Why would you want a back inflated only BCD??

[Faris427]

I got certified this past year and am now looking into buying a BCD (I already purchased a regulator setup)...I live in Orlando, Florida and want to start diving the local springs and beaches...in my class we only had BCD's that inflated on both the sides and back, and certainly no BP/W 's (I would love to hear what those are used for too!!!) I never even heard of such a thing before trolling this forum! So what I want to know it why you would want/use either of the 3 styles!

Please be super in depth I crave new scuba information and will take all the time needed to read any response given!

Thank you so much for the help!

-Jeremy

 

[crpntr133]

Oh Lord are you in for a ride!! This could turn really ugly really fast.

The main reason for a BP/W is USUALLY, not always, doubles. Some will dive one with singles because there is nothing to it. Now you think that you need 20 pockets to stow your stuff but you will learn. I love my plate!
A back inflate is really nice for the dive. It helps trim you out horizontally. Somebody will come along and tell you that a back inflate will dunk you on your face on the surface. If trimmed out right and not totally inflated a back inflate will not do this. Also a back inflate doesn't give you the squeeze that some jackets do.
Being in FL I would say that someplace there is a LDS that has back inflates for rent. Especially since Zeagle is located in FL. If so get one and try it out! It is different but nothing major.

 

[Hagan34]

I got certified this past year and am now looking into buying a BCD (I already purchased a regulator setup)...I live in Orlando, Florida and want to start diving the local springs and beaches...in my class we only had BCD's that inflated on both the sides and back, and certainly no BP/W 's (I would love to hear what those are used for too!!!) I never even heard of such a thing before trolling this forum! So what I want to know it why you would want/use either of the 3 styles!

Please be super in depth I crave new scuba information and will take all the time needed to read any response given!

Thank you so much for the help!

-Jeremy

still pretty new to diveing my self and had the same question. Last dive i was on one of the DMs had Trans-pac, and a diver had a BP/W which left me wondering about them.

 

[almitywife]

my first bcd was a tusa imprex (i think). as a women i hated the squeeze around my chest, i hated the small wing, i hated how when i dived with it (espeically on surface swims) i felt alot of drag

then hubby bought me a zeagle tech (his version of sexy lingerie) and i loved how it felt around my shoulders, it was no longer a effort to carry the tank while walking to the water (gear is still heavy, just better supported), i loved how when fully iniflated on the surface i felt balanced and when diving it felt i had much less clutter.

a few months ago i started diving bpw (zeagle again) and this week i finally bought one for myself. the feel is very similar to the tech but the harness gives me even more streamline feel and less clutter again. if you dont have all those d-rings you dont start putting stuff on it

i now understand why when people ask about a bcd they are told get a bpw - im sold on it

i also wonder if one cant really appreciate how good a bpw is until they have dived in the standard store sold bcd and they finally make the break

cheers and enjoy - goodluck!

 

[The Chad]

A wing provides a very stable platform for using dbls when you do most of your diving in a horizontal position. Might look into some of the higher end bcd's that offer you to change your configs so it can grow with you as your diving progresses, I think dive rite, zeagle and posiedon make some nice ones. Anyway its a to each their own kinda thing

 

[Kevfin]

The advantages to back inflate:

They allow better horizontal trim. Better horizontal trim allows you to move with less resistance through the water column, thereby exerting less energy and using less air.

A BP/W has the advantage of securing the tank to your back a lot better than a jacket, so you will have less tank roll and you will not have to work as hard to prevent your body from rolling right or left. When done properly, you should just be able to hover, without moving, and stay perfectly still. Try that in a jacket.

Disadvantages to back inflate:

Yes, they really do tend to force you on your face. That is easily overcome on the surface, if you are floating on your back and it has never been an issue for me. However, in a rescue situation, when towing somebody with back inflate, you will have to work a bit harder to keep them off their face. This is also an issue when bringing somebody to the surface during a rescue. They will tend to surface and roll onto their face.

Advantages to a jacket (non-back inflate):

NONE -- ha ha ha, okay, just kidding.

Actually, some people like the feel of a jacket inflate. The can feel air entering the BC and they find that reassuring.

Some photographers that like to plant themselves on their knees or in an upright position like the jacket style too.

Instructors like them because, when it comes time to have students on their knees doing skills, the jacket style makes that easier.

Disadvantages to jacket style:

Horizontal trim isn't as easy as a back inflate. Tank is not as secure and can roll a little when compared to a BP/W. Bulky compared to a BP/W.

I'm sure there may be more.

Hope that helps.

 

[Rick Inman]

For your readng pleasure...

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...tems/211005-bp-wing-vs-backinflation-bcs.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/buoyancy-compensators-bc-s-weight-systems/192289-wing-vs-bcd.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/buoyancy-compensators-bc-s-weight-systems/189535-wing-v-bcd.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...-what-s-difference-wing-jacket-normal-bc.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...114480-bc-wing-plate-vs-jacket-style-bcd.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bu...tems/79133-do-you-hate-bp-wing-arguments.html

 

[dkatchalov]

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Dive Rite is in Lake City, right? (I was corrected on page 2, and fixed my post to avoid confusing anyone. Originally, I had that it was in Lakeland in this post)

I live in Orlando and dive a DiveRite BP/W setup. If you want to take a look at it, just shoot me a pm or something. Might could even work out a way for you to try diving it, if you are about the same size as me....the webbing is cut to size so it won't fit someone much bigger....I'm 6-0 and wear size 34 pants...

I love the BP/W for the stability--it doesn't move around on me at all like a BC did. I got SO tired of the tank valve hitting me inthe head as it floated around just enough to do that.... also, you can find them used for very good prices.

 

[kiltdiver]