A backplate and continuous webbing harness is a fine idea. I undergrew my BCD one day and instead of buying a new one, I got a BP/w and 5 years later today, still have the same webbing I just adjust it as I gain or lose weight. As far as sizes go, some backplates come in different sizes. For example, Deep Sea Supply (DSS) plates come in small, medium, large, and long (or something like that). So you can get something that works for your children. I don't know whether other vendors have sizing options.
"tech" rig for a new diver ?
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Check out Halcyons cinch system. (Cinch Quick-adjust Harness | Halcyon Dive Systems). Very usable in a recreational setup. Just add a single tank adapter and wing, use any 1st/2nd stage setup you want and you're done.
Weighting can be done using these : BC System Weighting | Halcyon Dive Systems
As a variant of the typical BP&Wing, you might look into Zeagle's Express Tech System. Incredibly versatile, and the adjustments are made simply by putting it on. It's incredibly light for traveling as the BP is made of fabric rather than any metal. Stick with the standard harness though.
I travel with my BP/W now. Surprisingly with a 6lb SS BP it's less than a pound heavier thank my BC and your not dealing with the extra weight needed to deal with the inherent buoyancy of the BC itself (IIRC Zeagle rates the Stilleto at about +1.5lbs buoyancy)
I have been teaching kids in BP&W for many years.
If your kids are growing fast I'd suggest you stay with standard size plates.
Under about 5' regular plates are too big and the poster who mentioned the weight belt problem is correct....there's not allot of room around the waist for a weight belt and the harness buckles.
5' to 5'4" there can be a problem with clearance between the back of the head and the reg......the DSS standard plate works best for this height range as the cam bands can be mounted higher on the tank than any of the other manufacturers, the Dive Rite plate with crossed shoulder straps is a close second (it has narrower shoulders).
Wing size......a 30 lb wing is most likely way too much for a sub 5' 4" diver (and many standard size warm water divers) .....I believe the only choices you have in small wings are DSS and Oxycheq.
Best overall option is the DSS system.....with a couple of caveats, the harness material is very stiff which is more noticeable when it is adjusted small and the buckle can be hard to close (but very secure!).
If your kids are growing fast I'd suggest you stay with standard size plates.
Under about 5' regular plates are too big and the poster who mentioned the weight belt problem is correct....there's not allot of room around the waist for a weight belt and the harness buckles.
5' to 5'4" there can be a problem with clearance between the back of the head and the reg......the DSS standard plate works best for this height range as the cam bands can be mounted higher on the tank than any of the other manufacturers, the Dive Rite plate with crossed shoulder straps is a close second (it has narrower shoulders).
Wing size......a 30 lb wing is most likely way too much for a sub 5' 4" diver (and many standard size warm water divers) .....I believe the only choices you have in small wings are DSS and Oxycheq.
Best overall option is the DSS system.....with a couple of caveats, the harness material is very stiff which is more noticeable when it is adjusted small and the buckle can be hard to close (but very secure!).
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Kazbanz,
The old-style plastic backpack-with-webbing (e.g., from US Divers) seems to work extremely well with young kids (and for adults as well), and costs *very* little from the used market. My eight-year-old twins and ten-year-old did their first scuba ever in my parents' swimming pool this past summer wearing one (from Seatec). (They were not wearing exposure suits, though, nor a BCD.)
Our biggest challenge pertained to the tank: An Al 50 was not available, so my kids used an Al 63, which proved to be way too big--too long and too heavy--even for my ten-year-old (who was 5'3" at the time).
FWIW, at this point I would "never" strap a steel backplate or one of the heavier aluminum backplates on my kids, I would "never" permit them to wear a crotch strap, and I would "never" permit them to wear a continuous harness (their harness would have a standard belt buckle release on the left shoulder strap).
Safe Diving,
rx7diver
Beaverdivers.....to answer your question about turning turtle.
Yes, it can be a problem especially for the real skinny kids when they first start in the pool with a full tank...but since I only use aluminum or plastic plates in the pool it's more caused by the tank being full and heavy (AL63 for the smaller kids....they always had on at least a shorty) than the plate. I've been very lucky in that I was teaching in a school environment and had 10-12 weeks with a 45 minute lesson every day to teach my classes and the kids spent the first 3-5 classes just swimming around getting used to the equipment and learning about trim and buoyancy from experience.....by the time I've had them do some forward, backward and barrel rolls it's not a problem (neutral buoyancy head stands are another good one).
In the ocean they either keep the Al or Kydex plate and get a Steel 72 or keep the Al63 and get a steel plate......weights and trim stay the same as it was in the pool.
I've found that once students understand that they are completely weightless and are not scared to make any maneuver they like (hence the rolls)and how to use their fins, it's not a problem.
Weights (when needed) are worn as close to the buckle as possible....and the belt is put on first and very high on the stomach so there's enough room to do up the harness without it interfering with the belt.
Yes, it can be a problem especially for the real skinny kids when they first start in the pool with a full tank...but since I only use aluminum or plastic plates in the pool it's more caused by the tank being full and heavy (AL63 for the smaller kids....they always had on at least a shorty) than the plate. I've been very lucky in that I was teaching in a school environment and had 10-12 weeks with a 45 minute lesson every day to teach my classes and the kids spent the first 3-5 classes just swimming around getting used to the equipment and learning about trim and buoyancy from experience.....by the time I've had them do some forward, backward and barrel rolls it's not a problem (neutral buoyancy head stands are another good one).
In the ocean they either keep the Al or Kydex plate and get a Steel 72 or keep the Al63 and get a steel plate......weights and trim stay the same as it was in the pool.
I've found that once students understand that they are completely weightless and are not scared to make any maneuver they like (hence the rolls)and how to use their fins, it's not a problem.
Weights (when needed) are worn as close to the buckle as possible....and the belt is put on first and very high on the stomach so there's enough room to do up the harness without it interfering with the belt.
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Thanks for the info!
FWIW, I had terrible turtling problems in my initial scuba sessions . . . in a jacket BC. I think turtling has more to do with having a heavy tank like a reverse keel sticking out of your back than it does the gear you use to keep it there.
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