As someone who is 6’1” and currently 300lbs, the BPW setup was a game changer. I don’t need anything else around my waist or belly. These are perfect for us big dudes.
Back plate and wing/back inflated bcd did wonders for my buoyancy. At some point during my first dive with mine I said to myself "Wow, there's just nothing I need to adjust anymore." I found myself with more time to look at my surroundings. I consider that dive my first dive.
Timely video indeed. I'm purchasing my first BCD this week and have decided on a BP/W setup. I'm going with an aluminum bp to start because most of my diving is travel. Thanks for yet another great video.
As a new diver I preferred the BPW. Your comment that the full jacket is more comfortable prompted me to want to comment. The jacket being more comfortable is what I had been hearing/reading but on the flip side experts were saying go with a BPW. I was concerned that the BPW would be an issue with my bad shoulder so I was hesitant. From my very limited experience I agree that the jacket is more comfortable OUT of the water. In the water, however, to me it is just the opposite. With the jacket I feel so bulky and limited with my range of motion and being able to find my accessories. There is also the mental aspect of feeling "overloaded" in the water, which takes getting used to. If you are like me and have been in the water your entire life wearing the minimum to maintain control, speed, and minimize drag. The BPW, once in the water, feels like I'm wearing no more than my swimming trunks. It is very comfortable and I feel I can move much easier. I have better control of my buoyancy, I can turn, twist, and maneuver like I'm used to doing in the water with little effort. Not to mention I am able to find my accessories easily. I am interested in doing some underwater photography and I found on my last couple dives I was able to get in any position to do videos and pictures with much less effort than a jacket. All that being said I am new to the sport. My wife and I both just started diving early this year. I tested full jacket, back inflate jacket, hybrid, and BPW. After the testing, for me, it was an easy decision to go with a BPW. I thought my wife would feel the same, but I was surprised when she went with the full jacket. To each her own I guess? Though the jacket is more comfortable out of the water isn't the point of SCUBA gear to be comfortable (and safe) IN the water?
Somewhat agree. I found it easier to stay level with the backplate, but once I found the right posture, I didn’t have any issues with the jacket either. That plus the extra comfort on the surface made me prefer the jacket. Easier for surface swims out to platforms or buoys during shore dives for me. And for taking my fins off before getting on a boat. Either way though, they do what they’re supposed to. Keep you happy underwater.
I do both but for some reason I always go back to my scubapro classic full jacket for some reason… it just seems to make me feel the most comfortable. I do encourage people try to use different BCD’s even after buying your own.
During my first week of diving I used both a BPW and Jacket BCD, and I found the wing setup SO much easier to use. The balance is much better, and you feel more free when in the water.
Great video! My favorite setup (warm water recreational diving) is a BPW BCD with tech shorts (store SMB … clipped in the side pockets) and a rash guard, super comfortable!
Awesome review! Just what I needed. Looking at getting my 13 year old a setup and researching BPW for him since its expandable and 100% customizable. Save a ton of money as he grows. Thanks
I still use a weight belt is some instances. If I'm wearing a particularly buoyant exposure suit and need to remove my BCD for any reason I don't want to suddenly become dangerously floaty.
100% for neoprene drysuit diving I wear 20 lbs on my belt and 12 lbs in my wing. I know cold water divers that put all their weight integrated into a BCD and when I ask them "what happens if you're entangled and need to take you pack off?" They just go "uhhhhhhh"
Fantastic video. Vey well done. Thank you. Love to see how you attached your SMB to the backplate. It was speeded up in the video. I would be grateful if you can show how or maybe you have done in past videos.
Imagine recommending jacket bcd to someone. When I swapped out to the wing bcd, I was seven times more comfortable, cause my mobility was not limited by unused oversized pockets on my back, and it reduces drag, so my legs felt nice and comfy.
@diversdready hey James, you mention you have a specific way of storing things like your SMB. Any interest in doing a video on storing items with tips and tricks for streaming
Just moved over from a BCD (Cressi) to a BPW (OMS) will never look back, the OMS kit is really comfortable. Weight pouches are integrated into the harness, but i still wear weight on my body for obvious reasons.. Great vid btw
I typically use a very negative steel tank so that is sitting on the other side of the bladder. Never have trouble at the surface. I'd hate to have those wing nuts. They hit my back on units I've tried. Book screws are the way to go. Both my kids dive BPWs! Carbon Fiber ones. They fit them perfect and they'll grow into them.
Hi James #askdiversready, when I bought my first (and only so far) BCD, I went with an Aeris (Oceanic) JetPack. It is kind of a hybrid jacket and wing style. It isn't a true BP/W style but it isn't a true jacket style either. It has a bladder/wing that wraps around the back plastic plate and doesn't have all of the bulk and pockets that a typical jacket style has, but it does have the dump weight system. My first time diving with it will be in two weeks when I am in Costa Rica, so I will let you know my thoughts. Thank you again for all of your videos!!
So 6 dives in with the JetPack and a few issues. One, as with any new gear, it took a few dives to get the fit right since this is a "one size fits all" and fully adjustable....not sure if I still have it right. Secondly, getting the weight just right was a bit of a challenge. With the dump pockets in the front, I needed more weight in the back for stabilization...luckily I has some pouches on the secondary tank strap to put weights in, but they were small.
In my Open Water course we were issued BPW for use. The instructors told us BPW are the best option for growing along with the diver as they progressed. After a bit of research and comparisons, including this one, BPW is hands-down the winner. Modular and ease of adaptability into wreck diving. I know the shop that certified us sold a jacket style, but I don't think it was an option for rental gear. Glad I did Open Water at home in Alaska, Dry Suit certified too!
BPW all the way! Did a Hollis stainless plate, Dive Rite Voyager XT wing and DGX harness, love it! Still getting used to a long hose, a little more awkward setting up on the boat but fine in the water.
I introduced my s/o to BPW last week, at just under 70 dives with rental jackets. She immediately noticed the increased arm freedom without all that side bulk. BPW gets the comfort and fit vote. Also, I will always prefer separate weight belts to BC-integrated systems. Tank-loaded BCs are heavy enough on the shoulders, without adding lead to that weight. Let the hips carry the lead.
Yeah... That comment hit below the belt.😂😂. It might be 2019 but I still wear a weight belt, with my BP/W IF for example, I'm diving dry ( 35 -70 degrees) with a single aluminum 80. I know there are integrated weight pockets for my harness however I seem to be always retrieving lost weight pockets for 'those other folks'. The dirty little secret BCD manufacturers don't want us to know about.😬😉 Maybe there's a video coming up called ' How to never loose your weight pocket' Great vid. Good to see a tech instructor who can still talk chipper about getting a 🐻 hug from a jacket BCD.😁
I was the same as your student, I did my open water dives using a jacket style Bcd. I went on holiday for my first dive trip and was urged by the instructors at the dive shop to try the Wing style. Things instantly just clicked into place for me. I’m purchasing my own BP and wing soon would really like to find out how you setup/attach all your equipment for optimal streamlining. Thanks 😃
Do you have any videos on how to help more novice divers staying head up on the surface with a back inflate style bcd? For the life of me I can't figure it out without finning. I keep hearing people say lean back, but that seems impossible without finning. Maybe I'm just not that bright. I'm worried about a situation where I have lost the boat and I might have to stay at the surface for a prolonged period of time and and worried about getting tired trying to stay upright.
I replaced my jacket style with a BPW set up a few years ago and it was the biggest diving improvement for me. My son is 12 and getting certified now. I'm trying to decide which route to go with him. I can pick up a jacket set up cheap used, where he would need a small plate set up to fit him (short kid). If I knew he would enjoy and keep diving, it would be a no brainer I think. Not knowing if he will do it once or twice and not enjoy it, its hard to justify $500+ for something I would have trouble selling used.
