Which BP/W to get?

[eelnoraa]

Consider a "balance rig". You can search for it. But do consider what tank you are using as well.

If you dive with 5mm suit or above, go with 30lb. I don't know how 18lb or 20lb will do. A new 5mm suit can easily generate 15lb-20lb of lift on surface. Add the gas in your tank at the beginning of the dive, say 6lb for AL80, one will need at least 15lb+6lb of lift.

 

[bendc]

Thanks for all your responses.

Right now I'm always diving AL80s but would like to have the option of using steel tanks in the future. I also planned on keeping the rig balanced by wearing a weight belt instead of packing weight into an STA or integrated pockets.

So far I'm leaning towards the Hog 32. If the streamline factor between the 32 and the smaller wings isnt a big deal, I'd rather have a little extra buoyancy than not enough.

Another thing that concerns me about the DR wing is the lack of an integrated STA. From the research I've done so far, some people seem to think it needs an STA and others go without. Can anyone comment about this? The only advantage I'm seeing in the DR package is that its almost $100 cheaper.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

More advanced divers should correct me if I am wrong on this but ideally you want to be able to float your rig at the surface without you in it. If you carry your lead on the wing then it needs enough lift to float that.

As for the wing itself I looked at Dive Rite, Hog, Hollis, Oxycheq and Deep Sea Supply. I ended up purchasing Oxycheq 18 lbs. When I got into cold water diving I got Oxycheq 40 lbs. If I had not gotten that then my choice would be Deep Sea Supply. That is another great wing and a very good company with solid reputation.

 

[RJP]

If you carry your lead on the wing then it needs enough lift to float that.

How does one carry lead "on the wing"?

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

How does one carry lead "on the wing"?

The three ways I have seen are:

1. Attaching the weight on the tank
2. Bolting softweights to the backplate
3. Weight integrating pockets.

All three of these would cause your wing to float the lead in case you choose to swim out of your rig.If the wing does not have enough lift, it sinks.

 

[RJP]

The three ways I have seen are:

1. Attaching the weight on the tank
2. Bolting softweights to the backplate
3. Weight integrating pockets.

All three of these would cause your wing to float the lead in case you choose to swim out of your rig.If the wing does not have enough lift, it sinks.

Ah... but none of those are "on the wing" which was the confusing part to me. They would be
"on your tank" or "on your plate" or "on your harness" but none of them are "on your wing." The wing being one of the five things that would comprise a full BP/W scuba unit:

- Wing
- Harness
- Plate
- Tank(s)
- Reg(s)

 

[drbill]

Personally, I dislike BPs for diving single tanks. They never seem to sit right on my back. I greatly prefer a soft harness and wing myself and use the ancient Scubapro X-Tek (basically the same as the original Dive Rite Transpac). I find the soft harness conforms much better to my body and still gives me the flexibility of using different wings for different diving. I recently removed my Hog 32 (love it) and packed an ancient Soniform 18 wing for a stint in the Bahamas.