traditional vs. bpw

[MikeFerrara]

My buddy has dove on a bp/w a few times, and he just laid down a small chunk of change for a jacket BC. He says he can't stand the back-inflate style, makes him feel like the BCD is trying to drown him on the surface. That and he couldn't seem to get his bouyancy right with a bp/w. SO, yes, there are divers out there diving jackets, evne after diving bp/w

Interesting. My small wing with an al 80 doesn't push me one way or the other. Wearing my doubles pumped full, it will tend to pull be back some if I let it.

Single tank divers who are pushed forward on the surface wearing a single tank are usually letting the wing ride up on the (no crotch strap and/or the harness not adjusted right) or just grossly overweighted with the wing over inflated. In any case these problems are a sign that something (usually something simple ) is wrong and not something inherant to the equipment.

 

[shugar]

made a secret pack with jag who took the rescue classes with me. inside joke. i dont expect you to undertsand...

hahahahahahahaha! promise!

@johnnythan: relax, he's not serious... inside joke

@spoon: don't worry bro, next time we dive together i'll bring a carabiner and a length of nylon cord so in a worst-case scenario (knock on wood) i'll cut the harness but clip it so that it can be towed back with me hahahahahahahahaha

and besides... i'll know you're recovered if you sputter and scream: "my rig! my rig! where's my rig!"

Jag

 

[GreenDiverDown]

By-the-way, be on your guard because the bp/w zealots are plentiful around here. Notice it's always the same dozen or so people.

I probably should just let this one go, but....

...this really is an unfair and inaccurate statement. I'm not meaning to pick on you, Don, but every time this topic comes up someone flings out this accusation. It simply isn't so. There are a few guys...like myself...that like BP and wings and frequently do post on the topic...I'll give you that. There are even a smaller number of guys that can't resist the urge to promote this rig even when the original poster shows no desire whatsoever in putting steel on their back.

But the numbers of folks that think this rig is great grows every day 'round here. When someone asks about a BP/wing, there is always a whole new crowd that appears out of nowhere. Look at this thread, for instance. I count 7 or 8 guys that are brand new to plates...all extolling the virtues of the rig... all obviously happy about their decision to get one. Only 6 or 7 of the "regulars" have poked their head in.

Again, taking this thread as an example... the original poster appears to have already decided on getting a BP and wing and is asking whether or not it might be too early in his diving career to do so. Next thing ya know the 'Knights of the BCD' jump in to put down his choice. He didn't ask about the pros and cons of the rig. He didn't ask which was better.

Sorry...I don't mean to rant... and I certainly don't mean to belittle your thoughts on the issue... but come on... new BP and wing guys come along every minute and just like the guys that routinely praise the rig, they are certainly enthusiastic. But "zealots"? That's a bit strong... and a bit mean.

I'll be the first to admit that the BP and wing combo has some disadvantages. They certainly aren't for everyone. But with that in mind, it seems to me, a few posters have missed the boat. Some of what has been said not only is inaccurate but really shows a certain lack of understanding and experience.

Alright...I guess you guys are gonna clobber me, now. I really didn't mean to step on any toes. Well... I didn't mean to mash any.

 

[djanni]

Stephen:

Maybe the phrase "passionate and determined evangelist" would be less offensive, albeit less accurate. Good 'ole Webster's defines "zealous" as a "fanatical partisan."

Fanatical you are not. A zealot, you are not. All who have replied to this post are not zealot's. Yet the zealot's are here and they can make an unexperienced diver question his judgement if there's no balance in the retoric.

It's sorta like a bunch of guy's arguing about Dodge, Chevy or Ford trucks and the instant the Chevy truck advocate decides to switch to a Ford guess which truck just became the best one on the road.

I've used a bp/w and I think you know that. There's nothing wrong with them. In fact I like a bp/w - just not quite as much as my Stiletto.

With regard to who has posted in this thread and who hasn't, note that my post came very early in the thread. Interesting, huh?

Don

I probably should just let this one go, but....

...this really is an unfair and inaccurate statement. I'm not meaning to pick on you, Don, but every time this topic comes up someone flings out this accusation. It simply isn't so. There are a few guys...like myself...that like BP and wings and frequently do post on the topic...I'll give you that. There are even a smaller number of guys that can't resist the urge to promote this rig even when the original poster shows no desire whatsoever in putting steel on their back.