Wings all the way, I also like hybrids. Having dived around the world with my girls I have noticed that not many dive centres offer kids wings as a rental bcd. For me it makes perfect sense to adjust the wing bcd to fit a Childs body.
"Its 2019, nobody should wear a weight belt any more....please!" The best comment! :D Subscribed! Very nice video. Regarding your question about my personal preference: I started and learned with a jacket style BCD, later on I moved to a wing style BCD. Then I started sidemount and got so used to this nice clean setup and the D-Rings perfectly in place on the harness, that I now miss them when I dive a regular wing or Jacket BCD and get annoyed by their displacement. - A lot! Sidemount or backmount, most important to me is the clean organized harness. :)
I teach weight belts because if handed one when renting gear they’ll know how to use it. Once we’re through the skills requiring one I move the weights to the pockets so when handed a weight integrated bcd when renting it’s not the first time.
I would love to go without a weight belt ... unfortunately when you’re sporting a 2XL 7mm farmer john wetsuit with boots gloves and a hood, And need 32 pounds of weight, It’s not practical to put all that weight onto your BCD. I do half and half.
ScubraPro Tek with 2 tank straps soft back,OMS wing works with my neoprene drysuit, pony setup,steel tank. Never wanted or tried hard steel on my back.
For my first, intro, dives (in Fiji) I was set up in a BPW. It felt intuitive and part of me from the get go. Since then it's been all jacket style BCD. I've worked it out but there's a degree of effort getting the adjustment right as part of your trim that wasn't an issue back in those first dives. A particular issue to mention is getting back to the dive platform in an inflated BCD versus a BPW. Swimming any distance on the surface in a BCD is a challenge every time.
@@michaelplumpton8873 off Manta Ray island in the Yasawas group, north west of the big island, Viti Levu. Diving was an optional extra on a 7 night island cruise we were doing. Cheers
Like you I dive different styles of BCD's depending on my dive. I have added a third kind to my arsenal. I have moved to the HOG Hybrid Pro. It is like diving a BP/W without the added weight of the BP and really lightweight for dive travel. The unexpected part was I also reduced the amount of lead I wear over a jacket style BCD without the heavier BP. I also had a portly student that no madder what I did, (short of adding clip on weights to his shoulder straps), I just couldn't get his trim as good as I would like. I moved him into the hybrid and he went trim instantly and we removed 4 lbs of lead in the first try.
Thanks. I am planning on buying my first BCD and have been thinking hard about the HOG Hybrid Pro. Or the Total buoyancy systemic. Helps to hear the hybrid is a good system.
@@robertohgren7892i sold a TBS to a friend of mine. After he spent a week diving with and he said it worked well and was glad he bought it. The Pro is a good deal lighter for traveling.
Oi, I love my various weight belts :P . Seriously though, even for sidemount they are a great tool for getting lead in the correct spots (I dive dry in a neoprene suit with arctic expedition undergarments).
When I did my first pool dives I used a jacked BCD but doing my first open water dives I used a BPW. I must say. When I first saw it I thought it would be incredibly uncomfortable with that massive plate, but I was wrong. I prefer it to the jacket. I found it’s also easier to maintain trim
I've been diving with a Seaquest Balance for years. Not even sure if they make that model anymore. Its sort of a hybrid. Its jacket style with small pockets and integrated weight system but the pocket area doesn't inflate. All your gas is in the wing.
Good video. As you described the harnesses you described the hogarthian harness you have as standard. While it is definitely pervasive in the tech community there are other harnesses available that more resemble jacket style BCD’s in adjustability and connections and are clearly an option for purely recreational divers. In fact for BP/Ws to become more common those deluxe harnesses would have to be used in rental fleets as hogarthian setups take more time to get to correct fit than is available for rentals.
I thought this was a good comparison between the BPW and the Jacket style BCD. I will point out one issue you did not cover which was staging the BPW on dive boats. I found trying to fit my BPW into the pvc cutdowns found on a great many dive boats to be a no-go, at least without jamming stuff and I never liked having to do that. I've gone back to the jacket since I do a great deal of diving with students which is a point you made very well. Thanks!
thanks James..as usual ,the best video on each topic.. I need to make sure I well-understood you here.. the price is almost similar for both types.. are the basis accessories for the BP/W considered ?or I need to consider and additional amount thanks again James 👍🏻
Currently, I dive a back plate and wing. However, I did dive jackets for many years. I would say the back plate and wing is more expensive. Because you buy the pieces separately. When you add up the cost of all the pieces it can be very expensive. Wing (overpriced), back plate, harness, tank bands, weight pockets, etc.. Part of the reason for me. I have ruptured disks and can't use a weight belt anymore. So, I had to invest in weight pockets. But, I still prefer the back plate and wing. I love how you can configure it exactly how you want. And, can change it up for different diving situations. Without having replace it all. Great point about wings and children.
Hello James! I want to thank you for your videos and your honesty. It is very important thing in our sell-out times. Could you please make a video on how you store all the items on your wing. Tips, tricks and your gold-value advices. Thank you again!
Great video! I switched this season to a BPW and what a difference! Can you show how you attach your SMB? I was trying to figure out if I should hang it from the butt D-ring or rig some bungee on the side like you seem to do. Thanks!
I have back padding on my backplate. I put my dsmb betweetster those two. The spool is a bit loosed and clipped on my back d ring on my crotch strap . Or i inflate my dsmb a bit when it is rolle up and it wil float along nicely. Or i put them in the pocket of my dry suit or tech shorts.
There are 2 bungee straps fixed at the BP holes. As the SMB is like a cylinder when folded, he attaches the 2 bungee straps to it and 'voila'. (but probably there is a boltsnap to guarantee that it doesn't fall accidentally).
@@gmussiluz Yea, I see though the bungees are oriented vertically and it seems like it would be pressing on his back where it is. At 5:10 he has the SMB mounted, though it's hanging half below the bottom of the BP. I'm sure I could play around and get something going, was just hoping for his first hand report on it.
I dive rivers and large creeks for fossils. I use a jacket style BCD. It simply works, I love the integrated weights, and the extra pockets come in handy. I have dived a weight belt but have zero interest in using one.
Scuba Pro Hydro is an excellent compromise. Quick releases and a low profile bladder make it safe and comfortable. Even better is the quick dry materials it is constructed with making it perfect for travel - it will be dry for your flight the following morning.
Probably too late to get a reply, but… Did you find any differences in actually using the bpw? Any small things you have to do differently? I’ve just passed combined OW and AOW and will be buying a bpw, but the inst wouldn’t let me try one.
@Sean-qk5mv not really. Seems easier to move arms without that vest in the front. I'm sure if you go to a dive sight they would have one to rent. Usually it's pretty cheap.
Hi James. Great video. Too bad I didn't see it before buying a BCD for my Jr OWD child. The BP/W makes sens for it's modularity and growing kids. Thanks.
Love your channel. I have a very old wing-style jacket (Seaquest Balance). When it's finally time for replacement, I will look into a backplate/wing config. I would love a comprehensive video on bp/w setup. Like alu or Steel plate, Steel or alu cylinder, how to fit weights, size of bladder, storage for spools, dsmb, pocket size camera, slate etc. I mostly dive dry suit in cold water, single cylinder right now.. Not ready for tech yet.. At least not financially...
