Stainless backplate for tropical diving

[wetb4igetinthewater]

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.

Isn't that what ditching a scuba kit at the surface is for? Asking sincerely

 

[Searcaigh]

+1 for an SS plate on all dives, I take mine everywhere.

 

[Nick_Radov]

Isn't that what ditching a scuba kit at the surface is for? Asking sincerely

Sure, that works if you're willing and able to ditch the whole rig. It's not that easy to remove a continuous webbing harness while treading water with a failed wing at the surface; it takes a bit of wiggling around. Divers tend to be irrationally unwilling to ditch expensive gear even in an emergency. And you'll lose any lights attached to the harness (unless you take the time to remove them separately), which you might want as surface signaling devices in some circumstances.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Sure, that works if you're willing and able to ditch the whole rig. It's not that easy to remove a continuous webbing harness while treading water with a failed wing at the surface; it takes a bit of wiggling around.

Trying to keep your head above water is a mistake. Instead, duck underwater, and pull it over your head. I've done it, in a dry suit. And yes, I kept it close to my body.

Divers tend to be irrationally unwilling to ditch expensive gear even in an emergency. And you'll lose any lights attached to the harness (unless you take the time to remove them separately), which you might want as surface signaling devices in some circumstances.

Losing gear beats drowning.

However, people should have some redundancy in buoyancy. A good DSMB will do the trick.

 

[Nick_Radov]

Trying to keep your head above water is a mistake. Instead, duck underwater, and pull it over your head. I've done it, in a dry suit. And yes, I kept it close to my body.

Yes, that's what I do as well. I'm just not confident that relatively inexperienced recreational divers can quickly and safely ditch an entire rig at the surface while also managing a stressful equipment failure. If you screw it up then you can get yourself tangled and sinking without a working reg in your mouth.

Losing gear beats drowning.

Of course, but in stressful situations divers often don't think clearly and are too slow to ditch gear. In principle there's nothing wrong with planning to ditch your entire rig but I think of it as an approach better suited to advanced divers who know their gear well and are comfortable with managing failures.

 

[DirtFish]

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.

How many wing failures have you ever seen at the beginning of a dive? Isn't this why the pre-dive check includes inflating the wing? Every wing problem I have seen at the surface is people forgetting to connect the inflator hose, which can be inflated by mouth in the water. In the EXTREMELY rare chance of a wing failure during a dive you would shoot your DSMB, follow it up, clip it to the chest ring, slip out of the harness and swim it to the boat, shore, whatever. I've done this many times in training but have never heard of anyone having to do it in real life. This is what a "balanced rig" is all about.
OP: I dive a steel plate everywhere I travel. With a 3mm wetsuit, booties and 1-2mm hood, I only need 2 pounds of weights added.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Yes, that's what I do as well. I'm just not confident that relatively inexperienced recreational divers can quickly and safely ditch an entire rig at the surface while also managing a stressful equipment failure. If you screw it up then you can get yourself tangled and sinking without a working reg in your mouth.

Of course, but in stressful situations divers often don't think clearly and are too slow to ditch gear. In principle there's nothing wrong with planning to ditch your entire rig but I think of it as an approach better suited to advanced divers who know their gear well and are comfortable with managing failures.

I don't think we want to go down the rabbit hole of the typical open water course. I think we have to do what the training agencies do: rely on the fact that somewhat maintained equipment is fairly reliable so divers don't have to rely on the skills they are supposed to master in open water.

Whenever I try to address the above, I just get shouted down as a PADI basher when it is an industry problem. Not just a PADI problem.

 

[Nick_Radov]

How many wing failures have you ever seen at the beginning of a dive?

Personally only one time. I was told about a handful of other cases secondhand. The rear dump valve can break or jam open. The combined elbow, corrugated hose, and inflator assembly can break or fall apart in various ways. Some of the plastic parts can become brittle after years of rough treatment and UV light exposure.

Isn't this why the pre-dive check includes inflating the wing? Every wing problem I have seen at the surface is people forgetting to connect the inflator hose, which can be inflated by mouth in the water.

Absolutely, following the pre-dive sequence prevents most gear problems.

In the EXTREMELY rare chance of a wing failure during a dive you would shoot your DSMB, follow it up, clip it to the chest ring, slip out of the harness and swim it to the boat, shore, whatever. I've done this many times in training but have never heard of anyone having to do it in real life. This is what a "balanced rig" is all about.

It's great that you practice those skills. Very few recreational divers take the time to do the same. Hence my recommendation that for them in the unlikely event that they need to increase buoyancy at the surface then it's safer and more practical to ditch some weight using a belt (as is taught in most OW courses) rather than a more complex procedure like ditching their entire rig. My recommendation wasn't directed towards divers like you who know what they're doing.

 

[DunningKruger]

Thank you all. These have been enormously helpful replies. This board is such a fantastic resource.

Related question: if one decided not to go stainless because it might be too much weight in some configurations (e.g., rash guard/shorts), wouldn't it make sense to skip an aluminum plate altogether and just get a soft pack harness with a few trim pockets? Something like the DiveRite Transpac or DGX's Softpack? Or maybe a simple back-inflate BCD like a HydroLite?

Again, this is purely warm-water rec diving. No tech. No cold water. Simple, streamlined, easy.

Thanks again.

 

[runsongas]

you could if you want, aluminum gives versatility to mount double 80s with a 45lb wing