Shore Dives with BP/W

[certainmisuse]

Hello,

Is it preferred to have more padding on the straps when walking long distances for shore dives? Is a continuous webbing harness without any additional padding too uncomfortable for such dives? I'm hoping not because I'm leaning towards a continuous webbing for my first BP/W, but I will be doing a lot of shore dives. Thanks.

--
David

 

[Magnus Lundstedt]

It is up to you, how heavy your rig is and what protection you wear under.
For me with an AL80 SS BP and 2 mil wet it's ok. also with a steel12@232 in dry its ok.

 

[Bubblesong]

I have a 7mm, no strap padding, don’t want the soft strap padding to increase buoyancy. The most I have to walk is about 100yards, or I’d pull a sled. How far do you walk and what type of terrain?
Would it be possible to use temporary wrap around padding for straps only for your walk, then remove and leave on shore until you get back?

 

[divad]

Padding under water is gross,.... like a fat-suit. If you must use padding on your shoulders stick your neoprene gloves under the shoulder straps or something like that.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

I used a BP/W for a shore dive yesterday - it was about a quarter mile round trip maybe more. I wore a drysuit as well - I had to sit for 5 mins or so before entering the water just to cool down - it was about 75 degrees out. Other than that there is no difference between a backplate and a BCD. My buddy wore a BCD and he had to sit as well. Walking over the sand wears you (me) down... Oh and the dive was a bust... lol
Just have fun...

 

[wKkaY]

I don't use padding, although I'm not sure whether it's more comfortable with them. For extended walks it's usually my hip flexors that feel it first, before my shoulders.

 

[tbone1004]

it largely depends on your exposure protection. 7mm or a drysuit? No point in padding, the suits do enough on their own.
The single piece harness can't transfer the weight really well to your hips so if you're truly hiking, you will want something like a Transpac, especially in doubles. "Normal" shore diving? just dive a one-piece harness

 

[Scared Silly]

My wife has Zeagle Shoulder Pads for her BP/W rig. They add just enough padding to make long walks a bit nicer.

 

[StefinSB]

We usually walk down a cliff for the favorite beach dive. I find having solid insoles in my boots way more important than caring about non-existing padding on my backplate harness.

 

[certainmisuse]

It will be shore diving around the coast of FL; there will be some long walks with thin protection, 3 mm and even less at times possibly. But it will be exclusively diving with a single tank.