For cold water, you're better off with steel tanks and BPs. They are more negative than Aluminium and will offset the buoyancy of your drysuit. If you go with steel, then you won't need to wear much weight (if any.) A couple of trim pockets on the tank bands should hold all the weight you need. D-rings work great for storing most things. For larger items like slates, and DSMBs, I use my drysuit pockets. If you're just diving a single tank then you don't need a whole lot of lift. A wing with 20-30lbs of lift is is plenty for most divers unless you're carrying a lot of heavy gear or routinely cleaning stuff up off the bottom. Typically, your wing just has to float your air (a steel 100 tank holds about 8-9lbs of air when full) plus about 10-15 additional pounds of lift so you can float positively at the surface with your head out of the water before the dive. EDIT: One more thing I forgot - you may also want more lift in your BCD if you dive thick wet suits, like 7mm. When you descend your suit will compress and you will lose several pounds of buoyancy - which your wing will need to compensate for.
I’m buying and building mine currently. I feel like I need to throw some pockets for lead on the waist band...what do you use? I’m planning for some trim pockets around the cam bands, but unsure if that’ll be enough.
Got myself a hybrid Jacked and after that a BP/W. The BP/W is MUCH more resilent and its nice I can replace single parts as nessesary. Working with V4A-Steel I could wield and mount a little frame for my weights, in a nice position. Weighting and trim is now childsplay. The Jacked already within 10 dives broke. A Strap-Connector cracked at 20m, while readjusting. Not nice. Luckily I had varanty and exchange only took time. But similar problem, now out of varanty the repare would be quite costy and depending what element brakes its a new jacked. BUT its increadilby light and I still keep it for a long distance travel (maybe when the purse is fat enough ^^°) Comparing both, I feel much more "free" with the BP/W, as no airpockets press against my body and the straps are much less restricting. But I guess that's a choice for one himself. BP/W is also set up for a double system, Jacked is only for mono bottle. If someones asking I would alway tend to a BP/W by now. For distant travel maybe an aloy one, with a mono-adapter.
Great video: extremely detailed and well argued. I've heard that the jacket style is better for surface bouyancy balance. And yet, the Cressi R1 that I have really isn't great at the surface. To move any distance will keeping my face out of water I get on my back.
skzion2 Jackets aren't easier to move with on the surface but they do make it easier to just float upright since the air is around you. In a wing the air is on your back which means you too forward. To counteract this you need to lean backward a bit. Not a big deal unless you're spending a lot of time on the surface like am instructor.
Yeah, jackets will support you on the surface nicely by default. Backplates *can* do a great job of it but you will likely have to play with your weight placement, and not overfill the wing at the surface. And, even then, you *may* have to recline a little bit. That said, it's a pretty minor trade off for all the stability you get under the water! ;) If you're having trouble with a jacket tipping you forward, the most likely cause is you're carrying a lot of weight stuffed into those integrated pockets that tend to be out in front of you. (I've seen it happen!) Try moving some of that weight in behind you into trim pockets on the tank band.
The other response is true: many divers new to wing bc's overinflate at the surface. I was fortunate to have good advice shared before I dove the wing, and have not had an issue at surface. For shits & giggles, I have overinflated my wing at surface, and damn right you better have a regulator in your mouth!
Hi @Divers Ready, I am watching this in 2023 and at 8:44 you say, 'its 2019 so nobody really should be using a weight belt... please' Curious as to why you made that comment. I was trained using a weigh belt and perhaps due to not being exposed to integrated weights, but I am hesitant of integrated weight systems on BCDs. What is the appeal for not using a weight belt? Fortunately, the number of weights I need has come down significantly so I only need about 2kg and I been considering trying 1kg/1.5kg on my next dive trip.
hi james. i have a Hogg backplate. on my first dive last year diving on a very shallow reef, i had an equipment malfunction. i recall rolling so the tank was essentially below me. i saw something silver (which i now know is the screw and bolt. they disconnected resulting in my tank falling off. my reg was ripped from my mouth as the tank dropped. fortunately my buddy was able to grab my tank and we surfaced. terrifying experience as it was the first day on the liveaboard... today this is something that i've had a hard time shaking and it's at the front of my mind on every dive that it will reoccur. what are your thoughts have you heard of this happening before? i make a habit now of double checking that the bolts are tight but it still terrifies me what could have happened at depth
Hi Rosemary, I may not be James, but have you ever heard of nylock nuts? They are a safety nut that has nylon that'd the minor diameter of the bolt, the idea is that you tighten them and then it's hard to get them apart, and it would be I would venture to say impossible to have them just back out like a wing nut. As I said I'm not James, but I'm a mechanic.
Thanks for the video. I have the same APEKS BCD as you. I like it a lot (except for rear dump valve). Quick question: I like the way you secure your SMB to the backplate. Could you explain or demonstrate how you do this? Thanks again!
Question for you. I have both jacket and backplate. The wing is a 32lb bungee wing. My question is can I use the wing with out installing the bungee I was told to stay away from bungee. Thanks for your time
Hi James, why the majority of back plate BCD don't have the emergency valve on the right shoulder. I currently use a "hybrid" sport back that has it, but I'm thinking of passing to a real back plate (but I use A LOT the emergency valve to deflate my BCD, particularly in the controlled ascent.... french style!).
So based on your setup, it seems as though you don't have any ditchable weight. What is your philosophy on ditchable weight, or how do you handle associated emergencies with a BP/w?
Interesting. I'm watching a lot of this sort of vid at the moment because after 30 years of UK rec and (paid) scientific diving I'm considering changing to a wing for extra lift. However, the myriad options for wings are mind-boggling. And then there is the multiplicity of organisations shouting 'This is the right way, lock step with us'. Then there is the cost. Cost is keeping people out of diving, especially young people. In the UK it is very noticeable that a majority of divers are grey-tops like me. Dive shops are disappearing, charter boats are disappearing and gas fills are getting harder to find with ever more distance to travel. So, if you can get hold of good kit at lower cost, that's good. I use a Buddy Commando bought for £55, barely used, off Ebay and then serviced by AP valves at very reasonable cost. £150 all in, paid for and ready to go including for work and with a reputation for bomb-proof reliability. And you certainly can get your trim right, dry suit or wet suit. For work, I often need to go in with a camera, a slate, a quadrat, a ground line, torch to back up the video light on the camera, sample bags (scientific diving remember and samples for authoritative IDs may be needed) pins for fixing a ground line and a tape (the actual transect). All this needs to be got at quickly and easily 'cos time spent faffing is time you 'should' be spending recording. The survey kit is variable and is extra to your normal dive kit (DSMB and back-up, compass, camera) and should be automatic in use. You can't do complicated ID work and concentrate on how you dive. A Jacket style BCD really scores as you have far more options to stow all this spidge without it beating the area you are surveying to death and without it all restricting your manoeverability too much or the access to your normal dive kit. And remember, you will be diving at work with an alternate air source (I dive indy twin 7s or 10s) and maybe a full face mask (run off a switch block with indy twins or a pony). My BCD happily handles twin 7s plus a side mounted 7 for deco gas. The BCD is a 'medium' as I'm physically small even in drysuit and winter warmies. But a recent need to side mount a 7 for deco gas as well as twin 10s is pushing me towards a wing and spending the time and dosh to get it properly sorted. To finish: If you are taking up diving, don't spend lots of dosh you may not have buying kit up front on the recommendation of anyone. Think about what's around, what you can afford, what's safe and go from there. You can upgrade or change later, once you decide to really get into it and what sort of diving you want/need to do. Shutting up now.
James- why would a backplate BCD not require much the same weight - the backplate hardly weighs much (much like stainless steel tanks vs steel tanks) unless its much less buoyant. It also seems that weight seems much harder to manage ie hard to fit quick release.
These days you really don't need a single tank adapter, most plates have camband slots and so do most wings. These days I would say that single tank adapters are mostly for people that want to be able to quickly switch between single tank and doubles; and for those that need the added weight for dry suit diving.
It's sloppy when switching cylinders without the STA . Also in cold water it can add 2-3 lbs if the STA is ss which is a bonus. So I would never recommend someone to not get an STA unless they can't find $35 in their budget to buy one.
