Deep Sea Supply Gear Review
Single Tank BP/W
By Scuba_Jenny
Since joining SB and hearing about the BP/W setup, I was first put off by the concept of some techie gear, after all I am a recreational diver, and a beach diver at that, so I pretty much pooh paad any mention of the BP/W set up for my needs. Problem was however, I needed 2 BCs. One for my warm water, skins only diving. Why 2 Bc's? Well, um, the original fit me when I first started diving, and let's just say I don't have that hot babe figure any more. So, short of buying a new BC, I borrowed one that fit when I wear lots of neoprene. The Seaquest Explorer (pink trim) worked OK in the summertime. Its pockets, or better yet the slots for pockets constantly lost stuff and there wasnt really anywhere to attach stuff. But the worst problem was it only had a wide Velcro cummerbund to close. This is fine, I never had it come apart, but it without a chest strap or other device, the thing would ride up on me and I was constantly pulling it down to keep the cummerbund around the waist. The other problem was the cummerbund only fit if I was wearing skins. So, ok, now for wintertime a buddy lent me his Beachaut BC. Nice, but it was way too big for me even with all the straps pulled tight, but hey! It fit me with my 3mil farmer jane, even if it rode up and the shoulder straps were near my ears.
Time to get a new BC. I kept hearing about a back inflate. Tried a Transpac, but it was too big and improperly adjusted and I rolled most of the dive. A couple of my buddies started telling me about the BP/W as the way to go, but I heard about the face forward problem, and I could only imagine the problems trying to stay afloat in rough water. No thank you. I dont need any more problems.
However, I kept reading that the BP/W was the way to go, so I asked my buddies about their thoughts on the BP/W and was assured that the problem with the face forward is solved if you dont inflate the wing the whole way. Ok, I choose to be open to the suggestion. So, I looked at the DiveRite Transpac, and its ability to be customized to my short, well endowed frame. I was quite impressed.
One day I come home to a box sitting on my door step. Inside is the Deep Sea Supply BP/W. Sweet! Cant wait to try it out.
Now, for checking out gear, I wanted nice calm seas. The day I tried it out it was a bit rough out and found my first problem. When I added air to the wing, I couldnt feel it bloat around the sides like a BC. How was I supposed to know how much was in the bladder? So I hit the surf. Next problem. I put on my gloves on the surface swim out to the reef, but I have no where to put the gloves, where do I put my gloves? Where are the pockets? The surf was just high enough that when I got out far enough to get out of the white crests, it was too deep and I kept getting thrown back into the sand. Oh, to be 53 tall! 3 tries later, I made it out and met up with my buddies. We descended and here is where the beauty of the rig came into play.
Understand that where I beach dive, a normal dive is maybe 17ft deep, and with any kind of surge or current we are unable to go below it. So we normally add a couple pounds of weight to compensate. I took off 4 lbs to compensate for the 4# SS backplate, but still had more than enough weight for the conditions. I immediately went to a very comfortable horizontal position and just hung there. I measured the surge to be about 6ft., and I felt completely in control, not lost to the whims of the ocean. I could get pretty high in the water column (normally a NO NO with a BC and surge) and still have lots of control. I had plenty of weight, and still moved with ease. My biggest concern- being in rough surf was tested, and passed! I finished the dive with a big ole grin on my face. I couldnt wait to try it out again.
The harness can be configured a couple ways, I had it rigged so the straps crossed behind the neck, then down the shoulders and back to the plate. Imagine the way the straps on a backpack run and you will get the idea. The X where the straps crossed rested on my neck and even after a couple adjustments never resolved the slight pressure on the back of my neck. It didnt hurt during the dive and my neck wasnt sore after the dive, I just didnt think it was comfortable.
