Need your advice, comments, critique

[elan]

In my effort to perfect my buoyancy I have got an idea yesterday. Why do not I just replace my back inflated BCD with a simple SS plate, harness and an STA and make my rig as balanced so I can dive w/o the BCD or a wing. This will kind of force me to adjust the weights as perfectly as possible otherwise it will not work as I would not be able to compensate the extra weight. I dive a dry suit so still I will be able to use it as a BCD slightly but not much. I have done some calculations and I think even if I use a SS plate I will still have ditchable weight so in case of dry suit flood I can still make myself positive. I want to start practicing it at shallow depths only (<50') for the beginning. At such trips I only use approx 3lb of air so I would even be able to compensate this with just my lungs.

Am I overlooking anything here ? Your positive and negative opinions are very welcome.


P.S. as a side question I would like to ask which SS back plate would you recommend.

 

[sandmanz32]

Old school divers never used wings. Not a safety issue. It can only make you a better diver to truly hone your bouyancy skills like that.

 

[mjh]

People dove without a bc for a long time. The only thing I see is you are overlooking a catastrophic failure including a buddy or situation were lift would be helpful. I dive a dry suit also w/Halcyon wing and pretty happy with my buoyancy.

 

[elan]

People dove without a bc for a long time. The only thing I see is you are overlooking a catastrophic failure including a buddy or situation were lift would be helpful. I dive a dry suit also w/Halcyon wing and pretty happy with my buoyancy.

Do you think having a lift bag clipped as a backup could improve the safety in this matter ?

Thanks

 

[Teamcasa]

Why don't you just not put any air in your BC while you practice your buoyancy skills?

 

[Cave Diver]

In my effort to perfect my buoyancy I have got an idea yesterday. Why do not I just replace my back inflated BCD with a simple SS plate, harness and an STA and make my rig as balanced so I can dive w/o the BCD or a wing. This will kind of force me to adjust the weights as perfectly as possible otherwise it will not work as I would not be able to compensate the extra weight.

What will this accomplish that diving with the wing empty wont? A wing may not be necessary, but I'd look at alternative methods of learning bouyancy control before deciding to just ditch using a wing.

 

[Cave Diver]

Do you think having a lift bag clipped as a backup could improve the safety in this matter ?

Thanks

Having a lift bag as an alternate lift source can improve safety, but the simpler solution is just keep the wing empty and add air in the event of an emergency.

 

[Cave Diver]

Why don't you just not put any air in your BC while you practice your buoyancy skills?

What will this accomplish that diving with the wing empty wont? A wing may not be necessary, but I'd look at alternative methods of learning bouyancy control before deciding to just ditch using a wing.

Great minds eh Dave?

 

[captain]

In my effort to perfect my buoyancy I have got an idea yesterday. Why do not I just replace my back inflated BCD with a simple SS plate, harness and an STA and make my rig as balanced so I can dive w/o the BCD or a wing. This will kind of force me to adjust the weights as perfectly as possible otherwise it will not work as I would not be able to compensate the extra weight. I dive a dry suit so still I will be able to use it as a BCD slightly but not much. I have done some calculations and I think even if I use a SS plate I will still have ditchable weight so in case of dry suit flood I can still make myself positive. I want to start practicing it at shallow depths only (<50') for the beginning. At such trips I only use approx 3lb of air so I would even be able to compensate this with just my lungs.

Am I overlooking anything here ? Your positive and negative opinions are very welcome.


P.S. as a side question I would like to ask which SS back plate would you recommend.

Sounds reasonable to me as long as you can swim your rig up with or without dumping weight. I seldom use a BC.

 

[ONESPEED]

Old school divers never used wings. Not a safety issue. It can only make you a better diver to truly hone your bouyancy skills like that.

Progress is a beautiful thing. Why regress when you can progress?

Oh, and it is a safety issue.