What is a BP/W?

[Splitlip]

ScubaPro had a BP/W by 1971 made with a hard plastic (nylon) backpack; we have a perfect unused 1975 set in our shop. The modern BP/W has been used since 1979, starting in use with North Florida cave divers. The major advance was the invention of the v-wedge in the backplate made of metal, which allowed for the tanks to sit stable close to the back-- invented by a then twenty year-old Greg Flanagen in his garage.

Thank you. I was pretty sure I'm not crazy.

As I said in my earlier post I ended up buying the stab around '80. In '05, I went full circle. So has Scubapro it seems.

 

[DevonDiver]

Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the BP&W is that it goes beyond modularity... it has universality.

For some freak of nature, a multitude of different manufacturers decided to play nicely and make their BP&W to a common specification (typically the 11" hole spacing and 2" webbing) so that a backplate from X manufacturer can be used with a harness from Y manufacturer and also a wing from Z manufacturer. The end result is almost infinite flexibility to pick and choose the most perfect configuration for your needs and budget.

 

[Crush]

You have read a description of BP&W.

Here is why to go BP&W:
1. The cool kids will talk to you;
2. They pack really well for air-travel;
3. If you ever ever think that you might even slightly try cave diving or wreck diving you will need one (see comment 1, above);
4. If your kids get into diving start them on a BP&W, preferably with a wing that has less lift than yours but that you might want to borrow for your next warm-water diving trip. Everything is entirely modular, so if they hate diving you have a new (smaller) warm-water setup. Also, since everything is entirely modular, you can sell a small BP&W to an XXL guy - the only thing they will need to swap is $20 worth of webbing.

Important note to new and potential BP&W users:
In the dive shop (i.e., above water) they can be uncomfortable if the shoulder straps are not padded. Go for no padding. In the water (where your gear is neurally buoyant and positioned over your back as you float horizontally) the BP&W feels effortless and is wonderful.

 

[TSandM]

One amendment to Andy's statement about everything being compatible -- with single tank setups, that isn't necessarily true. For example, the DSS wings are set up not to need an STA, but the Halcyon small pattern stainless plate has no camband slots. So you need something to put cambands on, which necessitates an STA, and STAs don't work very well with DSS wings.

 

[Moonglow]

A photo of the mid-1970's ScubaPro rig:

 

[Pongo1998]

Thank you for all the replies. I see where I was a little confused.

 

[3D diver]

Scubapro actually had a rig that used a horseshoe wing between their typical plastic backpack and the tank. It didn't sell. It disappeared because none were selling. I ended up buying their first stab jacket. Lol

Yes. I remember the bc's with the flotation in back, and the debates about whether that was safe for an unconscious diver. Maybe it's the terminology that has changed...or maybe I just wasn't paying attention.

Regardless, I'm heading to some shops to check 'em out.

 

[Splitlip]

A photo of the mid-1970's ScubaPro rig:

Yup. Not crazy