OMS BC/W setup. What do I need to buy?

[dmaziuk]

Thanks! I dove with 5mm + 6kg (13lbs) in the Red Sea. Never dove in California, where I'll be diving mostly in. But from what I heard, divers usually take in more weights in the Red Sea due to its higher salinity than other seas. But I'll be diving in a drysuit in Cal..

So let's say you aim for ~13 pounds. If you buy a steel plate it'll weigh some 5-6 lbs and you'll need another 8 to make 13. You can put 2 DGX trim pouches on the top camband and put 4 lbs in each. That'll get you to your target weight but it may make you top heavy (head-down trim). You may want to put a couple of 2 lbs up top and a couple on the belt instead -- but you won't know until you try.

Or you could go Al or soft plate in which case you could put, say, 2x3 lbs up top and 2x4 on the belt. Either way you shouldn't need large weight pockets for this: too big for this amount of weight and take up too much space on you.

 

[nicole2]

So let's say you aim for ~13 pounds. If you buy a steel plate it'll weigh some 5-6 lbs and you'll need another 8 to make 13. You can put 2 DGX trim pouches on the top camband and put 4 lbs in each. That'll get you to your target weight but it may make you top heavy (head-down trim). You may want to put a couple of 2 lbs up top and a couple on the belt instead -- but you won't know until you try.

Or you could go Al or soft plate in which case you could put, say, 2x3 lbs up top and 2x4 on the belt. Either way you shouldn't need large weight pockets for this: too big for this amount of weight and take up too much space on you.

Okay! Thanks

 

[FishgutsB]

Thank you! My main concern now is if OMS backplate would work for my size or not.. Do you use 32lbs wing? Also, is it okay using iq lite without a backplate? I heard the backplate helps with staying in a proper trim.

I like the iq lite without the backplate for comfort with a 3mm or shorty . I dive a 32 but really even 18 would satisfy my needs in warm water . I use to use the older IQ with a 45 pound bondage wing diving double 98lp and 30 poney down the middle(80/early 90s standard NE wreck setup) . If you going dry you may want to check out standard iq harness also .... it can be found at real low prices...... it will accept a backplate also (slides in ) and I found it extremely comfortable and work well diving dry.... good luck on your search

 

[FishgutsB]

I like the iq lite without the backplate for comfort with a 3mm or shorty . I dive a 32 but really even 18 would satisfy my needs in warm water . I use to use the older IQ with a 45 pound bondage wing diving double 98lp and 30 poney down the middle(80/early 90s standard NE wreck setup) . If you going dry you may want to check out standard iq harness also .... it can be found at real low prices...... it will accept a backplate also (slides in ) and I found it extremely comfortable and work well diving dry.... good luck on your search

Only down side to the regular IQ is it’s a bit heavy and does not pack well fro travel

 

[nicole2]

Only down side to the regular IQ is it’s a bit heavy and does not pack well fro travel

Thanks a lot again!!

 

[-JD-]

Only down side to the regular IQ is it’s a bit heavy and does not pack well fro travel

I have an older, "regular" IQ, and it is really not much heavier than the "Lite". For travel (Cozumel) I just took off the back pad and never noticed a problem with just the soft pack,a 3mm and AL80.

I also have a brand-new IQ Lite sitting here in my "spares" that I never got around to diving. Really my only "Lite" complaint was that the shoulder D-Rings are non-configurable (stitching is way lighter than tri-glides, so I get-it), beyond that the difference was mostly AL hardware instead of Stainless.

Both my regular and Lite versions have the removable backpad which is significant for packing size.

 

[nicole2]

I have an older, "regular" IQ, and it is really not much heavier than the "Lite". For travel (Cozumel) I just took off the back pad and never noticed a problem with just the soft pack,a 3mm and AL80.

I also have a brand-new IQ Lite sitting here in my "spares" that I never got around to diving. Really my only "Lite" complaint was that the shoulder D-Rings are non-configurable (stitching is way lighter than tri-glides, so I get-it), beyond that the difference was mostly AL hardware instead of Stainless.

Both my regular and Lite versions have the removable backpad which is significant for packing size.

Thanks !

 

[-JD-]

Well, I've only dove in the Red Sea with rental gears and I usually wore 5mm suit + 6kg(13lbs) lead.
Since I'll be moving to AZ soon, I'll probably dive mostly in California and may also take trips to Caribbeans. I also plan on going to Southeastern Asia. So basically all over... I also want to try diving in cold water, like Iceland.
I haven't dove in SoCal yet, but for my knowledge I would need a drysuit. For other regions, 3mm and 5mm (or even a swimsuit) should suffice. Although I got my divemaster, I'm still a recreational diver! I enjoy going deep but not so much in tech yet. I'm planning on doing single cylinder only!

Hope this is a good amount of information!

First off, your particular body geometry is going to play a role in sizing. Specifically, how long your torso is. 5'2" and all leg is different than short-legs and long torso.

A recent Small-plate discussion: Small BackplateSmall Backplate

If you are going to go with a hard-plate and harness, maybe you will need a "small" plate or not, but some plates like the Halcyon that Marie13 showed, require an additional Singe Tank Adapter (STA) to attach the cambands. More bulk and travel weight. Others have cam-band slots built in.