@@jonj17 I ran both, I don't find it sloppy without the STA. Personally even with a light weight plate and minimal exposure protection I am often negative with steel tanks, adding the in a STA makes me even more negative.
Fiddling with screw nuts is probably more convenient than fiddling with strapping throug. But I prefer the feel of the tank strapped to the plate directly, in terms of balance and responsiveness to rolling and in terms of lower profile going through holes. The 0.5kg of lead the STA saves me is not worth it.
Kimon Froussios You don’t need to fiddle with strapping through, I haven’t removed mine since I built the plate up. With modern wings that have tank stabilizers built in it is as solid as a properly fitted STA. Now if you need significant lead yeah maybe a weighted STA would be advantageous. But for tropical diving I’m typically putting on more than a couple of pounds.
When I was in Navy Dive School we used the wing and I had one with twin tank set up. I now have a Jacket set up and have been having problems to get it adjusted correctly for trim. I have been thinking about going back t a wing style, but the dive center I buy equipment from pushes the jacket type and does not seem to consider the wing style. I am thinking about getting a new wing system and this video has helped me to consider buying one. The Navy style does not have any bladder and I am wondering if the older wing style could be adapted to the newer style with a buoyancy bladder. As you can guess the Navy did not use bladders on their wings then and the reasoning was that they might get caught when you are diving on a ship that you need to get through tight spaces and position lifting bladders (the small ones for stability were used inside some of the ships). Suggestions are appreciated.
here is my ? they say that a plate and wing that it throws them forward and they like a jacket style. so on the surface you inflate just enough to get your head out of the water. so with a jacket there is just a bit of in the back top of the jacket not the hole thing filled up. so with a plate and wing is not that bit of air in the same place? i have no problem at the surface with my plate & wing.
True, IF you only inflate enough to keep your chin out of the water. But many schools teach beginners to fully inflate at the surface, at which point jackets stay vertical and wings usually don't.
Hi James what's the full wings name / company I know its apex but what model.. I have a jacket style and want to switch to a wing configuration.. Thanks lee.
James, Which BCD would you recommend for side mount diving? I know you like diveritebut which model? Cold water diving (Quebec) Wet and dry suit People have recommended Scubapro hydros pro and Holis models… Help!!!
Hi, James, I'm just getting into diving, but I'm a little concerned about BCDs not fitting me; I'm rather on the bigger side, similar to yourself. I've seen some cummerbund & buckle band extenders on dive shop websites; have you had any experience with using those extenders? Any other advice for us bigger divers?
8:41 honestly I prefer diving with a belt, I dive with a 7mm two piece suit all year round. Surface can be around 28 degrees, but at about 20 meters it is about 15 degrees, so I definitely don't mind the belt because my suit is so thick. (I dive in Croatia)
Wanna carry more stuff without looking like a one-man band? Easy, the answer is tech shorts !! I like to carry my dsmb spare mask, dive slate etc and still look streamlined. I have only been diving the backplate/wing setup for a year now and would not go back to a jacket style bcd, no way. I dive a pair of 12l twins with a steel wing, a 2kg tail weight and 3kg of trim weights on my belt and for me, its perfect
I’ve recently passed my open water diver and Just about began diving recreationally. I’ve also started looking into buying my own gear. Is there any reason I shouldn’t consider buying a BPW set up as a first BCD?
Hey James, I see your tank is attached to the wing using Griplocks but I don't see the bands on your backplate. Did you attach the tank to the wing only or I'm missing something?
Hi Buddy! Good to see you on here! I have a single tank adapter that is bolted through the wing and backplate. The gridlock bands are thread through the STA. Hope that helps! James
@@DiversReady Ha! That explains everything and actually makes life easier.. will get the STA too. The problem is that if I follow Griplock manual from Apeks and use 4 holes on a backplate for each band the bands get too short! STA will solve this issue. Thanks!!
Personally, I prefer the backplate style BCD, it is easy to maintain and you have a good position in the dive. In my opinion I don't really see any reason to have a vest style BCD. Weighing yourself and use the proper amount of lead is the most important though. If you are properly weighed you shouldn't really have that much air in your BCD, when you are submerged.
A really amateur question here: How do divers in a BPW dump weight in case they encounter an emergency? Looks like the main weight comes from the back plate which non-detachable under water...
It's true that using a stainless steel backplate may put you in a position where you don't need any additional weight (and it may even be too much, depending on your exposure protection). In this case, you have two options: 1. Use an aluminium (or event titanium) backplate and add ditchable weights (either on a belt, or add weight pockets to your BPW) 2. Dive a balanced rig. This is a more advanced configuration in which you have no ditchable weight, but rather dial your weight perfectly so that you have just enough to keep your safety stop, and no more than you can swim up from the deepest point of your dive, with a failed BCD.
As someone who is 6’1” and currently 300lbs, the BPW setup was a game changer. I don’t need anything else around my waist or belly. These are perfect for us big dudes.
Switched over to BPW about 6yrs ago, amid ever decreasing weight and volume limits for air travel, which is all my dives. Absolutely love it.
Back plate and wing/back inflated bcd did wonders for my buoyancy. At some point during my first dive with mine I said to myself "Wow, there's just nothing I need to adjust anymore." I found myself with more time to look at my surroundings. I consider that dive my first dive.
Timely video indeed. I'm purchasing my first BCD this week and have decided on a BP/W setup. I'm going with an aluminum bp to start because most of my diving is travel. Thanks for yet another great video.
do you use a weight belt or weight pockets?
As a new diver I preferred the BPW. Your comment that the full jacket is more comfortable prompted me to want to comment. The jacket being more comfortable is what I had been hearing/reading but on the flip side experts were saying go with a BPW. I was concerned that the BPW would be an issue with my bad shoulder so I was hesitant. From my very limited experience I agree that the jacket is more comfortable OUT of the water. In the water, however, to me it is just the opposite. With the jacket I feel so bulky and limited with my range of motion and being able to find my accessories. There is also the mental aspect of feeling "overloaded" in the water, which takes getting used to. If you are like me and have been in the water your entire life wearing the minimum to maintain control, speed, and minimize drag.
The BPW, once in the water, feels like I'm wearing no more than my swimming trunks. It is very comfortable and I feel I can move much easier. I have better control of my buoyancy, I can turn, twist, and maneuver like I'm used to doing in the water with little effort. Not to mention I am able to find my accessories easily. I am interested in doing some underwater photography and I found on my last couple dives I was able to get in any position to do videos and pictures with much less effort than a jacket.
All that being said I am new to the sport. My wife and I both just started diving early this year. I tested full jacket, back inflate jacket, hybrid, and BPW. After the testing, for me, it was an easy decision to go with a BPW. I thought my wife would feel the same, but I was surprised when she went with the full jacket. To each her own I guess?
Though the jacket is more comfortable out of the water isn't the point of SCUBA gear to be comfortable (and safe) IN the water?
Excellent analysis, thanks.👌
Somewhat agree. I found it easier to stay level with the backplate, but once I found the right posture, I didn’t have any issues with the jacket either. That plus the extra comfort on the surface made me prefer the jacket. Easier for surface swims out to platforms or buoys during shore dives for me. And for taking my fins off before getting on a boat. Either way though, they do what they’re supposed to. Keep you happy underwater.
I do both but for some reason I always go back to my scubapro classic full jacket for some reason… it just seems to make me feel the most comfortable. I do encourage people try to use different BCD’s even after buying your own.
classic is one of my favorites!
Extra points for that tip on buying a child a BPW. Will definitely help out with the money debate when my daughter gets certified in a couple years.
