Using a doubles wing on a single tank

[cnherrick]

Can you do this? If you have a doubles wing on a BP can you use it for a single?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Depends on the wing. In general can you? Sure.
Should you is another questions itself. You don't need the lift. Doubles wings are often much wider than single tank wings so it's going to taco and possibly trap air. Meaning that you might need to wear more weight. Maybe not.
Personally I would not as it is not the right tool for the job.
Depending on the wing you might also need an STA in order to put a single tank wing on the plate and to thread the cam bands through.
IMO the best thing to do is just buy a singles wing if you plan to dive them.
Or just buy a cheap BC off of Ebay for singles diving if it's only going to be a rare occurrence.

 

[tbone1004]

what Jim said, you can do whatever you want, but it is generally not recommended especially if it is a large doubles wing. There are some "hybrid" type wings like the Dive Rite Rec wing that can do both but it is only good for smaller steel tanks, and is a bit wide for singles, but does better on small doubles than it does on singles.

 

[TSandM]

The problem with doubles wings is that they have a very wide center panel, in order to accommodate the width of the tanks. When you put a single tank on that broad panel, it puts the air-containing pontoons well out on the side of the tank. When they have air in them, they fold up, or "taco". This makes them hard to vent, because it's difficult to get the air to either of the exhaust points (inflator or rear dump). If the wing is larger capacity, this problem gets worse and worse. Can it be managed? Sure. Does it make buoyancy control more difficult, and require excursions out of trim? Yes. For a novice diver, this is going to predispose to buoyancy problems, because they don't anticipate enough, and when they need to vent, they often need to do it NOW. For the experienced diver, it's manageable, but they wouldn't do it because it's a nuisance, and they know better

 

[TONY CHANEY]

There is nothing wrong with it. Forget the taco effect if it is a bungeed wing.

 

[ajduplessis]

:blessing:

 

[cool_hardware52]

Can you do this? If you have a doubles wing on a BP can you use it for a single?

I get this question frequently when recommending gear for newer divers or divers new to BP&W. They want to buy the *last* BC they will ever need for the rest of their diving career.

Right now they plan to dive single tanks,……..but they *might* want try doubles in the future, they want to try and avoid buying two wings, one for singles today, and another ~$300 wing for doubles sometime in the future.

Here's the reality, most will never dive doubles, if that day does actually come they will learn that a $300 doubles wing is a TINY part of the cost of moving to doubles.

If you want to "test dive" doubles borrow a wing. If you plan to actually dive doubles regularly be prepared to buy:

A couple set of doubles (at a minimum) A small set to learn on, a large set for bigger dives, and few more sets so you can have the "mix" you need

A 1/2 dozen to a dozen sets of regs. Doubles, stages, deco bottles, spares, argon etc.

A $800-$1200 can light.

Backup lights

A drysuit with 2-3 sets of undergarments for varying conditions.

Drysuit inflation set, tank, reg, hose, straps etc.

2-12 stages and deco bottles with rigging.

Training, Lots of training

Gas, lots of gas, Back gas, stages, deco bottles etc.

Boat rides or entrance fees.

Trimix Computer

Scooter(s)

Etc.

A $300 doubles specific wing just isn't a huge part of the cost. Screwing up your first BP&W with a less than ideal wing *just in case* you might dive doubles is not money well spent.

Tobin

 

[ajduplessis]

Amen!

 

[cool_hardware52]

I see "dual purpose" wings as a tax on the uninformed. (BTW cnherrick, good on you for asking before you buy)

Dual purpose wings are suboptimal for single tank diving, and often when it's time for doubles they are still the wrong wing. Too small for the tanks and exposure suit combos typically used. As an aside what new to BP&W single tank diver knows *what* they might be using for cylinders and exposure suit when they move to doubles?

If I was on a scuba backpacking trip around the world and could only take one wing for all diving I might consider a dual purpose wing, short that not so much.


Tobin

 

[cnherrick]

...good on you for asking before you buy...

thanks Tobin. As always, you bless us not just with good advice, but as well with a complete thought process, perspective, context and the opportunity to better the way we think.

My meager 100+ dives have been with a jacket BC and wanting now to try a BP+Wing, I shall follow your advice and make the optimal choices.

---------- Post added March 17th, 2015 at 04:16 PM ----------

Tobin, is there an STA on the DSS website that one needs to pair with the DSS Backplates?