Stainless backplate for tropical diving

[DunningKrueger]

Is there any reason not to choose a stainless backplate for tropical diving if:

• I don't care about travel weight
• I am optimizing for simple, clean, streamlined rec diving in tropical water--no cold water or tech.
• I HATE wearing a weight belt and would like the weight to be in/on the plate.
• I'd like to avoid weight on the waist strap if possible
• I am not concerned with ditchable weight--no problem swimming this up
• Currently using 4kg of lead (stuffed in the BCD pockets) with a 3mm shorty, and a rental jacket BCD (Aqualung Wave)

I am buying my first BPW setup. I've had a chance to dive a few different brands and configurations. I love the simplicity, freedom, and trim of the BPW.

Most posts here lean toward aluminum plates for tropical diving, mainly for travel weight reasons. If I have to add 4kg of weight, 3kg of that might as well be the plate itself. Or, maybe stainless is a bad idea for tropical diving for other reasons? Thus my question.

Newly re-certified after a long break. I love it. I had forgotten how amazing it is.

I am spending the next year living in French Polynesia, Tonga, and Fiji and diving there frequently.

Thanks!

 

[lowwall]

You have it figured out. I use a steel plate everywhere. The only drawback is travel weight.

Edit: Ok, if you normally use very little weight you could end up a couple pounds overweighted with steel tanks at the start of a dive.

 

[rongoodman]

As long as I’m bringing my 3mm suit I’ll take my SS plate. This last trip with just a shorty I took the aluminum.

 

[JoeTPhilly]

I use SS for travel and it works well. I think you will be happy with your choice.

 

[Kendall Raine]

I use an aluminum plate with a 3 mm + hooded cheater in tropics and a 6 lbs SS in cold water with 8/7 mm or drysuit. In tropics I only need 2kg of weight so would be slightly overweighted in the SS. Baggage weight is also a reason, finally the plate goes in carry on (because I hate it when airlines lose my gear) and I’d rather explain to security why my aluminum v steel plate is not a weapon.

 

[Scared Silly]

You have it figured out. I use a steel plate everywhere. The only drawback is travel weight.

Edit: Ok, if you normally use very little weight you could end up a couple pounds overweighted with steel tanks at the start of a dive.

I agree the drawback is travel weight. We traveled with SS plates but switched to a composite to reduce weight and bulk. We attach weight pockets to the cylinder bands. The lower ones can be ditched.

 

[Wants2divemore]

I use a steel plate for everything, including travel. I always bring all my dive gear as carryon and check my clothing bag so weight isn't an issue for me. I've always just rented aluminum tanks when traveling somewhere warm for diving (I've never even seen the option to rent steel in tropical locations) so I'm not concerned about being overweighted.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I trim out perfectly with a SS BP, 5 mil wetsuit, and Deep 6 Eddy fins (slightly positive in salt water). So when shore diving, I don't have to try to find lead (thought typically a non issue, but just one less hassle) just tanks.

 

[runsongas]

if you plan on always using a wetsuit its fine, some will be overweighted though with a steel backplate in just a dive skin/rashguard and board shorts.

 

[Nick_Radov]

The only reason not to is handling a wing failure at the start of a dive. While I'm sure you can swim up, it might be a little difficult to stay up on the surface if conditions are rough or you're dealing with other problems or have to swim a long distance to the beach. I'm aware of a number of cases where a diver had a problem underwater and made it back to the surface but failed to establish buoyancy and drowned. It's not a huge risk, but for recreational diving I don't think it's a good idea to sacrifice the option of ditching weight at the surface just to gain a minor increase in comfort. As others have pointed out there are other ways to carry a few pounds of ditchable weight besides a belt.