Why are BP/W users more common on this board than at the beach?

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meisburger:
One point, people keep mentioning how economical the BP/W setup is, but I think you can get a perfectly serviceable BC for a third the cost. Possibly as the BP/W becomes more popular the price will go down, since it really is a simple construction.

Actually it's good to hear from someone who did not prefer it - so thank you for your input. As to cost, it is true a low cost BC can be found for $150 while a bp/w will cost a minimum of $250 (and more commonly about $400-$500) but the cost savings comes in not needing to upgrade gear to grow with your diving interests - Of course many Jacket BC's run $400-$600 also...

Tim
 
meisburger:
but, ever feel when diving closer to God?
Only when I'm wearing my BP
 
Boogie711:
I think the vast majority of divers are 'occasional, recreational' divers - as in, those who perhaps dive 5 or 10 dives a year.

No, that can't explain it either. He asked why he sees only a few at the beach. You don't see the 5 or 10 dives per year divers at the beach. Well at least you don't see them more then 5 or 10 times a year at the beach. It's just a law of statistics that the people you do see the most are the people who dive the most. When I'm there I see mostly 50 to 100 dives per year divers.

The question was "Of the divers I see in the water week after week all year round almost all have BCs of some kind, not BP/W setup. But on scubaboard they seem more common. Why?"

My theoory is that they are not more common on scubaboard. It's just the BP/W users are more vocal and you hear them more. Most divers really don't think that much about BCs they just use whatever it wa they bought years ago and it works so why worry about it.

I actually do see a lot of backplates at the beach and on boats. Of the dozen or so divers last night three or four had backplates
 
BigboyDan:
Most people who blindly follow their LDS are paying too much for a crappy BC rather than a less expensive BP/W? Huh? In 1974, when I first dove, not only was there was no such a thing as a BC, there was no bouyancy device of any type except for a horse collar and a neoprene wetsuit. My first rig was a backplate, harness, J-valved steel 72cf tank, band, Conshelf 14, knife, that's it. No octo no SPG, no other safety devices. If it wasn't for the BC, THE BC ITSELF, there would have never been an explosion of recreational diving from 1980 onward. The fact that the current BP/W (which is EXACTLY, like the ones we used in the late 70's) is necessary for cave diving and some tec profiles does not mean that those who do not dive those profiles are disserved by a BC. A falsehood.

What? No snorkel?!!! :11:
 
Originally Posted by Meisburger:
I'm not sure there are more scubaboard BP/W users than their percentage of the diving population. Those who have been converted are more fervent in their faith, and more likely to want to convert others. Those who don't care, by defination don't care and are less likely to bring up the subject of BCs at all.

I think this is true. By definition "going against the flow" requires a greater investment of resources and perhaps ego as well than just doing something the way "everyone else" is doing it.

I do think that "real-world preachers" are far less common than the internet kind. When I get out to dive, I want to dive, not have an hourlong discussion about if you should wear your snorcle on the left or right side of the head. I don´t think i´m the only one who feels that way...If someone were to ask though I´d be sure to tell them that it is best placed tucked in under the hood of your wet/dry suit...
 
like any fad, it will fade. But this fad is like the atkins diet, it has a lot of hype behind it so it dies slower than most. Actually when you look at the history of the two, they have much in common.
 

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