pconsidine007
Registered
Hello all,
Planning to purchase my first set of gear, and have been researching on SB for several weeks now on which BP/W set-up would be best for me. However, while I have a better idea now than I did two weeks ago, I still don't have near enough confidence to make a decision, so hoping to enlist some advice from SB regarding my particular BP/W needs.
So here goes:
Background: I've logged a total of around 100 dives (Saba, Zanzibar, Bonaire, Belize, Komodo, Oman, Costa Rica, Maldives, Providencia, etc.), almost all of which were warm water. I ditched my wet suit after my first or second trip, and typically dive in board shorts and a long sleeve rasher (for protection, more than anything). Up until this point, I've always rented a jacket BCD from whatever op I've dove with (I've never dove a BP/W). On my most recent liveaboard trip to the Maldives, I gradually shed weight throughout the week, until I was down to 4lbs (2kgs). This allowed me to ditch my weight belt (which was amazing) and keep the weight in my BCD pocket (which after reading on SB, I realize prob wasn't the smartest idea). This was the first time I think I was ever weighted correctly and I WAS AMAZED AT THE DIFFERENCE IT MADE.
Anyway, I say all of this because I hope it gives some context to the type of diving that I do (warm water, single tank, no exposure suit), and what I learned makes me comfortable underwater.
What's Important to Me:
Price: I want the most inexpensive rig, that doesn't compromise quality and fits my diving needs. Willing to pay a little more, but additional cost must be proportionate to legitimate improvement in comfort, performance, rig-flexibility, etc. Have little patience for marketing gimmickry - I work in advertising : )
Rig Flexibility: Over the next 3-4 yrs, I don't see my diving changing much from what is outlined above (warm water, single tank, minimal exposure suit requirement). That said, I do like the idea of having the option to customize things if I ever do decide to get into tech diving. However, the customization optionality shouldn't come at a significant cost increase, nor should it compromise in any way the warm water set-up which I'll be diving 95% of the time in the foreseeable future.
Travel: I live in Dubai now, and have decent warm water diving 2 hrs drive from me in Musandam Oman. I estimate that I'll dive there 15-25x next year, and my rig will simply be thrown in the trunk of my car. In addition, I'll also likely take 1 or 2 flights with my gear internationally per year. As such, I'll be looking for a rig that travels easily/lightly and is comfortable for taking along on "local" trips.
Weight: As I mentioned above, ridding myself of a weight belt on my last trip was AWESOME. However, I realize now that putting the weight in my non-secure, BCD Jacket pocket was probably not the safest choice. This brings me to an important question. On a BP/W with no weight belt set-up, what options are there for secure, but dumpable weight? Is it an absolute must to have dumpable weight, from a safety perspective? If so, why? On my last few dives, when I was seemlingly perfectly weighted, I felt that if I was ever in an "emergency" situation, 2 strong kicks of the fins would have propelled me quickly to the surface - this left me wondering why "dumpability" is so important (not doubting that it is, just looking for better understanding).
My Size: 5’11” & 190lbs
Lift: I've read a few posts that speak about a calculation that lands on the optimal Lift a wing should have, based on the type of diving one does. I understand this conceptually, but the actual calculation admittedly goes over my head. I hope that I've provided enough info here for people to be able to provide a recommendation (single tank, warm water)
Plate: I've seen a lot of talk about when an Aluminum vs. SS vs. Hybrid plate should be used, but this is another one that leaves me a little baffled... so would appreciate some thoughts here as well.
I live in Dubai, which generally means overpriced, limited options for gear. I'll be back in the states (NYC) in October. Once I identify the right set-up for me, my plan is to keep an eye out for it "used" in the states (I can have it shipped to my bros place), or purchase it new at Leisure Pro once I'm back. Any thoughts / Tips on buying used gear? Things to look out for etc.?
Didn't think this post was going to be this long, so if you've come this far... thanks for reading. And thanks for any feedback / recommendations you might have.
