Firstly, sorry for bringing back an old thread! I am looking at a BP/W setup for my 11 year old son, he is very comfortable in the water (read doesn't want to get out of water) and my wife & I have the idea that learning to know your own gear is preferable to hiring gear & not being 100% sure of where all the buckles etc. are! I like the idea of a BP/W because then he won't grow out of it & it seems to be a much simpler setup (once properly configured). Any thoughts would be highly appreciated. Thanks!
Well, I have a little current experience with this EXACT situation. My 10 year old grandson was certified about 3 weeks ago. I had the same thoughts and was also in the process of replacing my own jacket style BC (20 years old) with a DSS BP/W.
First, I LIKE my SeaQuest ADVi jacket. It doesn't crush me because of the way the bladder is connected to a floating (isolated) harness and cummerbund. So, we can dispense with that old wives' tale. There's nothing wrong with a well designed jacket and it does tend to keep the diver vertical at the surface.
I have the DSS BP/W and, yes,
if the bladder is overinflated, it WILL push the diver forward, especially if they are using a buoyant tank like an Al 80. So, from personal experience, I am convinced that this wives' tale is true. The push can be overcome but it is real.
Now, if the bladder is not over inflated the tendency to push is much less but the head isn't held as far out of the water. OTOH, the BP/W is very comfortable while floating on your back. This works very well with a heavier tank like a steel HP 100. On your back, you can float forever! A highly negative tank like the HP 100 also helps offset the push when trying to float vertical. I'm still trying to get comfortable with the BP/W - it will come.
For my grandson, I bought a back-inflate BCD with an integrated weight system
Edge Stealth Weight Integrated BC It has an enormous amount of flotation and I am reasonably convinced it will push him forward as well.
But I now hate integrated weights! The BC is just too heavy to move and, when attached to a tank, the weight is insane. We're looking at something well over 50#. Now, the weight won't be any less if the ballast is moved to a weight belt or harness but at least it doesn't have to be hoisted all at once.
For the purposes of the OW class, consider letting your son use a rental BC and preferably a jacket style. It is a lot more comfortable for a new diver and he's only making 4 checkout dives. Consider also splitting up the ballast. Put some or all on a weight belt/harness and the remainder or none in the integrated pockets.
One of the school exercises is ditch/don of the BC on the surface. A purely DIR harness won't have a buckle in the arm strap. This
may complicate the exercise. I have the PRO harness on my DSS BP/W for the specific reason that it has these buckles.
I too contemplated the best choice for my grandson. I'm not sure the back-inflate BCD was the best choice. But it's the one I made and it seems to work out ok. After all, like your son, he won't get out of the water and once he is under water, the back-inflate or BP/W is absolutely the way to go. But, for the class, the students spent a good deal of time floating at the surface. I believe a jacket does a better job of this.
My grandson will be getting a BP/W in the next few months. For the moment, the back-inflate BC is working well enough and he's having a ball. But the BC was always a starter device; there was always the intent to move to a BP/W after he gained a little experience in the ocean.
Other opinions will vary and I am sure I will receive flack for perpetuating the idea that BP/Ws push the diver forward. But that's the way it works for me.
Best wishes for your son and his training!
Richard
