Weight for BP vs BCD: Is there a typical % drop?

[Bob DBF]

The poodle jacket I was wearing was 6# buoyant empty. It depends on the padding and materials it is made of, what the buoyancy of any particular jacket will be.

There's a myth about being able to drop weight because newer divers swapping to backplates are usually overweighted to begin with.

Different issues, whether or not you drop weight because of the BC depends on the buoyancy of the jacket. I would guess if you had an old stab jacket you wouldn't loose anything, the well padded poodle jacket I had was 6# buoyant.

New divers are overweighted, and don't know it, because of poor training in OW. They don't magically get better weighting skills when putting on a BP/W, they get better because the have decided to become better divers and work to that end.



Bob

 

[Soloist]

The #18 wing from VDH is perfect for warm water diving in the Caribbean.

Store | Vintage Double Hose

 

[Trailboss123]

Let me add that I will have a 19cf pony. I just got it, but haven't dived with it as yet, but it has also prompted me to make this switch.

Currently I'm looking at the NX Ghost, but I'm still open for guidance.

I have the XDeep Ghost and I love it. You won't be disappointed. Here is my review of it: Review: XDeep Ghost BCD- BP/W

I have shed 10 lbs in ditchable weight compared to my previous jacket style BC.

 

[Fastmarc]

I have the XDeep Ghost and I love it. You won't be disappointed. Here is my review of it: Review: XDeep Ghost BCD- BP/W

I have shed 10 lbs in ditchable weight compared to my previous jacket style BC.

Actually, your review is how it came to my attention. Thanks.

 

[g1138]

The poodle jacket I was wearing was 6# buoyant empty. It depends on the padding and materials it is made of, what the buoyancy of any particular jacket will be.



Different issues, whether or not you drop weight because of the BC depends on the buoyancy of the jacket. I would guess if you had an old stab jacket you wouldn't loose anything, the well padded poodle jacket I had was 6# buoyant.

New divers are overweighted, and don't know it, because of poor training in OW. They don't magically get better weighting skills when putting on a BP/W, they get better because the have decided to become better divers and work to that end.



Bob

What's your brand, model & year out of curiosity?

 

[Bob DBF]

What's your brand, model & year out of curiosity?

If you are talking about the poodle jacket, it was 15 years ago or so, my wife bought it for me and I only dove it for four or five years because I was not a fan, unless I find a picture I don't know. It had large shoulder pads and even larger padded cummerbund, I think even the back had padding between diver and backpack. I freedive and dive old school 72's without a BC, I was annoyed because I had to add significant weight compared to those configurations as well as the SeaTec I wore out.

Not saying all BC's have the same inherent buoyancy, but one can find out. Just put he jacket in a large mesh bag and start adding weight.


Bob

 

[Ayisha]

Let me add that I will have a 19cf pony. I just got it, but haven't dived with it as yet, but it has also prompted me to make this switch.

Just note that you shouldn't remove any weight on account of the pony bottle. You get your weighting right first and then just add the pony. That way if you happen to use the pony or hand it off to anyone, you are still correctly weighted.

 

[Fastmarc]

Just note that you shouldn't remove any weight on account of the pony bottle. You get your weighting right first and then just add the pony. That way if you happen to use the pony or hand it off to anyone, you are still correctly weighted.

Thanks for the tip.
The pony will be with me on every dive starting with my next dive (maybe this weekend) which will be with the BCD and I will not be removing any weight.
I will get the BPW when I travel in October.

 

[ijdod]

When I switched from jacket to BPW, after doing the weight check with the wing I noticed things didn't add up as I expected. Upon experimenting I found my jacket to be 2kg positive (Aqualung ProQD). I suspect that varies per jacket though.

 

[Fastmarc]

The one thing I'm wondering about with making this switch is having no pockets. I usually put my foldable snorkel, gloves and flashlight in my BCD. Maybe slate or other things as required.
How is this normally dealt with in a BP setup?