Why does an LDS push newbies away from BP/WINGS?

[CincyBengalsFan]

lal7176 once bubbled...


That would suck if its your only cam band and you had to make a rough surf exit to the beach. Not to brag but my BP has two cam bands with nice solid metal buckles and i make darn sure they are tight before going into the water especially when diving spots like N. Monastery beach. I go even as far as strapping on the tank with wet bands and let it sit for about 10 min and undo the straps and retighten it again. That way i know my tank is gonna stay in place no matter what.

Well, the Tech has double cam straps but it still sucked and pissed me off. It was only 1 of 3 major problems I had with that thing. I bought it because everyone said it was the best thing since sliced pineapple. IT WASN'T!

 

[Don Burke]

jplacson once bubbled... I love the BP/wing.

And as much of a new BP advocate as I am... I have to say, I don't really see anything wrong with jackets.

The main reason I shifted to a BP was that I hate the 'squeeze' of jackets, and the air trapping. That's about it, I never had any problems with trim, finning position, or hovering while in a jacket.

I dive in a jacket BC a couple of times a month and for me, the trim _is_ a little off. If precise trim made a difference for that dive, a tank weight would fix it quickly enough. It's an aquarium dive, so BC squeeze isn't an issue either.

Outside of that one job, I'll call a dive if I can't use my BP/wing.

 

[mgri]

Northeastwrecks once bubbled...
Perhaps the one thing that I do notice is that I overtighten the waist strap a bit in order to keep it tight at depth.

That's what I do too. I also use one of those auto adjusting buckles that adjusts to the compression of the wet suit.

Tight on the surface in a 5mil is perfect fit at about 70' but like I said before, the only thing snug on the surface in my setup is the waist belt and crotch strap. I have no idea what DIR recommendation are for how tight a shoulder strap should be. I can't think of a good reason for them to be tight.

 

[deepdiverbc]

mgri once bubbled...


That's what I do too. I also use one of those auto adjusting buckles that adjusts to the compression of the wet suit.


I was looking at those auto adjust buckles but figured it was one of those gimicks that doesn't work very well or a possible fail point. Do you many divers that use them and are then any problems with them?

 

[paulwlee]

lal7176 once bubbled...


At the more popular dive sites in monterey(breakwater, lovers, etc) we will sit back and watch in amazement at how many divers will exit the water dragging their tanks behind them cause they slipped out of the cam band(s). Thank goodness they are great spots with easy exits or it would be ugly.

Hmm.. that's interesting. I've never seen someone do that during seventy something dives at Breakwater. Maybe I need to watch the beach a little more to see the fun stuff..

I did see such things happening underwater, though.

 

[Dryglove]

paulwlee once bubbled...


Hmm.. that's interesting. I've never seen someone do that during seventy something dives at Breakwater. Maybe I need to watch the beach a little more to see the fun stuff..

I did see such things happening underwater, though.

You gotta be kidding me. Go down to the deli at breakwater and get yourself one of those kick butt tritip sandwiches and kick back and watch the divers exiting the water on a saturday or sunday. Add 2-3 foot waves and the entertainment value goes up even higher. There are always a couple of divers at the minimum that are totally ate up while the majority are good divers.

 

[mgri]

deepdiverbc once bubbled...

mgri once bubbled...


That's what I do too. I also use one of those auto adjusting buckles that adjusts to the compression of the wet suit.


I was looking at those auto adjust buckles but figured it was one of those gimicks that doesn't work very well or a possible fail point. Do you many divers that use them and are then any problems with them?

It works great but I'm not expecting it to last to long. I'm sure it will not last long once I get back in salt water.

 

[paulwlee]

lal7176 once bubbled...


You gotta be kidding me. Go down to the deli at breakwater and get yourself one of those kick butt tritip sandwiches and kick back and watch the divers exiting the water on a saturday or sunday. Add 2-3 foot waves and the entertainment value goes up even higher. There are always a couple of divers at the minimum that are totally ate up while the majority are good divers.

I have seen some divers having trouble, but strangely never someone who had their tanks hanging by the hoses upon exit.

But then again, a lot of my dives there were when I was assisting in classes, so I guess I was too busy with the students to sit and watch other people. At other times I would have new gear that I'm busy tweaking during the surface interval.

 

[grouchyturtle]

Someone said earlier in the thread that a few guys at LDS who dive doubles said BPs are only for doubles.

I've heard the same thing. Was at 2 different shops the past few weeks. The owner at each shop both do a lot of deep wreck diving of NJ with doubles. And both told me BPs aren't good for single tanks.

I don't get it! These guys both dive doubles, and neither was actually trying to sell me a BC. I don't understand how anyone who dives a BP, would prefer a vest for single tank diving. The only possible reason I could think of is they are too lazy to change the wing and throw an adapter on!

jplacson once bubbled...
Someone seems to have a Halcyon wing with 2 straps and the "Super Cam Buckle" (which is basically a fancy way of saying 'our buckles are metal, and yours are plastic')

Good for you lal7176! I've got a Pioneer 27 myself.

I love the BP/wing.

hahahaha! Me too. Just got an Eclipse last week and love it! I used a jacket in OW and for my first 3 dives. After that got a Matrix (modular back inflate). Was going to buy a different wing for it and wound up getting the whole BP setup instead. I don't have a lot of dives yet, but I hate jackets and hope I never have to use one again!

 

[d33ps1x]

You're instructor is full of sh*# of course.

Right from the equipment section under general standards and proceedures in the PADI instructor's manual:

"c. buoyancy control device (BCD) (with tank mount or separate
backpack) and low pressure inflator
d. regulator and alternate air source"

So nothing wrong with your backplate/harness/wings and hell if you want to use a seven foot hose on your primary then you should be able to go nuts there too.