During my first week of diving I used both a BPW and Jacket BCD, and I found the wing setup SO much easier to use. The balance is much better, and you feel more free when in the water.
Great video! My favorite setup (warm water recreational diving) is a BPW BCD with tech shorts (store SMB … clipped in the side pockets) and a rash guard, super comfortable!
I recently started putting my dsmb in my tek short pockets and I keep thinking something is bumping into me on my dives 😅
Awesome review! Just what I needed. Looking at getting my 13 year old a setup and researching BPW for him since its expandable and 100% customizable. Save a ton of money as he grows. Thanks
I think the comment on wreck diving and cave diving in favour of the back plate is very accurate.
I still use a weight belt is some instances. If I'm wearing a particularly buoyant exposure suit and need to remove my BCD for any reason I don't want to suddenly become dangerously floaty.
100% for neoprene drysuit diving I wear 20 lbs on my belt and 12 lbs in my wing.
I know cold water divers that put all their weight integrated into a BCD and when I ask them "what happens if you're entangled and need to take you pack off?" They just go "uhhhhhhh"
Fantastic video. Vey well done. Thank you.
Love to see how you attached your SMB to the backplate. It was speeded up in the video. I would be grateful if you can show how or maybe you have done in past videos.
Imagine recommending jacket bcd to someone. When I swapped out to the wing bcd, I was seven times more comfortable, cause my mobility was not limited by unused oversized pockets on my back, and it reduces drag, so my legs felt nice and comfy.
@diversdready hey James, you mention you have a specific way of storing things like your SMB. Any interest in doing a video on storing items with tips and tricks for streaming
Done! ua-cam.com/video/v2iJNvFEmmo/v-deo.html
@@DiversReady now that's dedication!
Just moved over from a BCD (Cressi) to a BPW (OMS) will never look back, the OMS kit is really comfortable. Weight pouches are integrated into the harness, but i still wear weight on my body for obvious reasons.. Great vid btw
Never had an issue with my W/BP supporting me in an upright position at the surface. We also put extra kit like SMBs in our thigh pockets.
Me neither. If that's an issue I'd say it's cause you're either way over weighted or too much air in the wing.
I typically use a very negative steel tank so that is sitting on the other side of the bladder. Never have trouble at the surface. I'd hate to have those wing nuts. They hit my back on units I've tried. Book screws are the way to go. Both my kids dive BPWs! Carbon Fiber ones. They fit them perfect and they'll grow into them.
do you use a weight belt or weight pockets?
Very helpful thank you! I’m right now deciding what to buy!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi James #askdiversready, when I bought my first (and only so far) BCD, I went with an Aeris (Oceanic) JetPack. It is kind of a hybrid jacket and wing style. It isn't a true BP/W style but it isn't a true jacket style either. It has a bladder/wing that wraps around the back plastic plate and doesn't have all of the bulk and pockets that a typical jacket style has, but it does have the dump weight system. My first time diving with it will be in two weeks when I am in Costa Rica, so I will let you know my thoughts. Thank you again for all of your videos!!
So 6 dives in with the JetPack and a few issues. One, as with any new gear, it took a few dives to get the fit right since this is a "one size fits all" and fully adjustable....not sure if I still have it right. Secondly, getting the weight just right was a bit of a challenge. With the dump pockets in the front, I needed more weight in the back for stabilization...luckily I has some pouches on the secondary tank strap to put weights in, but they were small.
Nice job. Good breakdown. Personally on the xdeep ghost, super effective for travel and trim during filming. Keep it up!
In my Open Water course we were issued BPW for use. The instructors told us BPW are the best option for growing along with the diver as they progressed. After a bit of research and comparisons, including this one, BPW is hands-down the winner. Modular and ease of adaptability into wreck diving. I know the shop that certified us sold a jacket style, but I don't think it was an option for rental gear. Glad I did Open Water at home in Alaska, Dry Suit certified too!
Great video 😉 very comprehensive thank you. I’m thinking of upgrading to that exact same Apeks rig.
Just discovered this morning and I've hit the subscribe button 👌 Great content , sneaky pooch was a bonus 😀
BPW all the way! Did a Hollis stainless plate, Dive Rite Voyager XT wing and DGX harness, love it! Still getting used to a long hose, a little more awkward setting up on the boat but fine in the water.
I introduced my s/o to BPW last week, at just under 70 dives with rental jackets. She immediately noticed the increased arm freedom without all that side bulk. BPW gets the comfort and fit vote.
Also, I will always prefer separate weight belts to BC-integrated systems. Tank-loaded BCs are heavy enough on the shoulders, without adding lead to that weight. Let the hips carry the lead.
Weight belts seem easier to dump. I’ve never used integrated weights but I’ve seen people struggle to remove them on dry land.
Yeah... That comment hit below the belt.😂😂. It might be 2019 but I still wear a weight belt, with my BP/W IF for example, I'm diving dry ( 35 -70 degrees) with a single aluminum 80.
I know there are integrated weight pockets for my harness however I seem to be always retrieving lost weight pockets for 'those other folks'. The dirty little secret BCD manufacturers don't want us to know about.😬😉 Maybe there's a video coming up called ' How to never loose your weight pocket'
Great vid. Good to see a tech instructor who can still talk chipper about getting a 🐻 hug from a jacket BCD.😁
Jon Jackson I use a weight belt as well man. Wouldn’t use anything else.
Great video! Ocean Safari was my original dive shop.
I was the same as your student, I did my open water dives using a jacket style Bcd. I went on holiday for my first dive trip and was urged by the instructors at the dive shop to try the Wing style. Things instantly just clicked into place for me. I’m purchasing my own BP and wing soon would really like to find out how you setup/attach all your equipment for optimal streamlining. Thanks 😃
thanks James, will help me pick my first BCD.
Do you have any videos on how to help more novice divers staying head up on the surface with a back inflate style bcd? For the life of me I can't figure it out without finning. I keep hearing people say lean back, but that seems impossible without finning. Maybe I'm just not that bright. I'm worried about a situation where I have lost the boat and I might have to stay at the surface for a prolonged period of time and and worried about getting tired trying to stay upright.
I replaced my jacket style with a BPW set up a few years ago and it was the biggest diving improvement for me.
My son is 12 and getting certified now. I'm trying to decide which route to go with him. I can pick up a jacket set up cheap used, where he would need a small plate set up to fit him (short kid). If I knew he would enjoy and keep diving, it would be a no brainer I think. Not knowing if he will do it once or twice and not enjoy it, its hard to justify $500+ for something I would have trouble selling used.
Wings all the way, I also like hybrids. Having dived around the world with my girls I have noticed that not many dive centres offer kids wings as a rental bcd. For me it makes perfect sense to adjust the wing bcd to fit a Childs body.
"Its 2019, nobody should wear a weight belt any more....please!" The best comment! :D Subscribed!
Very nice video.
Regarding your question about my personal preference:
I started and learned with a jacket style BCD, later on I moved to a wing style BCD. Then I started sidemount and got so used to this nice clean setup and the D-Rings perfectly in place on the harness, that I now miss them when I dive a regular wing or Jacket BCD and get annoyed by their displacement. - A lot!
Sidemount or backmount, most important to me is the clean organized harness. :)
Well, if you rent your equipment you usually don't get anything else than a weight belt.
I teach weight belts because if handed one when renting gear they’ll know how to use it. Once we’re through the skills requiring one I move the weights to the pockets so when handed a weight integrated bcd when renting it’s not the first time.
I would love to go without a weight belt ... unfortunately when you’re sporting a 2XL 7mm farmer john wetsuit with boots gloves and a hood, And need 32 pounds of weight, It’s not practical to put all that weight onto your BCD. I do half and half.