Dives 2-4. I traveled to the Ginnie Springs and tried some freshwater diving. Adding my 3ml farmer jane, shorty and hood only required minor adjustments, made easier with the velco straps on the front. I had to keep taking off weight, and by dive four was down to only 5lbs! Sweet. One thing I noticed and can now understand why the BP/W is so popular with divers that dont contend with surge and surf, is at the surface in calm water, I was very high almost my shoulders were out of the water. In the ocean and surface swims where I am on my back, the rig does not lift me out as much as a (proper fitting) BC.
Back in salt water I continued to drop weight. I was at 9lbs, and on two separate dives gave 2lbs away to a buddy who was light, and after only a moment of readjusting, was fine for the rest of the dive. I can take off at least 4lbs (even after compensating of the weight of the SS BP) just because I am not using a BC. Might not be a lot to some folks, but when I am only using 16lbs fully suited, taking 25% weight off is quite signifigant.
Eventually I was able to shed my wetsuit and the BP/W continued to perform well. I am simply amazed at how easy it is to dive in this rig. Currently I am diving in my skins only and am down to 6lbs additional weight. Not bad!
A couple dives ago I decided to change the harness crossing in the back. Took all of 5 minutes to do it and the rig feels much better. It is actually easier to get on and off now. There are plenty of D rings to attach stuff to. Also, I like the holes in the backplate for attaching stuff to that I might need, but dont want dangling in front/below me.
The plate has these plastic guards of some sort that line the slots so the harness is not rubbing and fraying.
Cons:
Pros:
Would I recommend this rig to another diver? Absolutely. I am very pleased, and pleasantly surprised at how easy diving can be. I had (according to my buddies) pretty good trim and am a pretty decent diver to begin with. The BP/W is another step in the right direction to becoming one with the ocean.
Single Tank BP/W
By Scuba_Jenny
Since joining SB and hearing about the BP/W setup, I was first put off by the concept of some techie gear, after all I am a recreational diver, and a beach diver at that, so I pretty much pooh paad any mention of the BP/W set up for my needs. Problem was however, I needed 2 BCs. One for my warm water, skins only diving. Why 2 Bc's? Well, um, the original fit me when I first started diving, and let's just say I don't have that hot babe figure any more. So, short of buying a new BC, I borrowed one that fit when I wear lots of neoprene. The Seaquest Explorer (pink trim) worked OK in the summertime. Its pockets, or better yet the slots for pockets constantly lost stuff and there wasnt really anywhere to attach stuff. But the worst problem was it only had a wide Velcro cummerbund to close. This is fine, I never had it come apart, but it without a chest strap or other device, the thing would ride up on me and I was constantly pulling it down to keep the cummerbund around the waist. The other problem was the cummerbund only fit if I was wearing skins. So, ok, now for wintertime a buddy lent me his Beachaut BC. Nice, but it was way too big for me even with all the straps pulled tight, but hey! It fit me with my 3mil farmer jane, even if it rode up and the shoulder straps were near my ears.
Time to get a new BC. I kept hearing about a back inflate. Tried a Transpac, but it was too big and improperly adjusted and I rolled most of the dive. A couple of my buddies started telling me about the BP/W as the way to go, but I heard about the face forward problem, and I could only imagine the problems trying to stay afloat in rough water. No thank you. I dont need any more problems.
However, I kept reading that the BP/W was the way to go, so I asked my buddies about their thoughts on the BP/W and was assured that the problem with the face forward is solved if you dont inflate the wing the whole way. Ok, I choose to be open to the suggestion. So, I looked at the DiveRite Transpac, and its ability to be customized to my short, well endowed frame. I was quite impressed.
One day I come home to a box sitting on my door step. Inside is the Deep Sea Supply BP/W. Sweet! Cant wait to try it out.