If you are staying single tank there a couple single-tank specific plates that are lighter and less bulky for travel:

Golem Gear - built in stabilization:
Golem Stream Backplate

Freedom Plate - also available in small size, AL or SS:
The new Freedom Contour - The Rolex of backplates.
Freedom Plate Divers Roll Call: show us your rig!
Freedom Plate information bulletin: Please read
Freedom Plate information bulletin: Please read

You also can use the same harness assembly on various "soft-plates" from OxyCheq, Apeks, and others for less travel weight and bulk.

Going this route, you have more options and configurability, at the cost of doing more work of research, purchasing, and setup.



Soft-pack assemblies like the OMS IQs, Dive-Rite TransPacks, and HOG Total Buoyancy Control systems give you a finished solution or all of the parts (that are known to work together), with varying degrees of customization.


If I was buying just one wing now, for your range of uses, I would probably choose the Vintage Double Hose 35# for maximum flexibility - the VDHs are so compact in width that there seems to be little streamlining penalty for up-sizing.


FWIW: I have just moved from an old OMS IQ (regular) to a standard-size, but extra-thin (material - not cut) stainless Freedom Contour plate, a customized/converted harness derived from surplus Dive-Rite TransPack/TransPlate parts, and a HOG 32# wing.

 

[blake7]

If I was buying just one wing now, for your range of uses, I would probably choose the Vintage Double Hose 35# for maximum flexibility - the VDHs are so compact in width that there seems to be little streamlining penalty for up-sizing.


FWIW: I have just moved from an old OMS IQ (regular) to a standard-size, but extra-thin (material - not cut) stainless Freedom Contour plate, a customized/converted harness derived from surplus Dive-Rite TransPack/TransPlate parts, and a HOG 32# wing.

IMHO, the VDH 35 and the Freedom Plate in the right size for you is the ultimate BP/W combination for single tank diving on the market right now. The difference in size between the VDH 35 and 18 is so small, that only if you wanted the absolute smallest warm water rig would it make sense to get the 18. Check out the photo comparison of the 35 and 18 here and here. Getting the 35 would allow you to dive in nothing but swimsuit all the way to a drysuit with heavy undergarments.

The same would be true with the Golem gear small backplate mentioned by @-JD- and I would personally not get the Halcyon small since I don't like the STA solution it requires.

I am also a big fan of the simple single webbing harness for both comfort and simplicity, but any harness you like would work with the above combination.

 

[nicole2]

First off, your particular body geometry is going to play a role in sizing. Specifically, how long your torso is. 5'2" and all leg is different than short-legs and long torso.

A recent Small-plate discussion: Small BackplateSmall Backplate

If you are going to go with a hard-plate and harness, maybe you will need a "small" plate or not, but some plates like the Halcyon that Marie13 showed, require an additional Singe Tank Adapter (STA) to attach the cambands. More bulk and travel weight. Others have cam-band slots built in.

If you are staying single tank there a couple single-tank specific plates that are lighter and less bulky for travel:

Golem Gear - built in stabilization:
Golem Stream Backplate
View attachment 525036

Freedom Plate - also available in small size, AL or SS:
The new Freedom Contour - The Rolex of backplates.
Freedom Plate Divers Roll Call: show us your rig!
Freedom Plate information bulletin: Please read
Freedom Plate information bulletin: Please read

You also can use the same harness assembly on various "soft-plates" from OxyCheq, Apeks, and others for less travel weight and bulk.

Going this route, you have more options and configurability, at the cost of doing more work of research, purchasing, and setup.



Soft-pack assemblies like the OMS IQs, Dive-Rite TransPacks, and HOG Total Buoyancy Control systems give you a finished solution or all of the parts (that are known to work together), with varying degrees of customization.


If I was buying just one wing now, for your range of uses, I would probably choose the Vintage Double Hose 35# for maximum flexibility - the VDHs are so compact in width that there seems to be little streamlining penalty for up-sizing.


FWIW: I have just moved from an old OMS IQ (regular) to a standard-size, but extra-thin (material - not cut) stainless Freedom Contour plate, a customized/converted harness derived from surplus Dive-Rite TransPack/TransPlate parts, and a HOG 32# wing.

IMHO, the VDH 35 and the Freedom Plate in the right size for you is the ultimate BP/W combination for single tank diving on the market right now. The difference in size between the VDH 35 and 18 is so small, that only if you wanted the absolute smallest warm water rig would it make sense to get the 18. Check out the photo comparison of the 35 and 18 here and here. Getting the 35 would allow you to dive in nothing but swimsuit all the way to a drysuit with heavy undergarments.

The same would be true with the Golem gear small backplate mentioned by @-JD- and I would personally not get the Halcyon small since I don't like the STA solution it requires.

I am also a big fan of the simple single webbing harness for both comfort and simplicity, but any harness you like would work with the above combination.

Thank you all for your advice!
After all the research.. I'm now looking at Scubapro hydros..