Should a BP/W be my first BC?

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

You should feel very confident buying a BP/W for your first rig. Switching to a BP/W was the best move I have yet made for my diving.

They have high resale value if you don't like it, but you will. It's simple, durable, packs and travels better than most BCDs, and doesn't have a lot of parts to wear out. Those that can wear out (webbing) are easily replaceable, unlike most BCs.

I suggest getting a DSS single tank rig. I absolutely love mine in cold and warm water. It's a dream to travel with. It's very durable. Easier to dump air than any BC I've used. The list of advantages goes on and on.

www.deepseasupply.com

You can beat the prices on the website. PM me if you want more info.

If you do decide you want a more traditional BC, get a Zeagle.

Good luck in your decision! You'll love diving a BP/W and if for some reason you don't, a DSS rig for sale here would be gone in about 5 minutes. Cheers

 

[diverryan]

I have dove jacket, back inflate and BPW over the years. I only dive a BPW now. I have a friend that after his OW dives and two dives with me, bought and uses a BPW - loves it.

It's not about being a new diver and using a "technical" piece of gear. The system is really simple. The hardest part is getting the fit nailed down for the first time. If you can find someone else who uses one in your area to help you fit it, then you have it made.

Exactly OE2X. I really wish I would have started out diving a plate. Although simple in principal, I think it is the best system to date.

 

[Damselfish]

---Damselfish----
In your statement you say how vocal BP/W users are about their systems and how silent BC users are about theirs. Couldn't this be because the BC users aren't as happy with their systems as the BP/W users are about their systems? If I was soooo happy with my BC then I would speak up just the same. But, alas, I was not so I praise my BP/W, but try to give an equal side to each system as I did above.

Anything is possible, but I actually have seen plenty of posts where people say they love this or that BC. But on some threads once BP/W comes up, I think these same people don't say anything because there are such good odds they will get rolled over by a few rabid BP/W fans, so they get trained not to say anything, they've given up. Or maybe they just have better things to do or don't feel a need to justify their choice.

I am trying to present a balanced view as well, as well as point out that what appears to be very popular on Scubaboard does not necessarily reflect the whole world. I just hate to see a newbie ask about BCs (not necessarily this thread) and someone tells them a BP/W is the best choice without even knowing anything about the person's diving. So I chime in once in awhile. Same goes for blanket statements about certain features (or lack thereof) being the best and absolutely the only way to go, when in reality so many are personal preference or are heavily influenced by the type of diving someone does. This applies to much more than BCs, of course.

Actually, this thread is turning into a more balanced and informative discussion of this than usual.

 

[waynne fowler]

Do the BP/W.. you'll never regret it.. you won't outgrow it (just the webbing). As your environments expand with your experience you'll never need to change from, only add to what you already own.. It's the perfect 1st BC.

 

[jeckyll]

If you can, try both and make the most informed decision.

I completed my OW training in a BCD (I tried several models) and tried some back inflate bcd's after. I personally never liked them. I went with a BP/W and am very happy.

Again, the more information you gather through experience, the happier you will be in the long run. There seem to be many people on scubaboard who got to spend extra $$ as they ended up re-purchasing gear that they got after making decisions based on too little info. Of course, most of those seem to be people _selling_ BCD's and _buying_ BP/W's and not the other way around

Best of luck.

Bjorn

 

[OE2X]

Not to get into an arguement here, but what I see about many detractors of BPW's:.

1. Is that they have never tried them.
2. If they did try them and didn't like them, they didn't put in the time to get a correct fit and then learn how to use them underwater.

In reference to people like myself who use them now exclusively - after trying out all sorts of different styles - we have made first hand evaluations on the products.

At first a BPW does take more effort to get used to. You can't just pull down a couple of straps and have insta - fit. You also have to be more critical in how you stow your gear etc... Also a BPW is not the major cure all for poor technique and skills. Just using one doesn't mean that you will be some hot shot cave3 diver without the skills to back it up. The wing will not make the diver although it will help. Kind of like golf or tennis or skiing. The best clubs, racket or skis won't make a beginner into an expert. It may facilitate and shorten their learning curve a bit. Also BPW's are not like voodoo gas. As we have seen OW students recognizing the benefits of diving nitrox, there are also benefits to using BPW starting out. Just becuase it looks tech doesn't mean that it is over the top for a recreational environment. But hey I feel that a long hose works in recreational diving - so what do I know?

 

[Darnold9999]

Doing beach entries? BC or one of the deluxe BP/W's.

Warm water? BC

Dry suit? BP/W

Just came back from a week of warm water diving - first time in the BP/W, was in rental BC's of various flavours prior - loved it. Took one dive to get the weight worked out and another to get trim the way I wanted it. No weight belt at all made me slightly heavy at the end of the dive with a SS BP and Steel tank.

The feeling of being in the water with no jacket and no weight belt was great so I would disagree with the evaluation that warm water is for BC.

HOWEVER - YMMV. The boat there were 18 divers and 14 crew, average number of dives in the 500+ range. 2 BP/W divers - 30 BC divers.

I have used both, they both do the job, there are advantages and disadvantages to both systems you need to try both and figure out what will work for you. I would really not want to carry my rig oh my back a long way with no wetsuit or drysuit to cushion the straps, but with a drysuit or wetsuit no problem.

Same with integrated weights. If you are drysuit diving with 30# + of weight, integrated weights are just too much for me to lift along with the tank and BP and if you were to take the integrated unit off in the water it would sink like a stone even with the bladder fully inflated. Also someone leaning over the side trying to yard up 70# of weight in a heaving boat will swear at you.

Bottom line - there is no right answer that applies to everyone.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Not to get into an arguement here, but what I see about many detractors of BPW's:.

1. Is that they have never tried them.
2. If they did try them and didn't like them, they didn't put in the time to get a correct fit and then learn how to use them underwater.

In reference to people like myself who use them now exclusively - after trying out all sorts of different styles - we have made first hand evaluations on the products.

At first a BPW does take more effort to get used to. You can't just pull down a couple of straps and have insta - fit. You also have to be more critical in how you stow your gear etc... Also a BPW is not the major cure all for poor technique and skills. Just using one doesn't mean that you will be some hot shot cave3 diver without the skills to back it up. The wing will not make the diver although it will help. Kind of like golf or tennis or skiing. The best clubs, racket or skis won't make a beginner into an expert. It may facilitate and shorten their learning curve a bit. Also BPW's are not like voodoo gas. As we have seen OW students recognizing the benefits of diving nitrox, there are also benefits to using BPW starting out. Just becuase it looks tech doesn't mean that it is over the top for a recreational environment. But hey I feel that a long hose works in recreational diving - so what do I know?

Well said.


Tobin

 

[djanni]

2. No cummerbund - Cummerbunds increase drag.

Walter:

How does a cummerbund increase drag?

Don

 

[NAVMED82]

I got a BP/W as my first BC. We used Scubapro Balances during OW class, and toward the end of class before our checkout dives, I bought a BP/W, halcyon 30# eclipse w/ stainless steel plate. I loved it. My trim, comfort, and control underwater improved immediately. I was having issues with my buoyancy like most new divers. With-in two pool sessions of the switch, I could descend controlled in a perfect trim position, stop a foot off the bottom and stay there indefinitely without ever touching bottom. Then a nice deep breathe starts me slowly toward the surface. Best of all in a 5mil wetsuit, the 6# plate sinks me with an empty tank so no weight belt. I’m a natural sinker, but for comparison, in the balance I used 14# of lead to sink myself.