djanni
Contributor
These "bp/w vs the rest of the world" debates are usually passionate and frequently a hoot to read.
My opinion... If you're wanting to do very deep dives (over 130 feet) or penetrate to the interior of wrecks/caves you need specialized training and the appropriate gear. Diving around the exterior of a wreck or swimming through it, when you can clearly see the exit, isn't a big deal to me.
If I was going to penetrate wrecks or caves with the need for dual tanks, slung or sidemount tanks and carry the appropriate lighting and etc., I would buy a bp/w because I believe the hard metal plate provides a more stable platform for managing the extra weight and strain on the equipment. A plus for the bp/w is that for people who are very, very large or very, very small, getting a good fit may be easier.
Most of the other stuff is hype that's biased toward ones own gear choice. Like a bp/w's metal plate puts more weight up on your back helping you trim out horizontally - that's why the other types of BC's have trim weight pouches which accomplish the same thing. Another is simplicity. Bp/w's are simplistic - till you wish you had pockets or integrated weights. Start adding weight harnesses, weight pouches or add-on pockets and they're not so simple anymore. And sure you can choose to deal with a weight belt. Then there's streamlining - actually, it's pretty hard to get more streamlined than with a BC like, for example, a Scubapro Classic. Remember, there's no "wing taco" issue with a jacket style BC. For all those who don't like the wrap around feel of a jacket style or even a cummerbund, there's those who like that feel/fit better. More hype is bp/w's are infinately adjustable and therefore fit better. For those who are more typical in build that's not an issue. Another is less lead is needed with a bp/w because there's no padding. Well, that's provided you don't end up adding padding but still it's only a couple of pounds anyway. I suppose if your needing 20-30 lbs of lead then shedding 2 lbs has some merit. One more I can think of is "a bp/w will grow with you." I suppose that's true as the plate isn't going to ware out and you can switch from small singles wings to larger doubles wings - at about $300 a pop. Here you are buying your first BC and if you don't feel you'll ever be able to buy another one then that's a consideration.
I'm a recreational diver and I've dived bp/w's and there's not a single thing WRONG with them. There's not a single thing SPECIAL either. They have their place and their following. So do Jeep Wranglers.
It would be nice if you had the opportunity to try all 3 types before buying but we usually don't want to go through all that hassle. The big thing is not to over think it. The shops in your area will give you reasonable advice. When you walk in the store and there's 50 BC's for every bp/w that'll tell you something. If it's the reverse, that tells you something else.
Want to be confused some more? Go over to the Fin's forum and ask if you should choose paddles or splits. BCD's, fins, masks, etc., it's mostly individual opinion until you get into the specialized diving situations. If you're looking to do that in the future - technical diving as its usually called - then listen to those who've been there, done that where you plan to do it.
Again, don't over think it. If you have a group of dive buddy's you'll probably be the happiest using something similar to what they use.
Good luck and happy diving.
My opinion... If you're wanting to do very deep dives (over 130 feet) or penetrate to the interior of wrecks/caves you need specialized training and the appropriate gear. Diving around the exterior of a wreck or swimming through it, when you can clearly see the exit, isn't a big deal to me.
If I was going to penetrate wrecks or caves with the need for dual tanks, slung or sidemount tanks and carry the appropriate lighting and etc., I would buy a bp/w because I believe the hard metal plate provides a more stable platform for managing the extra weight and strain on the equipment. A plus for the bp/w is that for people who are very, very large or very, very small, getting a good fit may be easier.
Most of the other stuff is hype that's biased toward ones own gear choice. Like a bp/w's metal plate puts more weight up on your back helping you trim out horizontally - that's why the other types of BC's have trim weight pouches which accomplish the same thing. Another is simplicity. Bp/w's are simplistic - till you wish you had pockets or integrated weights. Start adding weight harnesses, weight pouches or add-on pockets and they're not so simple anymore. And sure you can choose to deal with a weight belt. Then there's streamlining - actually, it's pretty hard to get more streamlined than with a BC like, for example, a Scubapro Classic. Remember, there's no "wing taco" issue with a jacket style BC. For all those who don't like the wrap around feel of a jacket style or even a cummerbund, there's those who like that feel/fit better. More hype is bp/w's are infinately adjustable and therefore fit better. For those who are more typical in build that's not an issue. Another is less lead is needed with a bp/w because there's no padding. Well, that's provided you don't end up adding padding but still it's only a couple of pounds anyway. I suppose if your needing 20-30 lbs of lead then shedding 2 lbs has some merit. One more I can think of is "a bp/w will grow with you." I suppose that's true as the plate isn't going to ware out and you can switch from small singles wings to larger doubles wings - at about $300 a pop. Here you are buying your first BC and if you don't feel you'll ever be able to buy another one then that's a consideration.
I'm a recreational diver and I've dived bp/w's and there's not a single thing WRONG with them. There's not a single thing SPECIAL either. They have their place and their following. So do Jeep Wranglers.
It would be nice if you had the opportunity to try all 3 types before buying but we usually don't want to go through all that hassle. The big thing is not to over think it. The shops in your area will give you reasonable advice. When you walk in the store and there's 50 BC's for every bp/w that'll tell you something. If it's the reverse, that tells you something else.
Want to be confused some more? Go over to the Fin's forum and ask if you should choose paddles or splits. BCD's, fins, masks, etc., it's mostly individual opinion until you get into the specialized diving situations. If you're looking to do that in the future - technical diving as its usually called - then listen to those who've been there, done that where you plan to do it.
Again, don't over think it. If you have a group of dive buddy's you'll probably be the happiest using something similar to what they use.
Good luck and happy diving.
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