Okay, looking to purchase a hard plate with a standard harness (ie. no OMS iQ or Transpac II harness). Been listening to experienced divers with their recommendations. I would like to dive wrecks first, and then eventually caves. I want to buy equipment today that will grow with me.
There came up a discussion between OMS bungee wings verses non-bungee wings (ie. Dive-rite, Halycon) with my LDS. My LDS (which doesn't sell OMS) stated the OMS wings added to the drag on the diver. His reasoning is that the bungeed wing has peaks and valleys causing turbulent water flow, thus increasing drag. This is of course contrary to OMS's claims that a tucked in wing reduces drag. My brother dives OMS wings. It does seem to be logical to draw the wings in during minimal wing inflation, and then let the wings expand accordingly. My LDS did state that a hard plate is a hard plate.
Here are my questions:
1) Is there any difference between OMS's HP and Dive-Rite's HP? I believe OMS's HP has tank strap slots to mount a single if needed. It seems DR's new HP also added this feature recently.
2) Can OMS bungee Wing (I believe my brother has the 100 lb lift wing) accommodate single tanks? It would seem it could since it draws the wings inward, as opposed to other wings, which would flap around the tank causing more drag. DR does have wings to accommodate both (and they have adjusting cords to draw the wing inward to accommodate singles). I believe if you purchase the 100 lb. OMS wing you would have a more versatile wing as opposed to DR's Rec Wing with 50 lb lift.
3) Is there a need for 100 lb lift? I want to dive doubles some day. With a SS HP, double tanks, stage bottles, and possibly the need to drag an unconscious buddy off the bottom of the ocean I would believe more lift the better. MY LDS stated that 100 lb lift is overkill. I brought up the possibility of bringing an unconscious buddy off the bottom, and he stated that both divers should be diving dry suits (thus an alternative lift option). First, maybe my buddy is not diving dry, and second I've been taught by my instructor to never use a dry suit as a buoyancy control device. Besides it would seem too complicated to try to manipulate your BC, your dry suit, and your buddies dry suit as you ascend. And no I won't be using the 100 lb lift to try to pick up heavy objects. I'll use a lift bag for that purpose.
4) Is there a need for a dual bladder setup? It would seem logical that most technical/DIR divers would love the idea of dual bladders! Yet, I've heard they dislike the concept. My brother talked to a gentleman that had his single bladder rupture at the bottom of the ocean. He was lucky enough to find the descend/ascend line, and he managed to pull him self up to the surface. What's so wrong with dual bladders? Isn't redundancy the name of the game with scuba? Dual regs, buddy system, back up pressure gauge if you have AI computer, etc...
5) Is there a problem with oral inflation of a bungeed wing? My LDS stated that an air embolism is more prevalent when trying to orally inflate a bungeed wing the bungees push back on the lungs. Somehow this causes an air embolism. Is this BS?
6) Does having the bungees help in adjusting trim? My brother states you can loosen or tighten the bungees to level your body during diving.
7) What do you guys/gals think of a single piece of web harness? Again DIR guys say this is the only way to go. The easy release buckles on some of the harnesses could break according to my LDS. Single piece webbing is stronger with no weak links.
oharag
There came up a discussion between OMS bungee wings verses non-bungee wings (ie. Dive-rite, Halycon) with my LDS. My LDS (which doesn't sell OMS) stated the OMS wings added to the drag on the diver. His reasoning is that the bungeed wing has peaks and valleys causing turbulent water flow, thus increasing drag. This is of course contrary to OMS's claims that a tucked in wing reduces drag. My brother dives OMS wings. It does seem to be logical to draw the wings in during minimal wing inflation, and then let the wings expand accordingly. My LDS did state that a hard plate is a hard plate.
Here are my questions:
1) Is there any difference between OMS's HP and Dive-Rite's HP? I believe OMS's HP has tank strap slots to mount a single if needed. It seems DR's new HP also added this feature recently.
2) Can OMS bungee Wing (I believe my brother has the 100 lb lift wing) accommodate single tanks? It would seem it could since it draws the wings inward, as opposed to other wings, which would flap around the tank causing more drag. DR does have wings to accommodate both (and they have adjusting cords to draw the wing inward to accommodate singles). I believe if you purchase the 100 lb. OMS wing you would have a more versatile wing as opposed to DR's Rec Wing with 50 lb lift.
3) Is there a need for 100 lb lift? I want to dive doubles some day. With a SS HP, double tanks, stage bottles, and possibly the need to drag an unconscious buddy off the bottom of the ocean I would believe more lift the better. MY LDS stated that 100 lb lift is overkill. I brought up the possibility of bringing an unconscious buddy off the bottom, and he stated that both divers should be diving dry suits (thus an alternative lift option). First, maybe my buddy is not diving dry, and second I've been taught by my instructor to never use a dry suit as a buoyancy control device. Besides it would seem too complicated to try to manipulate your BC, your dry suit, and your buddies dry suit as you ascend. And no I won't be using the 100 lb lift to try to pick up heavy objects. I'll use a lift bag for that purpose.
4) Is there a need for a dual bladder setup? It would seem logical that most technical/DIR divers would love the idea of dual bladders! Yet, I've heard they dislike the concept. My brother talked to a gentleman that had his single bladder rupture at the bottom of the ocean. He was lucky enough to find the descend/ascend line, and he managed to pull him self up to the surface. What's so wrong with dual bladders? Isn't redundancy the name of the game with scuba? Dual regs, buddy system, back up pressure gauge if you have AI computer, etc...
5) Is there a problem with oral inflation of a bungeed wing? My LDS stated that an air embolism is more prevalent when trying to orally inflate a bungeed wing the bungees push back on the lungs. Somehow this causes an air embolism. Is this BS?
6) Does having the bungees help in adjusting trim? My brother states you can loosen or tighten the bungees to level your body during diving.
7) What do you guys/gals think of a single piece of web harness? Again DIR guys say this is the only way to go. The easy release buckles on some of the harnesses could break according to my LDS. Single piece webbing is stronger with no weak links.
oharag
