Tips For Surface Stability With Bp Bcd

[jgammon]

I'm a new AOW with 20 dives, now thinking about buying equipment for the first time. I anticipate always being a recreational diver, with 70% of dives in southern U.S. lakes and 30% in Gulf/ Caribbean waters. I've researched the pros and cons of jacket, BP and BP/Wings BCD's. I really like the idea of better horizontal trim with the BP, but I'm concerned about the surface stability in high waves/ strong current in the ocean. Is there a realistic way to offset the pushing forward, low riding surface tendencies of the BP with trim weights or other techniques? Any recommendations on brands/ models that best offset this tendency?

 

[Jasonmh]

...Is there a realistic way to offset the pushing forward, low riding surface tendencies of the BP with trim weights or other techniques?...

Most people do not experience a pushing forward tendency with a BP, so this may not be an issue with you at all. If you do experience this however, there are always ways to adjust your trim weights. I find that if anything I usually have a slightly leaning back tendency instead of forward. You would have to have a HUGE forward tendency to not be able to easily overcome it with technique, or if no othe way, with trim weights. I wouldn't let the worry over such an unlikely event keep you from trying the BP.

 

[TSandM]

It's a myth! Backplate and wing assemblies do NOT push your face in the water. The only time any of mine has shown ANY such tendency was when I flooded my drysuit and had to massively inflate the wing to keep my face out of the water (since I was trying to lift a drysuit full of liquid as well as myself). And even then, it was easily manageable.

In my doubles, it's all I can do to get vertical, because the rig wants me to lie on my back.

It's just a myth.

 

[jeckyll]

... I like lying on my back in my doubles

I think in the summer I may use the Evo60 as a (rather expensive) pool flotation device... if only it had a cup holder

 

[TSandM]

It's pretty funny how it works, isn't it? Sunday, during our class, Kirk and I spent twenty minutes or so on the surface of Lake Washington, with our drysuits blown up like Michelin men, floating on our backs and giving one another a hard time. It reminded me of Uncle Pug's post about the world's biggest waterbed.

 

[PerroneFord]

... I like lying on my back in my doubles

I think in the summer I may use the Evo60 as a (rather expensive) pool flotation device... if only it had a cup holder

You have an Evo60 as well? I've retired my other wings. It's all I dive now. I even use it with my AL80s.

Just lay back at the surface, rest my arms on the sides of it, like a pool float.

 

[PerroneFord]

In my doubles, it's all I can do to get vertical, because the rig wants me to lie on my back.

It's just a myth.

You ever try keeping your legs beng back at about a 90 degree angle, fins down? Allows you to essentially make a lever in the water to keep yourself upright. You're almost TRYING to lean forward in the water to keep yourself balanced.


LOL, face down in the water. Can't beleive that rumor is still out there after all these years.

 

[jeckyll]

You have an Evo60 as well? I've retired my other wings. It's all I dive now. I even use it with my AL80s.

Just lay back at the surface, rest my arms on the sides of it, like a pool float.

Perrone: I dive the 60 with double AL80. I probably should have a 50 (like a DSS 49 Torus) but it seems to be working well We do carry a hole lotta lead up here, so I don't mind having some extra lift for surface swims. I'll see what Dan MacKay has to say about it during fundies next week .

Not that I have that much to compare against, it's my first doubles wing.

Bjorn

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

One thing that helps with back-inflate BC's, is a crotch-strap. It keeps the whole thing from trying to ride up around your ears. Also, on the surface, don't inflate it all the way. It's not necessary. Inflate it just enough to keep you on the surface, and then lean back and relax. That's all there is to it.

 

[dsteding]

Perrone: I dive the 60 with double AL80.
Bjorn

I use my Evo 60 with double 100s, not much wider than AL80s. In my profile and avatar pics you can see it folds around the tanks a bit, but not too bad (these pics were taken at the beginning of a dive with full tanks, so that is about as inflated as the wing gets).

To the OP: Seriously, I've never once felt like I was going to tip forward in my BP . . .