Question Wing Size Regret: 30 or 40 pound?

[Inscrutable]

Hello, I am relatively new to diving so please forgive my ignorance. And apologies if I posted this in the wrong place.

I’m switching from a Scubapro Hydros Pro BCD with a 35 pound lift to a Halcyon backplate and wing. With my Scubapro, I currently dive with a single AL80, a 7mm semi dry wetsuit (yeah, yeah, I know) and about 12 pounds of lead in a cooler tropical climate which leaves me neutrally buoyant at 15 feet with 5-700 PSI left in my cylinder. I’m 5’9-5’10 and 125 lbs. I used both the Optimal Buoyancy Calculator and the Wing Calculator and both suggested roughly a 28 lb lift after I input everything.

I ordered the 40 lb Halcyon wing as I plan to do drysuit diving with steel cylinders in colder water and thought, perhaps, I could use one wing for both as the physical size difference appeared minimal (a few centimeters).

Now, I’m having some regret about purchasing the 40 pound wing. Would the 30 pound wing have been the wiser choice? I like having a bit of lift at the surface as I’ve been caught in some pretty turbulent surface conditions, but not at the expense of battling air pockets while diving if the 30 pound wing would be the better choice. Or, will I likely need both?

Thank you.

 

[Inscrutable]

I ordered a 30# Oxycheq wing once and a 40# showed up, oops!
I didn’t even know it until I looked at the label one day as I was cleaning it.
I was all mad at first but then realized the 40 is not that much bigger than the 30 so I kept my mouth shut and just kept using it. that was 18 or so years ago, IDK whenever the Mach V came out.
It’s not that big a deal.

Thank you, that’s reassuring! Part of me is curious to try both and see how they compare because I know someone who would eagerly take either size wing. We shall see once the 40 arrives.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The thing to remember with drysuit diving is the wing only has to float your gear. The drysuit also provides buoyancy even when you dive it correctly with just enough air in it to offset the squeeze. And once you get experience in it, oft times, that squeeze offset amount is enough to remain neutral at recreational depths with an aluminum cylinder. Switch to heavier steel tanks and you'll need to add air to the wing beyond a certain point. I've used a 32lb wing with an LP119 and a drysuit and had plenty of lift. 40 is just overkill for any single tank. Except maybe some of the old Heiser's. Thankfully not many of those around.

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah for you but who are you, but not for the guy with the questions and not for me

Rough Seas in the Ocean not rough quarry

 

[Twiny]

Thank you. The 40 was barely bigger in store when I ordered it. The 30 sounds like a better option for my but for some reason went with the 40 because I’ve been caught at the surface with pretty sizable waves several times during drift dives waiting for the boat to come grab me. I probably went with the 40 because the Scubapro BCD fits well but not perfectly. Thanks again!

Hi, I don't think that you can dive single tank with a 40 pounds wing : the tacos effect will make it unstable and will prevent you from being able to use your low dump valve...
A change of wing is necessary when switching from single to double tanks. Or you need a polyvalent model with adjustable bungees or a zipper to restrict the wing size when needed.