Once you try a back plate and wing you will love it! Unless of course you go sidemount....😂😉
HobbyMan UK Yep, my xDeep Stealth is like a wing without a backplate and more snug.
Yggdrasil42 definitely!
Yup, love my XDeep Stealth 2.0
@@thatsidemountguy Awesome kit!
I done my open water using a wing at the surface it was a nightmare being new to diving then could not stay upright
ScubraPro Tek with 2 tank straps soft back,OMS wing works with my neoprene drysuit, pony setup,steel tank. Never wanted or tried hard steel on my back.
For my first, intro, dives (in Fiji) I was set up in a BPW. It felt intuitive and part of me from the get go. Since then it's been all jacket style BCD. I've worked it out but there's a degree of effort getting the adjustment right as part of your trim that wasn't an issue back in those first dives. A particular issue to mention is getting back to the dive platform in an inflated BCD versus a BPW. Swimming any distance on the surface in a BCD is a challenge every time.
Where did you do your dives rosco?
I’ve been 4 times and went out of the hideaway resort on the coral coast
@@michaelplumpton8873 off Manta Ray island in the Yasawas group, north west of the big island, Viti Levu. Diving was an optional extra on a 7 night island cruise we were doing. Cheers
if the BPW felt intuitive and part of you, was there a reason you switched over to the jacket style?
Excellent work brother!! I’m in Pompano Beach!!
I'd really would like to try a back inflate/plate but regretfully non of the local shops have any demo's that I can try.
Like you I dive different styles of BCD's depending on my dive. I have added a third kind to my arsenal. I have moved to the HOG Hybrid Pro. It is like diving a BP/W without the added weight of the BP and really lightweight for dive travel. The unexpected part was I also reduced the amount of lead I wear over a jacket style BCD without the heavier BP. I also had a portly student that no madder what I did, (short of adding clip on weights to his shoulder straps), I just couldn't get his trim as good as I would like. I moved him into the hybrid and he went trim instantly and we removed 4 lbs of lead in the first try.
I dive the HOG Pro myself and love it
Thanks. I am planning on buying my first BCD and have been thinking hard about the HOG Hybrid Pro. Or the Total buoyancy systemic. Helps to hear the hybrid is a good system.
@@robertohgren7892i sold a TBS to a friend of mine. After he spent a week diving with and he said it worked well and was glad he bought it. The Pro is a good deal lighter for traveling.
David Root Since most of my diving is going to involve air travel, that is also helpful insight. Thanks!
weight belt usage is still many divers' preference and one purpose is to distribute the weight to different area of the body
Oi, I love my various weight belts :P . Seriously though, even for sidemount they are a great tool for getting lead in the correct spots (I dive dry in a neoprene suit with arctic expedition undergarments).
When I did my first pool dives I used a jacked BCD but doing my first open water dives I used a BPW. I must say. When I first saw it I thought it would be incredibly uncomfortable with that massive plate, but I was wrong. I prefer it to the jacket. I found it’s also easier to maintain trim
Back plate for life. 😊
I've been diving with a Seaquest Balance for years. Not even sure if they make that model anymore. Its sort of a hybrid. Its jacket style with small pockets and integrated weight system but the pocket area doesn't inflate. All your gas is in the wing.
Good video. As you described the harnesses you described the hogarthian harness you have as standard. While it is definitely pervasive in the tech community there are other harnesses available that more resemble jacket style BCD’s in adjustability and connections and are clearly an option for purely recreational divers. In fact for BP/Ws to become more common those deluxe harnesses would have to be used in rental fleets as hogarthian setups take more time to get to correct fit than is available for rentals.
I thought this was a good comparison between the BPW and the Jacket style BCD. I will point out one issue you did not cover which was staging the BPW on dive boats. I found trying to fit my BPW into the pvc cutdowns found on a great many dive boats to be a no-go, at least without jamming stuff and I never liked having to do that. I've gone back to the jacket since I do a great deal of diving with students which is a point you made very well. Thanks!
thanks James..as usual ,the best video on each topic.. I need to make sure I well-understood you here.. the price is almost similar for both types.. are the basis accessories for the BP/W considered ?or I need to consider and additional amount thanks again James 👍🏻
Currently, I dive a back plate and wing. However, I did dive jackets for many years. I would say the back plate and wing is more expensive. Because you buy the pieces separately. When you add up the cost of all the pieces it can be very expensive. Wing (overpriced), back plate, harness, tank bands, weight pockets, etc.. Part of the reason for me. I have ruptured disks and can't use a weight belt anymore. So, I had to invest in weight pockets. But, I still prefer the back plate and wing. I love how you can configure it exactly how you want. And, can change it up for different diving situations. Without having replace it all. Great point about wings and children.
Hello James! I want to thank you for your videos and your honesty. It is very important thing in our sell-out times.
Could you please make a video on how you store all the items on your wing. Tips, tricks and your gold-value advices. Thank you again!
You wish is our command! ua-cam.com/video/v2iJNvFEmmo/v-deo.html
James nice job on this video
Great video! I switched this season to a BPW and what a difference! Can you show how you attach your SMB? I was trying to figure out if I should hang it from the butt D-ring or rig some bungee on the side like you seem to do. Thanks!
I have back padding on my backplate. I put my dsmb betweetster those two. The spool is a bit loosed and clipped on my back d ring on my crotch strap . Or i inflate my dsmb a bit when it is rolle up and it wil float along nicely. Or i put them in the pocket of my dry suit or tech shorts.
There are 2 bungee straps fixed at the BP holes. As the SMB is like a cylinder when folded, he attaches the 2 bungee straps to it and 'voila'. (but probably there is a boltsnap to guarantee that it doesn't fall accidentally).
@@gmussiluz Yea, I see though the bungees are oriented vertically and it seems like it would be pressing on his back where it is. At 5:10 he has the SMB mounted, though it's hanging half below the bottom of the BP. I'm sure I could play around and get something going, was just hoping for his first hand report on it.
I dive rivers and large creeks for fossils. I use a jacket style BCD. It simply works, I love the integrated weights, and the extra pockets come in handy. I have dived a weight belt but have zero interest in using one.
Any comments on hybrid BCD such as ScubaPro Hydros etc
Scuba Pro Hydro is an excellent compromise. Quick releases and a low profile bladder make it safe and comfortable. Even better is the quick dry materials it is constructed with making it perfect for travel - it will be dry for your flight the following morning.
I love my hydros with air 2. I’m able to either use weight pouches or the more simple belt with weight pouches for a less busy set up!
I still use a weight belt. But in my defense my BCD is probably older than i am. My next BC will probably be a back plate and wing
#askdiversready Another great video. One question, the Apeks has the 18, 30 and 40 lbs (single), what are the diferences?
I did open water course in vest bcd but bought a wing with donut bladder. Best decision ever. So much more comfortable to me.
What brand of BCD and what weight system do you use?
@@E_Clampus_Vitus I use a hog back plate with 20lb wing. Can't remember weight system due to a great lack of going in two years.
Probably too late to get a reply, but…
Did you find any differences in actually using the bpw? Any small things you have to do differently?
I’ve just passed combined OW and AOW and will be buying a bpw, but the inst wouldn’t let me try one.
@Sean-qk5mv not really. Seems easier to move arms without that vest in the front. I'm sure if you go to a dive sight they would have one to rent. Usually it's pretty cheap.
Great video 💯, wish I had this knowledge before I bought my Hydros. I would’ve invested in a backplate system.🦦
Sorry to hear that! It's never too late!
Divers Ready Literally 30 days after watching this video I invested in a 100% Apeks BP & wing... 💯🤿🌊
Hi James. Great video. Too bad I didn't see it before buying a BCD for my Jr OWD child. The BP/W makes sens for it's modularity and growing kids. Thanks.
want more storage on a back plate and wing setup? Get a pair of bloody shorts. Apeks makes a nice pair.
