Oh Kayyyyy! yet another equip. question?

[Oxy]

I'm a recreational diver and had to replace my BC about a year ago. I opted for the back inflate because of the stability while photographing. Right after I did that I saw the BP/W set up and wished I'd done that. I could have dropped a bunch of added weight that way.

But like the other SB people say, rent what you want to try while getting certified.

These are the things I wish I could avoid, but in the long run i will never be satisfied so I shall be happy with a cert and enough affordable gear to stay wet off the beach here in so cal.

 

[Blackwood]

hoping to see you soon at vets park maybe.

I there most every weekend!

 

[Oxy]

I there most every weekend!

Yeah but I can't see you from my vantage point
some day tho

 

[pasley]

...back-inflate has better prone position characteristics i'm told, but no bc will upgrade to double tank unless you get a bp/w style.
Ultimately I would like to do tec type diving and wouldn't be asking this were I rich. I will be quite happy just getting wet (certified) with my own equipment.
I have my eyes on a seaquest latitude xlt jacket type
should i spring for a better bc? (mind you it's twice as much):11:

now how much more or less would a bp/w style run and how much more trouble?

As has been said, call Tobin at DSS. An excellent Back Plate and wing will set you back about what a jacket BC would cost, or maybe less. If your jacket BC bladder gets a leak, in many cases you have to buy a new one. If the wing gets a leak, unzip it, remove the bladder and either fix it or replace the bladder.

Yes a BW does trim out easier and gives you better positioning in the water. If you see doubles in your future, then go BW now. I waited 270 dives and wish I had made the switch years ago. A jacket BC tends to trap some air and even whten empty the materials are bouyant. The individual componets of my DSS BW sink, my jacket BC as empty of air as I could get it in my rinse tank always floated which accounted for at least 2 pounds on of my weights.

 

[don Francisco]

Oxy- you wouldn't marry the first girl you date & you wouldn't pick a career based on the advice of your uncles. Likewise, take your time deciding on which diving hardware you want.

Get some dives under your weight belt, see what you like, and what you don't. Find out what's out there & decide how you want to spend your hard earned cash. It's not like there's going to be an equipment shortage anytime soon, so why hurry. dF

 

[vel525]

Well, it seems that money is definitely a concern for you. Then honestly, I would not plan on going "tech" for a few years. I am currently not a technical diver, but have recently been looking into it and the gear alone (doubles, drysuit if necessary, bigger wing, additional regs, etc) quickly add up to a lot of money. Since money seems to be a concern, I would buy a decent, but less expensive BCD and just do a lot of diving. Of course if you are planning on doing some technical diving eventually, you can get a BP/W now, but honestly even the backplate you buy now may not be what you need when you start diving doubles. Maybe you get an AL plate now for rec diving, but you really need a SS plate for your doubles setup. Just saying, that if money is a concern that maybe just forget out technical diving for a few years and just go diving instead.

As for a reasonably priced BC, you can always get a used one on here or check out scubatoys I think they have demo gear for sale. Either way, good luck.

 

[Oxy]

Oxy- you wouldn't marry the first girl you date & you wouldn't pick a career based on the advice of your uncles. Likewise, take your time deciding on which diving hardware you want.

dF

Actually I may have, I am that old and it was the in thing in those times.

BUT there is going to be a money shortage.

 

[Oxy]

Well, it seems that money is definitely a concern for you. Then honestly, I would not plan on going "tech" for a few years. I am currently not a technical diver, but have recently been looking into it and the gear alone (doubles, drysuit if necessary, bigger wing, additional regs, etc) quickly add up to a lot of money. Since money seems to be a concern, I would buy a decent, but less expensive BCD and just do a lot of diving. Of course if you are planning on doing some technical diving eventually, you can get a BP/W now, but honestly even the backplate you buy now may not be what you need when you start diving doubles. Maybe you get an AL plate now for rec diving, but you really need a SS plate for your doubles setup. Just saying, that if money is a concern that maybe just forget out technical diving for a few years and just go diving instead.

As for a reasonably priced BC, you can always get a used one on here or check out scubatoys I think they have demo gear for sale. Either way, good luck.

VERY GOOD POINT! even if I get BP/W now I may not win the lotto and be able to afford the additional gear.

Well it has been narrowed down to controllable chaos
Water- IN
Deep water- OUT
Warm gear- IN
Nitrox upgradable- IN
Back inflate- maybe
Brain- not much left
Looks like I'm going to be a REC/Sport diver with some sand a pony in the tub.

 

[TSandM]

There are several very active groups of divers in SoCal that participate here and on other boards. Hook up with the Beach Crabs, or one of the Wrinkles dives, and you can hang out with a bunch of divers and see what they're using and talk to them about why they like it. Nothing like actually getting to see and put your hands on gear before you buy it.

 

[rawls]

Oxy....Go get certified and everything else will fall in place as you dive more. TSandM made an excellent suggestion. Developing a rapport with a group will no doubt provide answers to these questions you have. Divers, for the most part, are very nice people and want to help anyway they can.