Smallest wing available

[ronscuba]

Our smallest conventional back mount single tank wing is the Torus 17.

Our 12 lbs Super Scooter wing *cannot* be used with a back mounted cylinder. The SS12 is intended to be used with a single slung al 80, i.e. monkey style.

Why 12 lbs? That just enough to float a SS back plate & Harness, full al 80 and a regulator.

Using these admittedly tiny wings requires a full understanding of proper weighting.

Tobin

I currently dive an aluminum plate, no STA with Oxy 30lb wing. Single tank diver only. My current weighting varies from no additional weight when I dive w/o a wetsuit in warm water, to 9lbs when I dive local northeast in a 7mm with a 13cu pony.

I know the 18lb wing will work for my warm water dives. But what about my local dives in my 7mm ?

 

[vinegarbiscuit]

I currently dive an aluminum plate, no STA with Oxy 30lb wing. Single tank diver only. My current weighting varies from no additional weight when I dive w/o a wetsuit in warm water, to 9lbs when I dive local northeast in a 7mm with a 13cu pony.

I know the 18lb wing will work for my warm water dives. But what about my local dives in my 7mm ?

My fiance and I both use the Oxycheq 18 lb wing, and LOVE it. My SO wears a 7mm suit year-round here in HI, and finds the wing works beautifully with his 12 lb plate (no STA) and a single Al80. Perhaps you can find an opportunity to take a smaller wing for a test-drive in confined water and perform a weight-check to see if it works for you.

Failing that, DSS's customer service is pretty right-on, and makes for great peace of mind. If you order a DSS wing from Tobin, he'll ask questions about your gear configuration and so on in order to recommend the best wing for you.

 

[grouchyturtle]

Does the OXY or DSS 18lb wing vs 30 make that much of a difference ?

According to an old post by someone who has both the 30 and 18 Oxy, the 18 is a lot smaller.

I've got one of the old DiveRite 18lb travel wings

That was one of my first thoughts. Key word being old, though. I don't see it anywhere on their site.

I have a Halcyon wing that is 18lbs IIRC.

Is it even still available? I'm a Halcyon *****, so I'd love to check it out, but don't see it anywhere on their site.

Smaller wings is a bit like smaller pony tanks though. It is a law of diminishing returns. I can't see any really good reason to go smaller than 17 lbs.

Actually it's really more smaller profile I'm looking for more than less lift. Figured I'd ask both just to get a better idea of what's out there, that I'm not finding.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I currently dive an aluminum plate, no STA with Oxy 30lb wing. Single tank diver only. My current weighting varies from no additional weight when I dive w/o a wetsuit in warm water, to 9lbs when I dive local northeast in a 7mm with a 13cu pony.

I know the 18lb wing will work for my warm water dives. But what about my local dives in my 7mm ?

Without know what you use for a cylinder when you are using 9 lbs and a 13 cuft pony I cannot make a specific recommendation.

Based on past experience however I doubt a 7mm suit is a good idea with a 17 lbs wing.

Wings need to be able to compensate for the maximum possible change in buoyancy of the divers exposure suit, and there are many 7mm suits that are more than 17 lbs positive.

Tobin

 

[tech3324]

Is it even still available? I'm a Halcyon *****, so I'd love to check it out, but don't see it anywhere on their site.

I bought the Halcyon 18 used several years ago, either from eBay or this forum. Don't know if they are still available, but the DSS 17 sounds even better since it's a full circle wing.

 

[ronscuba]

Without know what you use for a cylinder when you are using 9 lbs and a 13 cuft pony I cannot make a specific recommendation.

Based on past experience however I doubt a 7mm suit is a good idea with a 17 lbs wing.

Wings need to be able to compensate for the maximum possible change in buoyancy of the divers exposure suit, and there are many 7mm suits that are more than 17 lbs positive.

Tobin

Aluminum 80. For local northeast dives I wear a Bare 7mm 1 piece suit with integral hood, size medium-large short, plus a pinnicle 3mm core warmer, plus pinnicle 3mm vest.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Aluminum 80. For local northeast dives I wear a Bare 7mm 1 piece suit with integral hood, size medium-large short, plus a pinnicle 3mm core warmer, plus pinnicle 3mm vest.

So.....

Al 80, al back plate and harness, Reg, 19 cu ft pony and reg, and 9 lbs of ballast.

With a full 80 your rig will be about - 19~20 lbs, and will provide about 14-15 lbs of ballast with 500 psi.

That implies your suit is about 15 lbs positive. Possible, but on the low side for a 7mm + 3mm etc. IME that amount of Neo is usually more like +20 lbs in salt water.

You may be a bit negative too, in just your trunks.

You *Might* be able to use a 17, but I'd suggest a 20 or 26.

Tobin

 

[ronscuba]

Thanks for taking the time Tobin. Sounds like I should stick with my 30 for local dives. I kinda figured that, but I love diving tropical and the minimalist feeling of no suit, no weight. The 18lb wing sounds great, but I don't dive enough to justify 2 separate rigs.

Yeah, I am a little negative. Great for less lead when diving, but makes treading water and swimming a lot more work.

 

[halocline]

I have an old travel wing too, but it's bigger and wider than the oxycheq 18 lb wing and it looks bigger than the DSS 20 lb horseshoe wing. I wouldn't call it "awesome" but it's a decent little wing. When they went to the more square shape with the words "travel wing" on the shell, they got bigger, then dive rite did a really dumb thing and made the travel wing over 40lbs of lift. That only lasted a season or two. Actually, I bet one of those oversized version of the travel wing would make a nice small doubles wing, because they were really wide. A big square....go figure.

 

[grouchyturtle]

I'm kind of leaning towards the 12# wing now, although I'd probably throw that spare inflator I have on it. What do you think Tobin?

I dive just AL80s, sometimes 1, sometimes 2...well and sometimes just a 40 for short/shallow dives. Used to use a 30# for singles, but I'm lazy so now I just use my 40# Evolve for everything. And I'm probably making the move to side mount.

Considering how positive I am, even with the doubles, I'm thinking about going against everything I was taught, and used to believe, going wingless, and just using the suit for the minimal lift I'll need.

Wet, I only dive a 3mm. With a single, I'm pretty close to neutral. Have to make sure every bit of air is out of that Evolve to get down. After losing the bands, manifold, and the BP, I figure I'll be shaving off from 15-20lbs. Which means I could cut that 40 down to 20-25lbs. Of course, that's assuming I really need 40# in the first place?

A lot of the side mount guys go wingless with a single 80 when diving wet, and without the manifold and bands there's really only going to be a few lbs. difference between 1 and 2 tanks. Being really streamlined will be nice. On the other hand, some extra lift, in case the **** hits the fan, or even just to float me on the surface, especially in sloppy seas, would be good too.

Someone recommended simply using a 4L MSR bag. I figure the 12# isn't too much bigger.