinder bands. So to compare apples to pears (closer than oranges), I'll have to try this with single tank, cold water, dry suit diving where I intentionally have some ballast weight.