OMS singles need STA?

[BelikinBob]

Hi,
I am courious if anyone who has experience with the OMS set up knows if the singles wing requires an STA?
thanks
-Bob

 

[Tamas]

yes and no. while the wing does not have a built in STA you can dive without it if your backplate has cam slots on it - but you might want to try it with an STA for better fit and stability of the tank

 

[rmannix]

Running the bands thru the backplate slots works just fine if you only dive singles. I use the STA because I use the same wing for both singles and doubles (no big steel doubles) and I can switch between singles and doubles with just 2 wingnuts. The OMS STA and bands are very sturdy.

 

[Doc Harry]

The setup felt "floppy" to me without the STA.

Once I mounted the tank to the STA, it was solid.

Besides, the STA is another 2 pounds off your belt.

 

[dmblack58]

I used my OMS BP with the single tank wing for a week in the Caribbean. Now that I'm back I'm in the market for an STA. The set up works fine without the STA but if you have the extra hundred bucks go ahead and get it.

 

[Mandy3206]

I read somewhere that the OMS single wing has integrated STA in the form of small cilinders integrated into the center portion of the wing (stabilazers)

As pointed before, if the BP is a newer design, the camband slots allows to use the wing without a STA.

My BP is older type (without the camband slots) and requires a STA, so I use it with the STA.
Once I tried my buddy's BP (newer design) without the STA and felt the tank a bit less stable than with the STA, not much of a diference, but some was felt.

The main reason for me to use the STA is the 2# shaved from my ditchable weight, and the extra clearance from the 1st stage provided with the STA, no hitting the 1st stage with my head as happens with my DR Trans Pack.

If you don't need the extra weight, Dive Rite manufactures a lightweight STA that weights close to nothing.