Looking to buy a BC.. Any suggestions?

[scubafire]

You should get one of them there bc's where you can put air in it and it makes you float and sink and stuff. I saw one of them in a movie once. That would be what I would git.

No really, I purchased a back inflate tek bc from Divers-Supply. It is a Sea Elite which is (I guess) their company model. It is amazing. I don't see any of them on their website though....hmmm....you could call and ask I suppose.
I would definately go with back inflate though...jacket is good for sitting upright in a class but to be horizontal...ah, that is the way to go.

 

[SangP]

Sigh...

This is a bungied setup. How is this (SS1) the same as a bungied backup? One's integrated the other isn't.

Back to the topic, Scubachick76 if you are just into a bit of wreck diving that only requires a single tank a regular backinflate bc is fine, heck any bc is fine but if you are into photography, a jacket bc might be better cus some of my friends who are into photography actually prefer the fact you can move bubbles all over the bc to accomodate some pretty strange positions in the water LOL!

A bp/w is the best option if you are going to do more technical dives or prefer a simplier more streamline setup. It tends to pack better and dries faster than a regular bc. It isn't the cheapest option but it's one which allows you to grow into it depending of what future dives you plan to go into. A bp/w is also the most flexible when it comes to fit.

Scubachick76, your physical build, experience and budget is also very important as getting a bc that is right for you would really depend on them as well. Why don't you tell us a bit more bout yourself and your needs.

SangP

Edited because I don't need to say more that that.

 

[PerroneFord]

With an SS1 you donate your primary. An SS1 is on a shorter hose and hanging right at chest level. That's "pretty much the same thing."

As for you, you only make yourself look stupid. You have no credibility on this board. Please add me to you ignore list and we'll both be happier.

Corvette.. Chevette... motor, wheels, same company. That's pretty much the same thing right?

LOL! Thanks for the laugh early this morning...

 

[TSandM]

scubachick, the most important thing is that what you buy fits well and is comfortable IN THE WATER. This can sometimes be hard to figure out on land, and what a really good fit is was something I had to learn over time -- unfortunately, learning to jettison my first BC in the process.

You want something that is comfortable and holds the tank securely and stably on your back. I didn't realize that was possible at first, and mastered the "one elbow tank shove" to put it back in the middle of my back.

If you are diving cold water, you WILL want something that allows you to move some of the weight you carry up onto your back (trim pockets, or a backplate) so that you are not condemned to diving feet down because that's how you are weighted.

I bought an Air2 originally, because the streamlining of getting rid of a hose appealed to me. After my husband and I did a couple of air-shares, I got rid of it. I didn't like trying to manage my buoyancy and breathe off the inflator at the same time. But if you do decide to go with an Air2 type setup, realize that you should have a longer hose on your primary regulator than the usual 24 inches. Otherwise, should you have to share air with someone, you will be eyeball-to-eyeball with them all the way to the surface.

My husband and I both use the bungied secondary setup (even he switched from the Air2, and it didn't irritate him nearly as much as it did me). Peter has used a 36" octo hose with a swivel on his primary, and currently is diving a 5' hose.

I am a small woman, and found the ability to customize a harness worked well for me, so I ended up in a backplate and wing.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

But if you do decide to go with an Air2 type setup, realize that you should have a longer hose on your primary regulator than the usual 24 inches. Otherwise, should you have to share air with someone, you will be eyeball-to-eyeball with them all the way to the surface.

VERY important... and often overlooked. Good one, Lynne!

 

[KansaiKitsune]

Question for the BP/W types:

I haven't considered BP/W, but that's because I usually have stuff I like to carry with me when I dive, sometimes on ziplines. For example, my camera, and I like to clip off my octo and spg/computer so it doesn't drag on things. How do you do it with a BP/W?

Also, please don't take the above as a snide comment, I'm serious, I really want to know how you do it. I like the idea of no drag and more finning power, so I want to know if I could do it.

 

[PerroneFord]

I had opportunity this week to do an OOA excercise with a new diver using an Air2 type device. We were in the midst of doing skill work, and I showed her the OOA signal. She donated to me, struggled a bit to find her Air2, and we did an ascent from about 10ft, to the surface. Eyeball to eyeball. Then we repeated the exercise with my 7ft hose. She seemed to like it much better.

On the surface, we did a simulated OOA again. As I wanted to help her understand something. She put her Air2 in her mouth, and I took her short primary. I then moved to her right side. And asked her to look at my eyes to see if I was panicked.. like she might have to do underwater. Of course she couldnt. Nor could she check around herself like she might have to do underwater in an OOA.

It was very instructive for us both.

 

[PerroneFord]

Question for the BP/W types:

I haven't considered BP/W, but that's because I usually have stuff I like to carry with me when I dive, sometimes on ziplines. For example, my camera, and I like to clip off my octo and spg/computer so it doesn't drag on things. How do you do it with a BP/W?

Also, please don't take the above as a snide comment, I'm serious, I really want to know how you do it. I like the idea of no drag and more finning power, so I want to know if I could do it.

The SPG is clipped to your left hip d-ring. The camera can be clipped to a chest d-ring or the butt d-ring for a long swim. The octo hangs under your neck and is not clipped to anything... it's unnecesary. But this is not unique to a BP/W. You could wear a BP/W and do exactly the same thing you do now.

 

[SangP]

KansaiKitsune,

The questions you posted are good questions and here is an article on the reason for the configuration for DIR but it can be adopted for other types of diving. On your question of spg, we don't use them cus a computer is on your wrist and the the only thing we have on the high pressure hose is the pressure gauge on a 2 foot hose which has a clip to attach to a d ring on the harness. For a camera, you could easily clip it to other d rings on the harness. The only thing on a bp/w which isn't standard are pockets.

If you are very used to having pouches for all sorts of gear, a bp/w will feel very basic but I would rather say streamline.

Have a look at these sites on equipment images and how this configuration allow you to dive.

More stuff to read.

Cheers,

SangP

 

[CompuDude]

Question for the BP/W types:

I haven't considered BP/W, but that's because I usually have stuff I like to carry with me when I dive, sometimes on ziplines. For example, my camera, and I like to clip off my octo and spg/computer so it doesn't drag on things. How do you do it with a BP/W?

Also, please don't take the above as a snide comment, I'm serious, I really want to know how you do it. I like the idea of no drag and more finning power, so I want to know if I could do it.

Your average bp/w setup has a number of D-Rings. You could use whichever D-ring you prefer to clip things off, same as you currently do (I assume). There are specific DIR ways to clip things off, but if you're not trying to go DIR there's no reason you can't use whatever works best for you. You don't need to be DIR to enjoy the benefits a bp/w can bring.