newbie question bcd/backplate

[Jack Hammer]

It's tough when you start out because you'll likely endup buying a lot of gear you won't like 6 months later as you progress. I'd try to rent or borrow a few different things to see what works for you. It may save you money in the long run.

As far as a bp/w being harder to control, it's not any harder, it is different though. It rides slightly different on the surface. IME they tend to be a tad lower in the water and tend to keep your face closer to the water (not in it, just closer). I've let a few people use my bp/w to see how they liked it, most of them were positive, a few hated it. I like the simplicity of a bp/w, my roommate prefers his seaquest bc.

When choosing gear the bottom line is you have to find what works best for you and the diving you want to do. Don't get a bp/w setup just because some people recommend it. Don't get a standard bc just because some people recommend them. Find what you like to dive with and get that.

Jack

[mrmccoy]

Originally Posted by Jack Hammer

When choosing gear the bottom line is you have to find what works best for you and the diving you want to do. Don't get a bp/w setup just because some people recommend it. Don't get a standard bc just because some people recommend them. Find what you like to dive with and get that.

Jack

I think that is the best advise! I didn't know BP/w's existed untill I found this site but I am using a bc that I bought used cheap just to get started. I would like to try a BP/W setup some time but at the moment i'm just happy to be under the water. Like everyone has said try everything you can and pick what YOU like best.

[baywatch106]

I had a BC and switched to a transplate with a mach v and love it. And before the Mach V I was using a Rec Wing and still liked that setup better than a regular BC.

[neugierig]

btw eslon, i saw you're from Manila. where do you usually dive at?

[eslonblue]

thanks everyone! i already made my decision, i'll start my search for a backplate..

Originally Posted by neugierig

btw eslon, i saw you're from Manila. where do you usually dive at?

hi neugierig we you usually dive at anilao, batangas it is the most accesible for us from manila by land. how about you sir??

[bsktcase93]

good luck with your research, im also looking into that route also

[Scuba Diver Girls]

Hi, I have been reading these and would like to share. Everyone has wonderful points and mine may be out of left field. Here is what I tell my friends, family, and students (and strangers):
Think about where you will be diving the most (warm water, cold water, shore, boat, plane travel or car travel). Do you want streamline (back inflate), big pockets for lots of stuff (jacket inflate), are you comfortable floating a little forward when surfaced in order to have a complete horizontal experience while diving (back inflate).
These are just a few things I think about. Next, am I buying gear that I can only use the same manufacturers reg, etc... And, most important for me. Is their customer service really about the customer. I look at my scuba gear like this (would you jump out of a plane with a parachute you bought from a stranger or a mega store that also sells tires?) The ocean is the same thing. I use many different types of gear from different manufacturers. I teach with SeaQuest Pro QD, I love the Aqua Lung Zuma (great for travel), as a girl, the Aqua Lung Pearl is great, I have, also, used the Scuba Pro Lady Hawk, nice fit and back in flate (good for the experienced diver). Have fun diving. You can see how we dive in all our gear at youtube.com/scubadivergirls
Hugs & Happy Diving!

[Splitlip]

Thanks Ladies. Just watched a couple of the vids. Enjoyed them.
Thanks.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Scuba Diver Girls

Hi, I have been reading these and would like to share. Everyone has wonderful points and mine may be out of left field. Here is what I tell my friends, family, and students (and strangers):
Think about where you will be diving the most (warm water, cold water, shore, boat, plane travel or car travel). Do you want streamline (back inflate), big pockets for lots of stuff (jacket inflate), are you comfortable floating a little forward when surfaced in order to have a complete horizontal experience while diving (back inflate).
These are just a few things I think about. Next, am I buying gear that I can only use the same manufacturers reg, etc... And, most important for me. Is their customer service really about the customer. I look at my scuba gear like this (would you jump out of a plane with a parachute you bought from a stranger or a mega store that also sells tires?) The ocean is the same thing. I use many different types of gear from different manufacturers. I teach with SeaQuest Pro QD, I love the Aqua Lung Zuma (great for travel), as a girl, the Aqua Lung Pearl is great, I have, also, used the Scuba Pro Lady Hawk, nice fit and back in flate (good for the experienced diver). Have fun diving. You can see how we dive in all our gear at youtube.com/scubadivergirls
Hugs & Happy Diving!

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I have to question a few things you said.

1) Properly weighted with a properly-sized wing (an important caveat), you really shouldn't be "pushed forward" with a bp/w.

2) Pockets can be added to any rig, via belt straps, drop-down thigh pouches, x-shorts, or pockets attached to the exposure suit. A Jacket BC is far from the only way to have nice big pockets. And frankly, mounted in other locations, the pockets often have far more useful capacity than the slim pockets in BCs, which are hard to get into when inflated, etc.

3) What gear are you using (or seeing) that mandates ONLY using specific manufacturer's regs? This post was about bc's and bp/w's, so I cannot fathom what sorts of bc's and bp/w's would force you use any particular manufacturer's regs. I've never seen any gear like that, that I can think of... you can use ANY manufacturer's standard regulators with ANY BC or BP/W.

And finally, warm water, cold water, travel, etc. have more to with wing/lift capacity than bc vs. bp/w choice, as there are good options in both camps for every one of those conditions.

[fisheater]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

And finally, warm water, cold water, travel, etc. have more to with wing/lift capacity than bc vs. bp/w choice, as there are good options in both camps for every one of those conditions.

One way it would impact that decision is that a BP/W can easily be altered for travel between warm and cold water, while few traditional BCs can accomplish that. So, if you're going to be doing a lot of such diving, a BP/W may be a better choice, other things being equal.