Rescue Diver with a back inflator?

[ganu76]

I'm considering getting a back-inflate soon (Zeagle maybe or something of the like) but after that, I will ABSOLUTELY enroll in a Rescue Diver course this coming Summer. So my question is whether or not I will have any difficulties using my new back-inflate with the Rescue Diver course. (Too much air behind me when towing a student/victim? etc. I'm shooting for a ballpark lift capacity of 35# with the BC.)

Really looking for ANY thoughts, concerns, or pointers about taking this course with this type of BC. My only experience with any type of back-inflate has been with a borrowed Hollis and I loved it... but I obviously wasn't taking Rescue Diver at the time either. I'm not that set on getting a back-inflate but I AM set on taking this course.

Thanks in advance.

 

[GillScales]

Towing on the surface? Ditch your weights and victims weights,and you shouldn't need all that much air in your bladder,it's not likely to tip you forward anyway.

 

[PfcAJ]

If you're going to use that BC for regular diving, I think its a great idea to use it for training. You will learn what's good and not good about it, and it will make you better.

 

[Wildbill]

A back inflate BC will work well for Rescue, I have used one for years as a PSD and rescue diver. When doing rescue you'll appreciate not having "extra" BC material around your waist/abdomen area.

 

[freshorangina]

Last summer I got my new BC, AL Lotus i3. It is a back inflate and does not have a hose, but the i3 lever instead. I did my Rescue Diver course, and it worked out great. Go for it!

 

[xspect]

I did my rescue with a backplate, 3mm suit, hog 23lb wing and no weights. No problems

 

[g1138]

Might want to brush up on your terms a bit so everyone knows what you're looking for.

Back-inflates refers to stock type BC's that put the bladder inflation behind you. Back inflator is not a commonly used term to refer to these types of BCs.
ie.

Bp/W, (backplate and wing/backplate-wing/ or simply backplate) such as the Hollis you probably are referring to, are a modular system that consists of a plate, wing, and harness. Plates usually come weighted between 0lbs synthetic, 2lbs aluminum, and 6lbs stainless steel.
ie.


You shouldn't really need to fully inflate a 30lbs wing to stay at the surface. If you do you're most likely overweighted. Drysuit or wetsuit bouyancy should help out so you don't have to fully inflate. You can also ditch your weights, which is probably the popular surface rescue method.
So on the off chance that you do have problems towing a victim, just deflate your BC a tad.

Since you are learning rescue techniques, it would be best to have a few shakedown dives with your new BC before the class starts. That way you can identify and solve any issues you might have with a new system. You can also have a list of things to work on with your instructor ahead of time.

 

[RJP]

Did Rescue in double steel 119s. Not a problem.

 

[pongobaz]

Did my Rescue with a back inflate Dimension i3. No issues whatsoever.

 

[fisheater]

Did my Rescue in a Zeagle Ranger. (Now, I dive only BP/Ws.)