price check on bp/w in isle 3

[rstofer]

It's a matter of philosophy, but there may come a time when you want to become more buoyant, for example if you need to float a distressed diver on the surface while you solve a problem, or feel the need for a little extra altitude because of surface water conditions while waiting for the boat.

Terry

And that is exactly why I keep mentioning ditchable weight. In my case, I can dump 20# of lead in an instant. I would hope my dive buddy would have a similar configuration. It's also why I don't get excited about using steel tanks for warm water diving - no ditchable weight.

Of course, it is always better to ditch the victim's weights. No reason for their problem to become your expense.

I don't think BP/Ws will ever give that out-of-the-water feeling of a jacket BC. Even fully inflated, I don't float anywhere near as high as I did with my SeaQuest ADVi. Everyone tells me "get over it, that's the way it is". If I have any reservations at all about the BP/W concept, that's the one. One reason for the lack of height: the lift is lower in the BC - down around the hips or just below the rib cage; at the pockets. With the BP/W the lift is much further up unless that crotch strap is a serious threat to future offspring.

I don't see using a wing with MUCH more buoyancy than necessary. It will taco around the tank, increase drag and generally be a nuisance to vent. Even my HOG 32# is much less streamlined than my DSS LCD 30#. In this case, it isn't so much a matter of lift as it is the difference between a U shape (DSS) and a horseshoe shape (HOG).

I really liked my ADVi with 38# of lift but, after 20 years, it was time to upgrade. I am quite happy with my DSS/LCD 30.

Richard