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

[radinator]

Sometimes there's a real basis for a fad. I understand there is hype on top of it, but once the hype fades, if something has a solid basis it will still be there, hype or no.

I did the low-carb thing (I hate the word diet, makes it sound like a temporary fling or something) and lost 50 pounds in 2 months. That was 5 years ago and it's still off, since I still keep watch of such things. Of course, now I am more relaxed about it and don't continue losing.

I started with a jacket BC, and it made me claustrophobic with lots of drag and "danglies".

I liked my Balance back-inflation BC when I switched because it was more streamlined, and had less "stuff" wrapped around me.

I like my BP/W more because it is more of the same. It's not the hype I like, but the experience itself.

Ultimately it's a religous argument. I like what I like and you like what you like. If you don't like what I like, that's ok too. But saying that those who like it are just buying into a fad is a little presumptious. It will work for some, and they will stick with it. Others will use something else.

 

[Snowbear]

As far as I know GUE doesn't insist that you have to use Halcyon gear to do their courses.

You are correct.
In the DIRf and Tech1 classes I actually took as well as the DIRf classes I've observed, the instructors have said absolutely nothing about a particular brand of gear being better than any other. In fact, they emphasized that they are pointing out characteristics and features of equipment and as long as the gear (especially drysuits, undies, harness configuration, etc...) meets the criteria, it matters not at all who makes it. It can be DIY if you're so inclined.

 

[Snowbear]

Off topic, but, ever feel when diving closer to God?

Most definitely.

 

[miketsp]

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.
..snip..

This is a misuse of the law of statistics. What you see, provided you dive enough sites to be a real average sample, is the product of the number of dives per year times the quantity of divers in that range.
To make the point for those not too familiar with statistics.
Suppose you have 3 million divers that each dive 5 times per year and 50000 divers that dive 100 times per year. This is a simplification of figures I saw in a recent US dive mag.
Total dives per year = 15,000,000 + 5,000,000 = 20,000,000.
Of course most of these 3 million holiday divers dive on holiday so if you limit your sample to a cold water beach you will only see the regulars - as per the comment:

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

..snip..
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 theory 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.
..snip..

I agree with this, they are more vocal.

 

[novadiver]

could it be a hidden agenda that the fine folks here represent.

 

[Snowbear]

Hidden??? Agenda??? Yipes!!! I sure hope not :11:

 

[utnapistim]

my feeling is not that they are more vocal. instead, it goes like this:

"i'm trying to decide between BC X (jacket) BC Y (jacket). which one and why?"

Then, the topic gets hijacked using:
"not to insist and be pushy, but you are very missinformed. buy a BP/W and you will no longer be very missinformed"

(I know i'm exagerating here a bit, but that was the feeling i got when looking through the BCDs forum)

so no, it's not that they are more vocal, but instead that they are the (only) vocal ones. sometimes even when the topic is different.

[edit] and i think that if you make a poll, the poll will show more bp/w users than the real number, simply because more will hury to answer the poll;

this is my feeling and very subjective. didn't mean to flame [/edit]

 

[JimC]

I think most BP/Wing users have migrated from jackets and/or back inflate BC's. I also think they for the most part think that the BW/Wing is better, and want to pass that along to others. So when someone asks "should I buy xxx $1000 super BC?" they see there own mistakes and want to help the person avoid making the same mistakes.

 

[novadiver]

Hidden??? Agenda??? Yipes!!! I sure hope not :11:

MY bad, I used the word "hidden"

 

[d@n]

Luckily for me, just after getting certified (PADI OW) and prior to purchasing gear, I found this board. I was ready to buy a jacket BC (a back inflate one) like my instructor had. After spending much time reading here and elsewhere about the options available, I chose a BP-W for the reasons stated previously. It is cheaper, more durable, and offers greater flexability if my diving needs change. I love it now for its comfort and the way it dives.

just my 2 psi