why would any one get a jacket BC

[FishTaco]

bp and wing has the added bonus of spreading 6lbs of weight over your lungs and taking it off of your hips while providing a low profile yet very stable platform to build your system on (be it single tank or duals with multiple stages) it works perfectly and promotes a balanced and natural horizontal diving position. dont see many jackets or back inflates capable of accomplishing this same feat.

 

[kidspot]

As has been mentioned, it's tougher to get a good fit with a jacket, and without a good fit you have problems. That was one of my favorite first impressions of my bp - I would actually like to try a well fitting jacket for awhile, just for the experience, but with my bp fit was a given... just a matter of adjusting it till it was right.

Aloha, Tim

 

[*Floater*]

I have a questions regarding different types of BCs. I see many people talk about the negative points of jacket style, my question is why would any one buy or need one.

Some people like jacket bcds because they are easy to put on, take off and to adjust. They typically have pockets and tend to keep the diver more vertical than bp/w bcds, which some divers prefer. Also you don't have to deal with shifting air from one side to the other to balance them out. Basically they are easier to start with than your typical bp/w with hogarthian harness. Also, the cheapest jacket bcds tend to be cheaper than the cheapest bp/w bcds.

 

[FishTaco]

if cheap is what your shooting for by all means go with the jacket but if usability and comfort are going to factor in bp and wings wins hands down
by the way why would a diver prefer a verticle position instead of a much more stable and enviromentally friendly horizontal position (much less silting and reef damage)?:huh:

 

[kidspot]

cheap and scuba don't go together... though I have tried to disprove that myself I have gotten 2 Halcyon systems for less than $300 by watching for deals etc (1 single, 1 double setup). Though a BCD from http://www.scubal.com has jacket bcds for $125 which is hard to beat.

Aloha, Tim

 

[MSilvia]

the cheapest jacket bcds tend to be cheaper than the cheapest bp/w bcds.

Yes, but the most expensive BP/W is cheaper than the most expensive jackets, and the mid-price options are comparable. In other words, the median price is about the same, but jacket prices cover a greater range at both ends.

why would a diver prefer a verticle position instead of a much more stable and enviromentally friendly horizontal position?

Because they're more concerned with how their dive gear positions them at the surface than they are with how it positons them while diving.

 

[NadMat]

Because they're more concerned with how their dive gear positions them at the surface than they are with how it positons them while diving.

... they don't give me any problems at all maintaining any position I feel like in the water column, plus they are more comfortable for me when floating on surface waiting for pickup.

And a vertical position in the water column is not always 'enviroment unfriendly' as was suggested earlier. If you are maintaining proper situational awareness you will not be bumping into reefs and risking damage to both them and you. Some pass thru's require vertical positioning to negotiate properly without bumpage.

If you are hangin' out away from bottom, why not swim in any position you like? For me, part of joy of diving is that it frees me from horizontal restrictions. I can swim or drift head down, head up, horizontally looking down, horizontally on my back blowing air rings (great thing to do when at safety stop with a lot of extra air due to different SAC rates).

I have no problem maintaining proper trim and orientation in water column whether I am using jacket or back inflate BC, BP/W, BP with horsecollar, or 'diving naked' with tank on backpack and no bouyancy device at all. But I do find a jacket style more comfortable at surface.

But once again, that is me, it is important for each diver to find what is 'right' for them and what they are comfortable with.

And watch putting words in mouth or making assumptions or judgements about why others use the equipment they do, stick to why you do what you do and let others speak for themselves.

 

[detroit diver]

Have you ever tried a backplate/wing?

... they don't give me any problems at all maintaining any position I feel like in the water column, plus they are more comfortable for me when floating on surface waiting for pickup.

And a vertical position in the water column is not always 'enviroment unfriendly' as was suggested earlier. If you are maintaining proper situational awareness you will not be bumping into reefs and risking damage to both them and you. Some pass thru's require vertical positioning to negotiate properly without bumpage.

If you are hangin' out away from bottom, why not swim in any position you like? For me, part of joy of diving is that it frees me from horizontal restrictions. I can swim or drift head down, head up, horizontally looking down, horizontally on my back blowing air rings (great thing to do when at safety stop with a lot of extra air due to different SAC rates).

I have no problem maintaining proper trim and orientation in water column whether I am using jacket or back inflate BC, BP/W, BP with horsecollar, or 'diving naked' with tank on backpack and no bouyancy device at all. But I do find a jacket style more comfortable at surface.

But once again, that is me, it is important for each diver to find what is 'right' for them and what they are comfortable with.

And watch putting words in mouth or making assumptions or judgements about why others use the equipment they do, stick to why you do what you do and let others speak for themselves.

 

[NadMat]

Have you ever tried a backplate/wing?

Have you ever tried reading the entire thread?

 

[detroit diver]

Have you ever tried reading the entire thread?

6 pages? No.

Why don't you give me the abridged version?