Looking for Similar BCs and Perhaps an Inflammatory Question

[certainmisuse]

Hello,

You good folks have me leaning towards a BP/W for my reentry into diving; however, I'm not completely sold on the major differences between a BP/W and a few traditional options that I, perhaps naively, believe are similar. See relatively benign first question, and -- hopefully not too -- inflammatory second question below.

1. Please provide similar options to either of these BCs: ScubaPro LiteHawk, Dive Rite TransPac XT. I'm not looking for a travel BC intentionally, but I am looking for minimalist, so naturally these two are candidates.

2. What does the TransPac offer that the LiteHawk can't provide, besides customization? That is, I get the modularity of being able to modify the TransPac (e.g., from singles to doubles), but let's say you have already purchased both systems as is. So more a question regarding functionality. Both are shown below for reference.

TransPac LiteHawk

Thanks for all your help so far!

Kind Regards,
David

 

[DogDiver]

Sorry it’s like comparing apples to oranges. I live 20 miles from Dive Rite. Great products and I use multiple of their stuff for cave diving.
BUT, for my open water recreational diving I use a simple Scubapro Glide Plus jacket. Just sayen

 

[certainmisuse]

Sorry it’s like comparing apples to oranges. I live 20 miles from Dive Rite. Great products and I use multiple of their stuff for cave diving.
BUT, for my open water recreational diving I use a simple Scubapro Glide Plus jacket. Just sayen

Can you kindly elaborate? Im trying to understand the major differences and how important they are to me.

Also, good to hear there is a Shop, I'm in GA but frequent FL. Thanks.

 

[-JD-]

TransPac like - these use "standard" detachable wings. Big advantage is match your wing lift to the dives you are doing - big difference depending on exposure protection, tank type(s), fixed/ditchable/belted weights, etc.
- OMS IQ-Lite - at its basic configuration is a very light-weight soft pack that you can optionally slip a full plate into, either for weight or doubles stability. One fixed aluminum D-Ring on each shoulder and an aluminum ring that connects the upper, lower, and sternum straps. Dual tank straps. (I've been diving a similar, earlier IQ pack that allows full configuration of the shoulder D-rings, etc., but have a NOS IQ-Lite here as well.)
- OxyCheq offers a "deluxe" harness that can be used with soft or hard backplate.
- HOG has their Total Boyancy Control System that can be used with a hard or soft plate.
- I'm sure there are others (I know APEKS has a softplate but have not seen their deluxe harness.

LiteHawk (have one here for my son) if you haven't seen it person, note that it uses a rigid plastic spine/tank-cradle plate, so it is not completely flexible. Single tank strap, one small plastic D-ring on each shoulder strap, 54 lbs of rated lift in a still fairly compact integrated back-inflate wing. Waist belt can be configured how you like since it only has minimal hip pads with small web loops around the belt.
- Zeagle offers some similar models from basic to ones with integrated dumpable weight pockets and utility pockets.
- There are many others that others will chime in on, hopefully.

Probably best if you describe the types of diving that you plan to be doing. Also if you want fully off the shelf or are willing to/require tinkering to match your needs.

 

[certainmisuse]

TransPac like - these use "standard" detachable wings. Big advantage is match your wing lift to the dives you are doing - big difference depending on exposure protection, tank type(s), fixed/ditchable/belted weights, etc.
- OMS IQ-Lite - at its basic configuration is a very light-weight soft pack that you can optionally slip a full plate into, either for weight or doubles stability. One fixed aluminum D-Ring on each shoulder and an aluminum ring that connects the upper, lower, and sternum straps. Dual tank straps. (I've been diving a similar, earlier IQ pack that allows full configuration of the shoulder D-rings, etc., but have a NOS IQ-Lite here as well.)
- OxyCheq offers a "deluxe" harness that can be used with soft or hard backplate.
- HOG has their Total Boyancy Control System that can be used with a hard or soft plate.
- I'm sure there are others (I know APEKS has a softplate but have not seen their deluxe harness.

LiteHawk (have one here for my son) if you haven't seen it person, note that it uses a rigid plastic spine/tank-cradle plate, so it is not completely flexible. Single tank strap, one small plastic D-ring on each shoulder strap, 54 lbs of rated lift in a still fairly compact integrated back-inflate wing. Waist belt can be configured how you like since it only has minimal hip pads with small web loops around the belt.
- Zeagle offers some similar models from basic to ones with integrated dumpable weight pockets and utility pockets.
- There are many others that others will chime in on, hopefully.

Probably best if you describe the types of diving that you plan to be doing. Also if you want fully off the shelf or are willing to/require tinkering to match your needs.

Awesome information here! I'll start looking through these.

The diving will be almost exclusively shallow (<50 ft sw) shore diving around the coast of Florida. Some of it will be solo, so I will need the rig to hold a small redundant system. Still undecided on redundant tank size, but likely less than or equal to 30 cu.

 

[diversteve]

Lighthawk "like"

Aqualung Zuma
Zeagle Covert XL
either oft these roll-up for travel.

Zeagle Express Tech is a modular soft backplate

More heft but they still refer to it as a travel model:
Zeagle Stiletto. I almost crammed one into a carry-on with nothing else. Single tank only.

I dove a Ranger for a decade - it just works

 

[-JD-]

Awesome information here! I'll start looking through these.

The diving will be almost exclusively shallow (<50 ft sw) shore diving around the coast of Florida. Some of it will be solo, so I will need the rig to hold a small redundant system. Still undecided on redundant tank size, but likely less than or equal to 30 cu.

For diving solo, and/or slinging a pony, I'd be strongly inclined to pick a BC system that either comes with, or allows securely adding, sufficient, metal D-rings to the shoulder and waist straps for clipping everything in. I'd be nervous about durability with plastic D-drings and a slung pony - especially out of the water.

FWIW, I now also have a DiveRite lift bag in a sleeve mounted to the bottom of my soft back-plate primarily for emergency, redundant lift. I also have been slinging a 19 (and just got a 40). Fortunately, my older OMS IQ has been very configurable, so that I have be able to add as required. OMS 3-cavity quick-dump weight/utility pockets on the waist belt are somewhat bulky, but allow me to store backup light, shears, DSMB/spool, backup mask plus room for some other small things in addition to plenty of ditchable weight.

Maybe, to the extent you can, work up exactly what you need to carry and how you would like it to be clipped, mounted, pocketed, etc. And then see if your short list of BCs can by nature or addition/reconfiguration of rings/pockets/D-rings/grommets, support that plan.

 

[diversteve]

If you're ever near Ft. Lauderdale - check out the Divers Direct store on I-95 about 5 mins. from the airport.
they have a lot of gear - it's a big place. Also two locations in the Keys and Orlando.
Scuba Diving Gear, Fins, Tanks, Masks & more | Divers Direct - Divers Direct

 

[CT-Rich]

I was talking with a guy diving the lighthawk. It looked really sleek for the amount of lift. He was doing a lot of traveling for work and was bringing his gear with him. Slinging a pony on a plastic D-ring can Probably be fixed by adding a metal clip.

BP/W are very versatile, but you have to ask yourself, are you going to use it enough to get the full benefit? A steel plate will be more of a hassle if you are going to travel. If you are going to use doubles, the back plate and changeable bladders is probably a nice feature. If you plan on just tossing an 80 in the car after work a couple of times a week, the light hawk may be plenty.

Even though BP/W is popular on SB, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the wider dive community. If you are diving with minimal wetsuit and want to use a steel tank, a steel back plate may over weight you.