SS backplate for Caribbean....

[large_diver]

I dive mainly in New England.....taking a trip to St. Vincent in early December.

I have a Fred T SS backplate (long pattern)....I think it is 9 lbs. negative.

Trying to decide if I should get an AL plate given how negative the SS plate is (I will likely wear a 3mm wetsuit in St. Vincent)....

Thoughts?

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I dive mainly in New England.....taking a trip to St. Vincent in early December.

I have a Fred T SS backplate (long pattern)....I think it is 9 lbs. negative.

Trying to decide if I should get an AL plate given how negative the SS plate is (I will likely wear a 3mm wetsuit in St. Vincent)....

Thoughts?

I think if you wear that SS BP with a 3mm suit you'll probably sink like a rock even with no tank.

To provide some perspective, with a HP80, steel BP (6pds neg) and a 5mm steamer wetsuit I need NO weight in the ocean and I am overweighted in fresh water. For that reason (and others) I bought a FredT al BP.

 

[ianr33]

With an Al 80 and a Halcyon 6lb backplate I use an additional 6lb lead with a 3 ml wetsuit,so I think you would be fine. Main downside to a heavy plate is carrying it when travelling!

I am 6 feet and about 180.

 

[redacted]

If you are true to your name, the difference should be whether you will need 3 to 5 pounds on a belt with the 9lb plate or 10 to 12 pounds with the Al plate.

This body is 230 lb, slightly negative in fw, 8 pounds positive in sw. My 3mm is about 5 to 6 pounds positive. I'm assuming you will be using a Std Al 80.

 

[Spectre]

Since you're looking for thoughts

I was trying to figure out what to do when I went out to Truk, having zero idea about weighting.

I ended up taking my 9# Fred-T Heavy and a 40# wing and it was fine with double 80's and my drysuit w/ no underwear. It was also fine with my 3mm after my seals finally died. Heather took her v-weight; and others ended up with weight belts. Most of the weight belt'ers switched to my idea of tossing soft weight behind their plates.

Of course that's all with doubles and doesn't apply to singles... but if I was to do it; I'd take the 9# plate.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Depending on your physiology and exposure suit, a 9-lb plate may cause you to be overweighted.

I just returned from a warm water trip (Bonaire). I used an aluminum Dive Rite BP (2 lbs) and a 3 mm wetsuit. Diving AL80 cylinders I needed 4 lbs of lead. I'm an old, fat guy ... 5'9" and 245 lbs.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[will_tekkie]

If you´re planning to travel with your gear ..a aluminium backplate is by FAR a best choice...i hate heavy BC´s specially travelling, so i recomend you to get a cheaper aluminium one for that...and you would be happier...

 

[Tavi]

When I travel to the Bahamas, I take my 9lb Fred T plate and a 27 lb wing. with a 3/2 wetsuit and an Aluminum 80 I'm weighted and trimmed out perfectly with 2 1lb ankle weights on the tank valve.

It really isn't a hassle to travel with a ss BP. Unless it's changed recently, the airlines we use have higher weight limits than some of the others. (AirTran)

 

[Tom Winters]

Why do you need a 3mm wetsuit in St. Vincent? That's overkill even for December. If you get too hot in it, you'll leave it off and then get sunburned. Spring for a skinsuit, a 1/2mm or 1mm full suit depending on what is the cheapest, and use an aluminum or ABS backplate to make your travel kit way lighter.

 

[Damselfish]

I wore 1mm in St Vincent last Feb, my husband sticks to lycra. With those inter-island flights (any flights now) there's a lot to be said for avoiding hauling along extra weight.