Dive Rite Transpac

[ParrotHead]

Is the Dive Rite Transpac considered a BP/W config?

Why/Why Not?

-PH

[mike_s]

well, it's a backpack and has a backpack harness, not a wrap around jacket.
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<DIV>It also has a back inflate wing, not a wrap around bladder.</DIV>

[CompuDude]

It's halfway between a rear-inflate BC and a true bp/w.

It's NOT a backplate. It has some stiffness to it, but nothing approaching that of a true backplate. It can be used for doubles, but I don't know many who go to doubles and stay in a transpac... they all end up in a real bp/w. And then they go on to using the bp/w for singles, as well.

My advice is to save yourself the time and go directly to a bp/w, if you're considering that route.

[przeor]

Well, it doesn't have the traditional backplate per se... So I'd say nope- give it a seperate category. A hybrid of sorts. I can tell you my wife had a transpac which she liked, but she loves her plate. To her, there is a difference between a Bp/W and a transpac.

[Judestudio]

Originally Posted by ParrotHead

Is the Dive Rite Transpac considered a BP/W config?

Why/Why Not?

-PH

ParrotHead, Transpac incoporates the BP/W idea, but no it's not a BP/W (or config in that matter). First of all, it does NOT have a backplate! But Transplate IS a BP/W config. Transpac is more like a back-inflate BC that you put together, really. For most of us, it just comes down to personal preference. I use a BP/W and my sister uses a back-inflate BC, we're both happy.

If you wanna go hardcore DIR, here's their defination: DIR divers use a rigid backplate (aluminum or stainless steel) with one-piece, webbed harness, a back-mounted buoyancy compensator for buoyancy compensator for streamlined movementand horizontal posture

So although Transplate is a BP/W it's not DIR (it doesn't have a one-piece harness), you might wanna look at the Oxycheq stuff if you want to go down that route.
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[ParrotHead]

Thanks for the info - so it looks like there is another flavor of BC that I should consider:
* Conventional Jacket - learned on 'em but want better boyancy control
* Rear Inflater - ala Knight Hawk - which I tried once - and need to try again
* TransPac - "BP/W-like" - I should stop by the shop and take a look
* BP/W - probably overkill for my "casual/recreational sight-seeing" diving

-PH

[frankc420]

If you have to ask, then chances are no

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by ParrotHead

Thanks for the info - so it looks like there is another flavor of BC that I should consider:
* Conventional Jacket - learned on 'em but want better boyancy control
* Rear Inflater - ala Knight Hawk - which I tried once - and need to try again
* TransPac - "BP/W-like" - I should stop by the shop and take a look
* BP/W - probably overkill for my "casual/recreational sight-seeing" diving

-PH

Absolutely nothing wrong with a bp/w for "casual/recreational sight-seeing" diving. The word overkill need not apply. I know a number of divers who [say they] will never get into tech diving, but still prefer the bp/w for it's simplicity, ruggedness and streamlined nature.

But aside from that, yes, those are the four broad categories of buoyancy control devices.

[Judestudio]

Originally Posted by ParrotHead

* BP/W - probably overkill for my "casual/recreational sight-seeing" diving

Um...no. I've only started diving half a year ago, and BP/W is my first and only BC, I dove a squeezy-jacket during training and immediately I hated it. I'm a VERY casual / recreational sight-seeing diver, I'm so novice that most of the time, I don't know what I'm sight-seeing (just to give you an idea...).

I was scared of the BP/W idea at first too, was looking at getting something like an OMS IQ Pack (similar to the Transpac), but when you do more reading you'll come to know that the backplate is way more practical, easier to maintain, more flexible and pack small if you're traveling. The one thing that appealed to me is I can use a steel plate locally and take a lighter plate with me if I'm traveling! I'm petite and had a hard time finding a fitting BC and the BP and harness was a blessing, coz you can fit anyone in it practically.

I'm not saying BP/W is THE way to go, but keep your options open, read and ask questions, borrow or rent and try as many gears as you can [img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img]

[Vercingetorix]

The TransPac also has positive buoyancy, but not as much as jacket BCD. My BP/W has a 5 pound SS backplate. Not one bit of positive buoyancy there. When the wing is deflated, that sucker sinks.
<DIV>On plus side, I need no weight belt when wearing 3mm wetsuit in fresh water.</DIV>