Awesome vid. Looking to get into diving and this video answered a ton of my questions. Thanks!
I'd like to understand why you do not support the use of weight belts (8:47)
They are so unnecessary in the times of dumpable weight pockets!
Great explanation! Thanks!
Love your channel. I have a very old wing-style jacket (Seaquest Balance). When it's finally time for replacement, I will look into a backplate/wing config. I would love a comprehensive video on bp/w setup. Like alu or Steel plate, Steel or alu cylinder, how to fit weights, size of bladder, storage for spools, dsmb, pocket size camera, slate etc. I mostly dive dry suit in cold water, single cylinder right now.. Not ready for tech yet.. At least not financially...
For cold water, you're better off with steel tanks and BPs. They are more negative than Aluminium and will offset the buoyancy of your drysuit.
If you go with steel, then you won't need to wear much weight (if any.) A couple of trim pockets on the tank bands should hold all the weight you need.
D-rings work great for storing most things. For larger items like slates, and DSMBs, I use my drysuit pockets.
If you're just diving a single tank then you don't need a whole lot of lift. A wing with 20-30lbs of lift is is plenty for most divers unless you're carrying a lot of heavy gear or routinely cleaning stuff up off the bottom. Typically, your wing just has to float your air (a steel 100 tank holds about 8-9lbs of air when full) plus about 10-15 additional pounds of lift so you can float positively at the surface with your head out of the water before the dive.
EDIT: One more thing I forgot - you may also want more lift in your BCD if you dive thick wet suits, like 7mm. When you descend your suit will compress and you will lose several pounds of buoyancy - which your wing will need to compensate for.
@@mrchriscarleton Thanks a lot for the in depth answer! 🙏👌
2020 and heaps of people still use a weight belt. i carry about 16-17kg of led.. i wouldnt want to load all that into any back plate or jacket.
Steel backplate with wing is where it's at. You'll never look back.
I’m buying and building mine currently. I feel like I need to throw some pockets for lead on the waist band...what do you use? I’m planning for some trim pockets around the cam bands, but unsure if that’ll be enough.
Got myself a hybrid Jacked and after that a BP/W. The BP/W is MUCH more resilent and its nice I can replace single parts as nessesary. Working with V4A-Steel I could wield and mount a little frame for my weights, in a nice position. Weighting and trim is now childsplay.
The Jacked already within 10 dives broke. A Strap-Connector cracked at 20m, while readjusting. Not nice. Luckily I had varanty and exchange only took time. But similar problem, now out of varanty the repare would be quite costy and depending what element brakes its a new jacked. BUT its increadilby light and I still keep it for a long distance travel (maybe when the purse is fat enough ^^°)
Comparing both, I feel much more "free" with the BP/W, as no airpockets press against my body and the straps are much less restricting. But I guess that's a choice for one himself.
BP/W is also set up for a double system, Jacked is only for mono bottle.
If someones asking I would alway tend to a BP/W by now. For distant travel maybe an aloy one, with a mono-adapter.
Great video: extremely detailed and well argued.
I've heard that the jacket style is better for surface bouyancy balance. And yet, the Cressi R1 that I have really isn't great at the surface. To move any distance will keeping my face out of water I get on my back.
skzion2 Jackets aren't easier to move with on the surface but they do make it easier to just float upright since the air is around you. In a wing the air is on your back which means you too forward. To counteract this you need to lean backward a bit. Not a big deal unless you're spending a lot of time on the surface like am instructor.
Yeah, jackets will support you on the surface nicely by default. Backplates *can* do a great job of it but you will likely have to play with your weight placement, and not overfill the wing at the surface. And, even then, you *may* have to recline a little bit. That said, it's a pretty minor trade off for all the stability you get under the water! ;)
If you're having trouble with a jacket tipping you forward, the most likely cause is you're carrying a lot of weight stuffed into those integrated pockets that tend to be out in front of you. (I've seen it happen!) Try moving some of that weight in behind you into trim pockets on the tank band.
@@Yggdrasil42 Thanks.
@@mrchriscarleton Thanks. Very interesting observation regarding the integrated weights.
The other response is true: many divers new to wing bc's overinflate at the surface.
I was fortunate to have good advice shared before I dove the wing, and have not had an issue at surface.
For shits & giggles, I have overinflated my wing at surface, and damn right you better have a regulator in your mouth!
Hi @Divers Ready,
I am watching this in 2023 and at 8:44 you say, 'its 2019 so nobody really should be using a weight belt... please'
Curious as to why you made that comment. I was trained using a weigh belt and perhaps due to not being exposed to integrated weights, but I am hesitant of integrated weight systems on BCDs. What is the appeal for not using a weight belt?
Fortunately, the number of weights I need has come down significantly so I only need about 2kg and I been considering trying 1kg/1.5kg on my next dive trip.
hi james. i have a Hogg backplate. on my first dive last year diving on a very shallow reef, i had an equipment malfunction. i recall rolling so the tank was essentially below me. i saw something silver (which i now know is the screw and bolt. they disconnected resulting in my tank falling off. my reg was ripped from my mouth as the tank dropped. fortunately my buddy was able to grab my tank and we surfaced. terrifying experience as it was the first day on the liveaboard... today this is something that i've had a hard time shaking and it's at the front of my mind on every dive that it will reoccur. what are your thoughts have you heard of this happening before? i make a habit now of double checking that the bolts are tight but it still terrifies me what could have happened at depth
Hi Rosemary, I may not be James, but have you ever heard of nylock nuts? They are a safety nut that has nylon that'd the minor diameter of the bolt, the idea is that you tighten them and then it's hard to get them apart, and it would be I would venture to say impossible to have them just back out like a wing nut. As I said I'm not James, but I'm a mechanic.
Shake it off, Rosemary. Experience is the best teacher. Always dive with a buddy.
Thanks for the video. I have the same APEKS BCD as you. I like it a lot (except for rear dump valve). Quick question: I like the way you secure your SMB to the backplate. Could you explain or demonstrate how you do this? Thanks again!
We have a video on this exact topic! Here you go! ua-cam.com/video/v2iJNvFEmmo/v-deo.html
Divers Ready ... Brilliant! Thank you. Sorry, I was lazy. I should have looked. :)
Question for you. I have both jacket and backplate. The wing is a 32lb bungee wing. My question is can I use the wing with out installing the bungee I was told to stay away from bungee. Thanks for your time
Hi James, why the majority of back plate BCD don't have the emergency valve on the right shoulder. I currently use a "hybrid" sport back that has it, but I'm thinking of passing to a real back plate (but I use A LOT the emergency valve to deflate my BCD, particularly in the controlled ascent.... french style!).
So based on your setup, it seems as though you don't have any ditchable weight. What is your philosophy on ditchable weight, or how do you handle associated emergencies with a BP/w?
Is the video of back plate with drysuit out yet regarding weight ?
Interesting. I'm watching a lot of this sort of vid at the moment because after 30 years of UK rec and (paid) scientific diving I'm considering changing to a wing for extra lift. However, the myriad options for wings are mind-boggling. And then there is the multiplicity of organisations shouting 'This is the right way, lock step with us'. Then there is the cost.
Cost is keeping people out of diving, especially young people. In the UK it is very noticeable that a majority of divers are grey-tops like me. Dive shops are disappearing, charter boats are disappearing and gas fills are getting harder to find with ever more distance to travel. So, if you can get hold of good kit at lower cost, that's good. I use a Buddy Commando bought for £55, barely used, off Ebay and then serviced by AP valves at very reasonable cost. £150 all in, paid for and ready to go including for work and with a reputation for bomb-proof reliability. And you certainly can get your trim right, dry suit or wet suit.