But the numbers of folks that think this rig is great grows every day 'round here. When someone asks about a BP/wing, there is always a whole new crowd that appears out of nowhere. Look at this thread, for instance. I count 7 or 8 guys that are brand new to plates...all extolling the virtues of the rig... all obviously happy about their decision to get one. Only 6 or 7 of the "regulars" have poked their head in.

Again, taking this thread as an example... the original poster appears to have already decided on getting a BP and wing and is asking whether or not it might be too early in his diving career to do so. Next thing ya know the 'Knights of the BCD' jump in to put down his choice. He didn't ask about the pros and cons of the rig. He didn't ask which was better.

Sorry...I don't mean to rant... and I certainly don't mean to belittle your thoughts on the issue... but come on... new BP and wing guys come along every minute and just like the guys that routinely praise the rig, they are certainly enthusiastic. But "zealots"? That's a bit strong... and a bit mean.

I'll be the first to admit that the BP and wing combo has some disadvantages. They certainly aren't for everyone. But with that in mind, it seems to me, a few posters have missed the boat. Some of what has been said not only is inaccurate but really shows a certain lack of understanding and experience.

Alright...I guess you guys are gonna clobber me, now. I really didn't mean to step on any toes. Well... I didn't mean to mash any.

 

[GreenDiverDown]

I agree, Don... there needs to be a balance. But it would help more if the guys that actually dive the thing every day would admit to some of the short-comings of the rig rather than it coming from the guys that don't use one as their primary gear.

I just don't see too many "zealots". Occasionally, I'll see an eye-roller, but more often I see people excited about their rig. OTOH, maybe I'm just not as sensitive to the issue because of my viewpoint. I understand your desire to shut them down early but in doing so I feel like you taint what the rest of us "normal folk" might have to say. BTW, you don't really believe that it stops 'em from piping up, do ya? It's more likely to get 'em goin'... along with the rest of us more balanced types!

 

[CBulla]

Just do it, don't look back... you won't regret it. Mine is so simple there isn't even padding.. just a metal plate and some seat belt webbing with an OMS bladder with 2 tank brackets and straps. I LOVE this BC! I built it, I can work on it, the ability to use it with ANY dive configuration I choose is excellent, its very light weight but has helped eliminate the need for a weight belt at all, its very comfortable in the water, easy to walk with out of water as its like a hiking back pack and not a back heavy vest, It will ALWAYS fit me, it doesn't squeeze me, it doesn't have stupid logo's and useless dangly stuff... and I've found it sooo much easier to have buoyancy and trim control.

 

[djanni]

Now look Stephen, it's no fun arguing with a sensible person such as yourself.

No I don't think it'll shut 'em down. To shut 'em down would take the fun out of it.

Look back at my original post and you'll see I ended it with "and the pot has been stirred."

"Taint??!? That's an interesting choice of words. Has a moral conitation. Humm... I don't mean to be making moral judgements. Maybe I'll look for a different kind of spoon.

Don

I agree, Don... there needs to be a balance. But it would help more if the guys that actually dive the thing every day would admit to some of the short-comings of the rig rather than it coming from the guys that don't use one as their primary gear.

I just don't see too many "zealots". Occasionally, I'll see an eye-roller, but more often I see people excited about their rig. OTOH, maybe I'm just not as sensitive to the issue because of my viewpoint. I understand your desire to shut them down early but in doing so I feel like you taint what the rest of us "normal folk" might have to say. BTW, you don't really believe that it stops 'em from piping up, do ya? It's more likely to get 'em goin'... along with the rest of us more balanced types!

 

[jonnythan]

"and the pot has been stirred."

Why does there have to be a pot? Why does it have to be stirred?

Why are you trying to cause trouble?

 

[djanni]

jonnythan...

Oh, never mind.

"and the pot has been stirred."

Why does there have to be a pot? Why does it have to be stirred?

Why are you trying to cause trouble?

 

[Daryl Morse]

I have been diving for 2 years now and have a few specialties under my wieght belt(haha) I am currenlty diving a traditional bc (oceanic) but lately I feel I may be better off switching to a back plate and wing can anyone offer any advice on weather this is a good idea or if im skipping steps in my progresion with such a drastic change anything at all would be greatly appriciated.

Once I dove a bp/w, I was convinced. I bought my own bp/w. Maybe your experience will be the same, maybe not. My suggestion is to try a bp/w and find out for yourself.