New diver looking to purchase first BC, lots of questions...

[TSandM]

Maynerd, you don't say anything about where you are or where you are diving.

There is nothing "exclusively tech" about backplate setups, and if you buy one, you almost certainly won't be trading it in for something else in six months, which is something I can't necessarily say about other choices. But backplate and wing setups are not "grab and go" like the BCs your LDS sells. You have to assemble them, and you have to make some decisions about how you want to do it, and how to solve other diving issues. For example, backplate setups generally don't come with any kind of weight integration. You can buy ditchable weight pockets, like the Halcyon ACB system (and ScubaPro has one for their tech setup, too) or you can buy a separate weight harness like the DUI Weight & Trim, or you can wear a weight belt. If you choose a belt, you have to figure out whether you are going to wear it over or under the harness, and be aware of the issues associated with either choice.

In addition, BP/W setups don't come with any kind of storage, so if you are going to take things like lights or marker buoys or scissors or any other small items into the water with you, you have to figure out where you are going to put them. You CAN buy pockets to put on the rig, or shorts with pockets you can wear over your exposure protection, or put pockets on your wet or dry suit, but again, you have to sort this out.

There is a ton of information on this board to help you make such decisions and implement them, and lots of us who are more than willing to answer questions or give advice, but it does require a bit more investment from the diver than an "off-the-shelf" setup.

That said, I wouldn't dive anything else, and we start our OW students in backplates.

I personally don't like the integrated octos. There are tons of threads here about them, with people giving the reasons for and against. Again, you have to choose, and then implement what you want. You CAN put an integrated octo on a wing -- you just have to be sure that the couplings for the Air2 and original inflator have the same diameter and the threads will mate. For me, the longer hose primary and bungied backup works better.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I agree with Lynne as well and only wish I was able to put all my students in a BPW. Getting there but not quite yet. A basic BPW does not change from diver to diver. Once you get into diving a bit more and decide what you want to do you may make alterations to your kit. But essentially a BPW has a plate (al or steel does not matter except when it comes to weighting), a wing, and a simple one piece harness with 3 or 4 d rings and a buckle, and a crotch strap. No gimmicks, no extra bs to deal with. Teaching students in BPW's is no harder than in any other kind of BC. In fact it's easier for some things. Donning and doffing gear is much easier than dealing with all the flapping material of a regular BC. For many getting in trim is easier as well. Though a professional should be able to take any BC they can get on and within a few minutes dive in trim and neutral. But as a new diver the BC you choose now is the one you will likely be diving for a good while.

 

[Maynerd]

OK, then I'm not completely crazy for seeing the merits of a BP&W. I'm an engineer and fabricator by profession and am a minimalist by nature. From a design standpoint the BP&W just seems like a more robust design to me. From a fabricators standpoint I see it as a kind of fitting table for my gear, something I can tear down and set up to suit any given job/dive at hand. I'm just not sure if it makes sense from the perspective of a novice diver, which I also am. I think I can handle the setup, it may take me a few times to get it right but that will be half the fun, as long as it doesn't get me hurt in the process.

I like to take my time learning so I don't see myself going beyond advanced open water until I accumulate many more dives and in my older age I not too sure that I feel the need or have the desire to push the envelope too hard so I don't know that if I'll ever go any farther than AOW, but then again there was a time when snorkeling was "good enough".

As far as my diving preferences, given a choice the majority of my dives would be reef dives with occasional wreck dives in tropical waters, caving really does sound interesting though, that will likely change as time progresses, but that is how I feel today. The reality of my situation is that most of my dives will be done in lakes and quarries with a trip or two to FL or the Caribbean a couple of time per year, the Maldives are on my short list though but I'll never be able to afford to go if I keep changing out gear.

 

[k ellis]

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[MSltr]

My advice is to try before you buy; rent or borrow. Make sure it works for you. I find it interesting the U.S Navy's list of equipment "Authorized for Navy Use" includes conventional BCs, so don't disregard them. Also, don't forget you will have to have it serviced-recommended annually.

http://www.supsalv.org/pdf/ANU.pdf

 

[Shftrdog]

I really like the Cressi Travel Light, it is a great BCD that is amazing for travel. Any way you go will be good.

 

[eelnoraa]

I also vote for BP/W too. If nothing else, it is just another back inflate BC, which is less buoyant itself, and with rigid back support. If desired, intergrated weight pockets & storage pockets can be added onto harness. What BP/W offers here is flexility and expandibility. So I don't see a reason not to go with it.

 

[ScubaSam]

Great advice already posted for going BP/W and not go with integrated octo. I wished I knew about SB at the time I was at 25 dives and brought a Zeagle BC with the integrated Zeagle AirII Octo.

I now own a BP/W, no integrated Air II octo, for all the reasons already stated by the other posters.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

My advice is to try before you buy; rent or borrow. Make sure it works for you. I find it interesting the U.S Navy's list of equipment "Authorized for Navy Use" includes conventional BCs, so don't disregard them. Also, don't forget you will have to have it serviced-recommended annually.

http://www.supsalv.org/pdf/ANU.pdf

Huh? What on a BC would you need to have serviced annually? A BC that is properly rinsed and taken care of after each dive day should not need an inspection every year. At least one that you have to pay for. The only items that really need attention if the BC holds air are the dumps and inflator. And those can be done by any halfway mechanically inclined person once they are shown how. Dump valve- unscrew, don't lose the spring, rinse any excess salt, inspect diaphragm, reassemble.

Inflator- check to see that it works smoothly and does not leak. Is it sticking or hard to work? If not continue to rinse regularly and dive until it doesn't. If it begins to act up give it a really good rinsing, if it still acts up then take it in. My Probe never needed attention for the 4 years I owned it. When I decided to sell it I rebuilt the inflator myself.

 

[k ellis]

One thing I love about the zeagle is I can remove my integrated octo (Again I personally recommend these) and attach the water hose to it so it can be flushed. I usually turn the water on and let it fill the bladder up and open the various dump valves as its filling so the water can run through and flush them out.

If you decide to go with the BPW check out their line of BPWs as again Zeagle makes one of the best (In my opinion) user friendly products in the scuba market currently.

Check them out at Zeagle Express is the most complete source for everything Zeagle Systems makes and look for yourself.