Best,
PC
Planning to purchase my first set of gear, and have been researching on SB for several weeks now on which BP/W set-up would be best for me. However, while I have a better idea now than I did two weeks ago, I still don't have near enough confidence to make a decision, so hoping to enlist some advice from SB regarding my particular BP/W needs.
So here goes:
Background: I've logged a total of around 100 dives (Saba, Zanzibar, Bonaire, Belize, Komodo, Oman, Costa Rica, Maldives, Providencia, etc.), almost all of which were warm water. I ditched my wet suit after my first or second trip, and typically dive in board shorts and a long sleeve rasher (for protection, more than anything). Up until this point, I've always rented a jacket BCD from whatever op I've dove with (I've never dove a BP/W). On my most recent liveaboard trip to the Maldives, I gradually shed weight throughout the week, until I was down to 4lbs (2kgs). This allowed me to ditch my weight belt (which was amazing) and keep the weight in my BCD pocket (which after reading on SB, I realize prob wasn't the smartest idea). This was the first time I think I was ever weighted correctly and I WAS AMAZED AT THE DIFFERENCE IT MADE.
Anyway, I say all of this because I hope it gives some context to the type of diving that I do (warm water, single tank, no exposure suit), and what I learned makes me comfortable underwater.
What's Important to Me:
Price: I want the most inexpensive rig, that doesn't compromise quality and fits my diving needs. Willing to pay a little more, but additional cost must be proportionate to legitimate improvement in comfort, performance, rig-flexibility, etc. Have little patience for marketing gimmickry - I work in advertising : )
Rig Flexibility: Over the next 3-4 yrs, I don't see my diving changing much from what is outlined above (warm water, single tank, minimal exposure suit requirement). That said, I do like the idea of having the option to customize things if I ever do decide to get into tech diving. However, the customization optionality shouldn't come at a significant cost increase, nor should it compromise in any way the warm water set-up which I'll be diving 95% of the time in the foreseeable future.
Travel: I live in Dubai now, and have decent warm water diving 2 hrs drive from me in Musandam Oman. I estimate that I'll dive there 15-25x next year, and my rig will simply be thrown in the trunk of my car. In addition, I'll also likely take 1 or 2 flights with my gear internationally per year. As such, I'll be looking for a rig that travels easily/lightly and is comfortable for taking along on "local" trips.
Weight: As I mentioned above, ridding myself of a weight belt on my last trip was AWESOME. However, I realize now that putting the weight in my non-secure, BCD Jacket pocket was probably not the safest choice. This brings me to an important question. On a BP/W with no weight belt set-up, what options are there for secure, but dumpable weight? Is it an absolute must to have dumpable weight, from a safety perspective? If so, why? On my last few dives, when I was seemlingly perfectly weighted, I felt that if I was ever in an "emergency" situation, 2 strong kicks of the fins would have propelled me quickly to the surface - this left me wondering why "dumpability" is so important (not doubting that it is, just looking for better understanding).
My Size: 5’11” & 190lbs
Lift: I've read a few posts that speak about a calculation that lands on the optimal Lift a wing should have, based on the type of diving one does. I understand this conceptually, but the actual calculation admittedly goes over my head. I hope that I've provided enough info here for people to be able to provide a recommendation (single tank, warm water)
Plate: I've seen a lot of talk about when an Aluminum vs. SS vs. Hybrid plate should be used, but this is another one that leaves me a little baffled... so would appreciate some thoughts here as well.
I live in Dubai, which generally means overpriced, limited options for gear. I'll be back in the states (NYC) in October. Once I identify the right set-up for me, my plan is to keep an eye out for it "used" in the states (I can have it shipped to my bros place), or purchase it new at Leisure Pro once I'm back. Any thoughts / Tips on buying used gear? Things to look out for etc.?
Didn't think this post was going to be this long, so if you've come this far... thanks for reading. And thanks for any feedback / recommendations you might have.
Best,
PC