For work, I often need to go in with a camera, a slate, a quadrat, a ground line, torch to back up the video light on the camera, sample bags (scientific diving remember and samples for authoritative IDs may be needed) pins for fixing a ground line and a tape (the actual transect). All this needs to be got at quickly and easily 'cos time spent faffing is time you 'should' be spending recording. The survey kit is variable and is extra to your normal dive kit (DSMB and back-up, compass, camera) and should be automatic in use. You can't do complicated ID work and concentrate on how you dive. A Jacket style BCD really scores as you have far more options to stow all this spidge without it beating the area you are surveying to death and without it all restricting your manoeverability too much or the access to your normal dive kit. And remember, you will be diving at work with an alternate air source (I dive indy twin 7s or 10s) and maybe a full face mask (run off a switch block with indy twins or a pony).
My BCD happily handles twin 7s plus a side mounted 7 for deco gas. The BCD is a 'medium' as I'm physically small even in drysuit and winter warmies. But a recent need to side mount a 7 for deco gas as well as twin 10s is pushing me towards a wing and spending the time and dosh to get it properly sorted.
To finish: If you are taking up diving, don't spend lots of dosh you may not have buying kit up front on the recommendation of anyone. Think about what's around, what you can afford, what's safe and go from there. You can upgrade or change later, once you decide to really get into it and what sort of diving you want/need to do.
Shutting up now.
Hi….
What about jacket still BCD with inflatable wings…. It’s a hybrid of both…. What will be ur views about tat
James- why would a backplate BCD not require much the same weight - the backplate hardly weighs much (much like stainless steel tanks vs steel tanks) unless its much less buoyant. It also seems that weight seems much harder to manage ie hard to fit quick release.
Please elaborate on your hope nobody use weight belts
You’ve undoubtedly angered the weight belt lobby 💀
Your dog comment 😂 what a gorgeous pup!😍
You are so kind
@@DiversReady I adore dogs. My only grievance about scuba diving is simply that my dog can’t do it with me.
These days you really don't need a single tank adapter, most plates have camband slots and so do most wings. These days I would say that single tank adapters are mostly for people that want to be able to quickly switch between single tank and doubles; and for those that need the added weight for dry suit diving.
It's sloppy when switching cylinders without the STA . Also in cold water it can add 2-3 lbs if the STA is ss which is a bonus. So I would never recommend someone to not get an STA unless they can't find $35 in their budget to buy one.
@@jonj17 I ran both, I don't find it sloppy without the STA. Personally even with a light weight plate and minimal exposure protection I am often negative with steel tanks, adding the in a STA makes me even more negative.
Ah. Fair enough!
Fiddling with screw nuts is probably more convenient than fiddling with strapping throug.
But I prefer the feel of the tank strapped to the plate directly, in terms of balance and responsiveness to rolling and in terms of lower profile going through holes. The 0.5kg of lead the STA saves me is not worth it.
Kimon Froussios You don’t need to fiddle with strapping through, I haven’t removed mine since I built the plate up. With modern wings that have tank stabilizers built in it is as solid as a properly fitted STA. Now if you need significant lead yeah maybe a weighted STA would be advantageous. But for tropical diving I’m typically putting on more than a couple of pounds.
When I was in Navy Dive School we used the wing and I had one with twin tank set up. I now have a Jacket set up and have been having problems to get it adjusted correctly for trim.
I have been thinking about going back t a wing style, but the dive center I buy equipment from pushes the jacket type and does not seem to consider the wing style. I am thinking about getting a new wing system and this video has helped me to consider buying one. The Navy style does not have any bladder and I am wondering if the older wing style could be adapted to the newer style with a buoyancy bladder.
As you can guess the Navy did not use bladders on their wings then and the reasoning was that they might get caught when you are diving on a ship that you need to get through tight spaces and position lifting bladders (the small ones for stability were used inside some of the ships).
Suggestions are appreciated.
'Time to float' i laugh all the full video. And thanks another great video.
here is my ? they say that a plate and wing that it throws them forward and they like a jacket style. so on the surface you inflate just enough to get your head out of the water. so with a jacket there is just a bit of in the back top of the jacket not the hole thing filled up. so with a plate and wing is not that bit of air in the same place? i have no problem at the surface with my plate & wing.
True, IF you only inflate enough to keep your chin out of the water. But many schools teach beginners to fully inflate at the surface, at which point jackets stay vertical and wings usually don't.
Hi James what's the full wings name / company I know its apex but what model.. I have a jacket style and want to switch to a wing configuration..
Thanks lee.
James,
Which BCD would you recommend for side mount diving?
I know you like diveritebut which model?
Cold water diving (Quebec)
Wet and dry suit
People have recommended
Scubapro hydros pro and Holis models…
Help!!!
Hi, James, I'm just getting into diving, but I'm a little concerned about BCDs not fitting me; I'm rather on the bigger side, similar to yourself. I've seen some cummerbund & buckle band extenders on dive shop websites; have you had any experience with using those extenders? Any other advice for us bigger divers?
8:41 honestly I prefer diving with a belt, I dive with a 7mm two piece suit all year round. Surface can be around 28 degrees, but at about 20 meters it is about 15 degrees, so I definitely don't mind the belt because my suit is so thick. (I dive in Croatia)
What are your feelings on the hybrid BCD which has the best of both worlds ?
Wanna carry more stuff without looking like a one-man band? Easy, the answer is tech shorts !! I like to carry my dsmb spare mask, dive slate etc and still look streamlined. I have only been diving the backplate/wing setup for a year now and would not go back to a jacket style bcd, no way. I dive a pair of 12l twins with a steel wing, a 2kg tail weight and 3kg of trim weights on my belt and for me, its perfect
I’ve recently passed my open water diver and Just about began diving recreationally. I’ve also started looking into buying my own gear. Is there any reason I shouldn’t consider buying a BPW set up as a first BCD?
Hey James, I see your tank is attached to the wing using Griplocks but I don't see the bands on your backplate. Did you attach the tank to the wing only or I'm missing something?
Hi Buddy! Good to see you on here! I have a single tank adapter that is bolted through the wing and backplate. The gridlock bands are thread through the STA. Hope that helps!
James
@@DiversReady Ha! That explains everything and actually makes life easier.. will get the STA too. The problem is that if I follow Griplock manual from Apeks and use 4 holes on a backplate for each band the bands get too short! STA will solve this issue. Thanks!!
Thanks again for a great video..
What do you think of the scuba pro hydros?
I really like my Hydros Pro. Very expensive though.
Since weight is an issue while traveling which is lighter? The wing or the vest? Thanks
Nothing wrong with weight belt mate (>.
Personally, I prefer the backplate style BCD, it is easy to maintain and you have a good position in the dive. In my opinion I don't really see any reason to have a vest style BCD. Weighing yourself and use the proper amount of lead is the most important though. If you are properly weighed you shouldn't really have that much air in your BCD, when you are submerged.
Or get a hybrid wing style BCD like Scubapro Hydros Pro.
A really amateur question here: How do divers in a BPW dump weight in case they encounter an emergency? Looks like the main weight comes from the back plate which non-detachable under water...
It's true that using a stainless steel backplate may put you in a position where you don't need any additional weight (and it may even be too much, depending on your exposure protection).
In this case, you have two options:
1. Use an aluminium (or event titanium) backplate and add ditchable weights (either on a belt, or add weight pockets to your BPW)
2. Dive a balanced rig. This is a more advanced configuration in which you have no ditchable weight, but rather dial your weight perfectly so that you have just enough to keep your safety stop, and no more than you can swim up from the deepest point of your dive, with a failed BCD.
Or you can get something like the Dive Rite TransPac XT or Zeagle Ranger and get the best of both types of BCD!