any crotch strap will work. don't get sucked down the rabbit hole of hydros specific accessories like the ninja pocket, hip bag, crotch strap, etc. just like a BP/W, less is more.
Scubapro Hydros upgrade to BP&W?
- Thread starter pmaraziti
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RobPNW
Contributor
The fact that you're a big guy, especially recreational diving, doesn't mean you need a 40lb wing. On my last trip I carried 8lb of lead and I'm around a 240lb guy. I could get away with an 18lb wing in warm water with up to a 3mm wetsuit.
This isn't an issue with the Hydros Pro at all. the material of the backplate sticks to your wetsuit and doesn't move at all. You can still attach a crotch strap to the Hydros Pro even when you don't need it to fix the BC on you. I attached a crotch strap to the Hydros just for the D-ring for being towed by a DPV nothing else.
OP mentioned inside wrecks. Here a BPW is going to be a better choice because you should not be doing wreck penetration with a single tank. More than few went into overheads with a single cylinder and ended up dead when they ran out of gas.
A BPW will allow you to run doubles. Just need a bigger wing. Also a BPW will fit the same every time once you have it set up. Only two things to adjust, the waist belt and crotch strap for different thickness suits. And less than 1/2 the cost. Also, if you need to replace anything, many wings can be repaired for less than $100. Just replace the bladder. Harness? 12 bucks worth of webbing and just reuse the hardware.
A BPW will allow you to run doubles. Just need a bigger wing. Also a BPW will fit the same every time once you have it set up. Only two things to adjust, the waist belt and crotch strap for different thickness suits. And less than 1/2 the cost. Also, if you need to replace anything, many wings can be repaired for less than $100. Just replace the bladder. Harness? 12 bucks worth of webbing and just reuse the hardware.
He already has a Hydros. If he is intending to go tech. diving, wreck penetration is tech diving, and using doubles, he will need to buy an appropriate BC for that anyways. He should do that once he is at that level and after training and lots of $$$. At this point for recreational diving, what he has is excellent and has all of the features he would need.
He mentioned:
That doesn't mean going INSIDE wrecks/penetrating wrecks. He also said:
He does NOT need BP/W or doubles. The Hydros Pro offers him all he will ever need for recreational single tank diving.
You don't need it if you aren't doing DPV for sure. The Hydros is the most stable recreational BC out there.
RobPNW
Contributor
Semi off topic but may impact a person's decision on this topic...
Has anyone done rescue diver drills with a "victim" that's in a Hydros BC? I'm thinking in terms of taking the kit off the diver at the surface while dragging to the boat and doing rescue breaths etc. Does the "stickiness" of the Hydros hinder your ability to doff the BC from the diver? After unbuckling all the attachment points, you can usually just slide the BC off to the side under the diver. How does the Hydros grippiness change things if at all?
Has anyone done rescue diver drills with a "victim" that's in a Hydros BC? I'm thinking in terms of taking the kit off the diver at the surface while dragging to the boat and doing rescue breaths etc. Does the "stickiness" of the Hydros hinder your ability to doff the BC from the diver? After unbuckling all the attachment points, you can usually just slide the BC off to the side under the diver. How does the Hydros grippiness change things if at all?
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