Just went crazy buying new gear ($1400 Atomic BC1 BCD, TWO Atomic Cobalts, B2, M1, SS1..) STOP ME!!!

[noj3333]

Well now that you're looking for a bp/w setup... check out the freedom plate...

They're set up exclusively for single tank diving, but they're all 98% of the diving public needs. They offer all the perks of a bp/w with almost no down side (really the only one being, no doubles)...

At the very least I'd get on the list for one... the wait times can be long.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

Hold on a second, I thought the Scubapro Hydros Pro was supposed to be the absolute best BC on the planet?
But how could that be? It’s $500 less than the Atomic, somethings wrong.
I think SP needs to double the price of their rig, then it will be the best.

actually you can buy hydros pros as a consumer for under 700 american. just wait for a sale. my shop discounts everything then also does a 20% off sale twice a year. I think i paid about 675 plus tax

 

[NAUI Wowie]

I got the BC1 in today... tried it on, and I do enjoy it, but nowhere near enough to keep it... especially since my Cressi does the exact same job just as well... so, I’ve put it on eBay for $999 (about 50 less than the next lowest priced one, which is used rather than new). Once it sells, I’m thinking I’m going to use the profit made from flipping it (after ebay and PayPal fees, I should clear about 335 in profit) to get that BP/W that @MaxBottomtime posted earlier. Honestly, I think that’s the a smarter move than hanging onto an (admittedly nice) ridiculously overpriced BCD.

dude you may want to slow down and rent some different styles of equipment.

A. id never use a jacket bcd or use a console computer but id also never go without Air Integrated computers now too.

as for backplate and wing dont buy into the hype.

get it if you like it but many of us like back inflate bcd styles like the hydros pro. best travel bcd on the planet and it comes with a crotch strap and a second tropical setup aside from the standard detachable pouches. all included. Its two bcds in one.

not pimping the hydros just saying many many people prefer back inflate bcds to back plate and wing.

if you are truly going technical thatll take you a couple years before most people are ready for that. If you are brand new id hold off buying a backplate and wing due to not knowing what style you want.

do you want to use steel tanks, aluminum, cave diving, sidemount, deep diving, coldwater, there are a MILLION back plate setups and you can easily regret a backplate purchase whereas a back inflate bcd can be used for everthing except those aforementioned tech niches...

look how much your ideas have already changed and you JUST got your bcd shipped to your house....

oh and before all the backplate peeps get bent reading all this I am getting a backplate and wing setup eventually. But ive been diving almost two years and all over the world and cold and tropical and now im deciding if i want to do tropical caves i.e. cenotes or possibly sidemount in coldwater etc. When I really know what i want to do most i will then make my purchase.

as a new diver id say no to backplate and wing for that very reason. too many choices for me and as a new diver you are doing wreck penetrations or deep dives or caves so ....not needed. get a great flexible local and travel back inflate bcd instead until you are experienced enough for it.

yea yea i know , you can get a backplate as a new diver...many do. but if you do tropical all the time you dont want a steel plate..... and yea ive seen the steel backplates turned into backpacks carried onto planes.

how many divers actually do that ?

 

[MichaelMc]

This ^^^^ is a funny post.

many many people prefer back inflate bcds to back plate and wing

A BP/W is a back inflate BCD.

* "Too many choices", most of which will work equally fine, so... you should simplify to few options?
* The few options you advocate simplifying to do not give much flexibility to change just a part of them, say the weight system or the pockets, or the bladder size, if your needs shift or you did not judge your needs very well.
* So don't get a steel plate, get an aluminum one, I think its a better idea for the tropics.

get a great flexible local and travel back inflate bcd instead

Yes, one that you can swap components from many manufactures, or use to provide part of your ballast if desired.

until you are experienced enough for it

Until you find that your future tech plans have become present plans. Then you see if you need to swap out any of the components of the BP/W you started with or if it is just fine as is for single tank tech intro classes. When you want doubles, add a doubles wing.

A really funny post.
A BP/W is a back inflate BC. Just one designed around some common ideas and interchangeability of components....

 

[jerbee]

I’ve had my eye on the Cressi Patrol and the Cressi Ace since the first time I was shopping for my own gear a few years ago... those both look REALLY similar to the Hydros Pro. What’s the difference? A friend I dive with frequently swears by his Dive Rite backplate and OxyCheq wing, so I’ll probably try to get him to swap with me one of these upcoming trips and see how it feels.

 

[Wah]

I see where this thread is headed...

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Hmmm. I have been able to make deep dives with a BP/W. I also have made wreck dives, kelp dives, tropical dives and cold water wall dives...all with a backplate and wing. It's a miracle I was able to make all those dives without wearing a large sofa wrapped around me.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

This ^^^^ is a funny post.


A BP/W is a back inflate BCD.

* "Too many choices", most of which will work equally fine, so... you should simplify to few options?
* The few options you advocate simplifying to do not give much flexibility to change just a part of them, say the weight system or the pockets, or the bladder size, if your needs shift or you did not judge your needs very well.
* So don't get a steel plate, get an aluminum one, I think its a better idea for the tropics.


Yes, one that you can swap components from many manufactures, or use to provide part of your ballast if desired.


Until you find that your future tech plans have become present plans. Then you see if you need to swap out any of the components of the BP/W you started with or if it is just fine as is for single tank tech intro classes. When you want doubles, add a doubles wing.

A really funny post.
A BP/W is a back inflate BC. Just one designed around some common ideas and interchangeability of components....

A BPW is NOT a back inflate BCD. back inflate bcds come with an attached NON INTERCHANGEABLE wing. BPW can change from a 20 to a 40 to whatever. I get what you are saying but lets not go calling a truck a car just because they both have an engine.

the hydros bcd can change the weight system and gets rid of the pouches. it has a tropical setup with webbing and with the crotch strap its basically very similar to a backplate and wing. Aaaand thats all included. people flip out and say hydros is so expensive well it has two completely different systems included and it also includes the backpack which all of us hydros owners love , and you can buy it for under 700 dollars american.


BPW is can we say "hard core"? basically if you go that far you should go hogarthian, DIR , they all have little nuances but you might as well do it all the way if you are gonna do it and I aint going full necklace for the second and 15 foot long main hose.

I like my A.I. too much.

I get it. I LIKE BPW ....but im damn glad I did not get one as a new diver. It wouldnt fit my needs. I do coldwater ...relatively ....in northern CA in monterey. It aint ice diving but it also isnt diving in P.I. and mexico i do every year where water is 85 degrees.

my point was a bpw wouldnt have been as flexible or travel friendly as my hydros. I run that with the standard weight pouches in CA, and in philippines I take that whole harness off and putt on the tropical webbing as I only need about 4 pounds of weight 2 each in small trim pouches on the webbing.

long story short again I AM buying a BPW eventually but ill never call it a back inflate bcd

edit to let you know that i know i can go from a steel plate to aluminum to plastic but thats a headache for every trip.

 

[jerbee]

look how much your ideas have already changed and you JUST got your bcd shipped to your house....

You’re right about that - I suppose I should have realized that posting on here about gear would result in people bringing up stuff I never even thought about a few weeks ago...

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I wear the same backplate/wing in California as I do in the Philippines. I even use the same weightbelt, just fewer weights in the Philippines. I have no need to dismantle gear if I want to dive different places.