Warped Dive World Evolution - BP/W Subgroup Mindset

[dmoore19]

Well, in my limited experience, I have not seen anyone diving a BP/W. The only place I have ever seen a BP/W was at the LDS I use. Is that weird or what? Even the divemasters and instructors I have seen that are diving for fun wear either a back inflate or a jacket type BC. Hope this helps. HAHAHAHA

 

[Tortuga68]

Coming Up Next: Why you can't knock Spare Air & Split Fins

Film at 11

 

[fnfalman]

Have you replaced that SS1 contraption back to Halcyon's OEM inflator yet?

Why on God's green earth would I want to do that? Just because Halcyon makes a great product, it doesn't mean that the product can't be improved upon.

 

[fnfalman]

Putting an SS1 on a Halcyon rig is like putting a gun rack on a Volvo ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Why can't you put a gun rack on a Volvo?

 

[fnfalman]

A bind man could determine that BP/W's are more streamline thereby creating less drag...

Is this "bind" man some sort of hydrodynamicist who had done some research with water tunnel?

Unless some fool retro-fits with a SS1 or Air2 gizmo...

The lesser man will always be envious of the visionary man.

 

[Blackwood]

Why on God's green earth would I want to do that?

Green? Only a blind man who isn't some sort of chromatidynamicist researching the globe with a visibile light spectrometer would think it's green.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My world's more green ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[*dave*]

Here's what I've noticed:

There are many jacket style BCDs which are very bulky.
There are many jacket style BCDs which are poorly designed.
The vast majority of BP/W divers transitioned from jacket style BCDs.
The vast majority of BP/W divers are extremely happy and enthusiastic about their rigs.
The ratio of BP/W:Jacket divers is grossly weighted towards the jacket.
This ratio is shifting towards BP/W
Manufacturers and instructors seem to be gravitating towards a leaner configuration, such as the LiteHawk. More strap, less fabric, less fluff, more functionality. This style BCD is more BP/W than jacket.

Apeks and Scubapro are hardly fringe manufacturers of some obscure product with no mass appeal.

Those are facts, btw.
TEK-Line - SCUBAPRO-UWATEC
Apeks Products

 

[fnfalman]

Green? Only a blind man who isn't some sort of chromatidynamicist researching the globe with a visibile light spectrometer would think it's green.

Looks pretty green to me.

 

[Crush]

A bind man could determine that BP/W's are more streamline thereby creating less drag...

My response is a re-post from http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/5534842-post93.html:

There is (as usual) a lot of bitching about BCs and drag. People spout off a lot but can't back up what they say. Let's divide this lack of proof into two categories: (1) what can be proven or demonstrated empirically, universally, and reproducibly; and (2) what is necessarily subjective.

My statement that there is a lot of bitching falls into category 2 - my statement is subjective. In truth, I should have typed "to me it seems as though there is a lot of bitching about BCs and drag." Enough said.

Enter into the first category statements on BCs and drag. I posted here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/5478101-post106.html a link to the only study that I am aware of on scuba equipment configurations and drag, done by the US Navy. How many of you have read it? Or do you just accept that BCs cause (significantly) more drag on faith? Have you read any different, possibly conflicting studies? Please report them!

Those who understand drag physics know that frictional opposition to motion in water is a function of many factors, but it always increases with velocity. In some circumstances someone swimming slowly in a BC will experience less drag than someone swimming rapidly in a BP/w.

According to the above study, someone swimming in a wetsuit with face mask, snorkel, and weights experiences twice the drag of someone swimming in trunks only at 1 ft/s. Someone in a full scuba outfit with a single tank experiences three times the drag of someone swimming in trunks only at 1 ft/s. Double tanks? Four times the drag of someone swimming in trunks only at 1 ft/s.

I don't see anyone telling divers that they should avoid doubles because of the drag...

After all, common sense tells us that heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects. Try the experiment and get back to me...

Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against BP&W. I just don't like magical properties being ascribed to them.