Now, for checking out gear, I wanted nice calm seas. The day I tried it out it was a bit rough out and found my first problem. When I added air to the wing, I couldnt feel it bloat around the sides like a BC. How was I supposed to know how much was in the bladder? So I hit the surf. Next problem. I put on my gloves on the surface swim out to the reef, but I have no where to put the gloves, where do I put my gloves? Where are the pockets? The surf was just high enough that when I got out far enough to get out of the white crests, it was too deep and I kept getting thrown back into the sand. Oh, to be 53 tall! 3 tries later, I made it out and met up with my buddies. We descended and here is where the beauty of the rig came into play.
Understand that where I beach dive, a normal dive is maybe 17ft deep, and with any kind of surge or current we are unable to go below it. So we normally add a couple pounds of weight to compensate. I took off 4 lbs to compensate for the 4# SS backplate, but still had more than enough weight for the conditions. I immediately went to a very comfortable horizontal position and just hung there. I measured the surge to be about 6ft., and I felt completely in control, not lost to the whims of the ocean. I could get pretty high in the water column (normally a NO NO with a BC and surge) and still have lots of control. I had plenty of weight, and still moved with ease. My biggest concern- being in rough surf was tested, and passed! I finished the dive with a big ole grin on my face. I couldnt wait to try it out again.
The harness can be configured a couple ways, I had it rigged so the straps crossed behind the neck, then down the shoulders and back to the plate. Imagine the way the straps on a backpack run and you will get the idea. The X where the straps crossed rested on my neck and even after a couple adjustments never resolved the slight pressure on the back of my neck. It didnt hurt during the dive and my neck wasnt sore after the dive, I just didnt think it was comfortable.
Dives 2-4. I traveled to the Ginnie Springs and tried some freshwater diving. Adding my 3ml farmer jane, shorty and hood only required minor adjustments, made easier with the velco straps on the front. I had to keep taking off weight, and by dive four was down to only 5lbs! Sweet. One thing I noticed and can now understand why the BP/W is so popular with divers that dont contend with surge and surf, is at the surface in calm water, I was very high almost my shoulders were out of the water. In the ocean and surface swims where I am on my back, the rig does not lift me out as much as a (proper fitting) BC.
Back in salt water I continued to drop weight. I was at 9lbs, and on two separate dives gave 2lbs away to a buddy who was light, and after only a moment of readjusting, was fine for the rest of the dive. I can take off at least 4lbs (even after compensating of the weight of the SS BP) just because I am not using a BC. Might not be a lot to some folks, but when I am only using 16lbs fully suited, taking 25% weight off is quite signifigant.
Eventually I was able to shed my wetsuit and the BP/W continued to perform well. I am simply amazed at how easy it is to dive in this rig. Currently I am diving in my skins only and am down to 6lbs additional weight. Not bad!
A couple dives ago I decided to change the harness crossing in the back. Took all of 5 minutes to do it and the rig feels much better. It is actually easier to get on and off now. There are plenty of D rings to attach stuff to. Also, I like the holes in the backplate for attaching stuff to that I might need, but dont want dangling in front/below me.
The plate has these plastic guards of some sort that line the slots so the harness is not rubbing and fraying.
Cons:
- The two little rubber pieces that hold the wing and backplate together kept coming apart. I finally got a couple ¼ x ¾ stainless steel bolts with wing nuts, and have solved the problem.
- The Velcro comes apart pretty easily. While this can be a good thing, I wish there were a flap or attachment of some sort to help keep the sides together.
- The X configuration of the harness. Might work for some people, but it felt like it pulled my shoulders back and after the dive my shoulders would pop. Also, the X rested on my neck, although uncomfortable, it did not restrict any movement.
- Cant fly. Coming in from a beach dive, if the conditions are right I spread my arms out and go for a ride. Loads of fun. However, there just isnt enough bulk for the sea to push me now.
No more flying.
Pros:
- Not cumbersome like a BC. Very streamlined.
- Control. I am amazed at how I can get 6 from a piece of coral, not touching it or anything else and just hang there. The total movement up, down, left, right is only inches. I can hang perfectly positioned and not impact the reef. I truly become a non intrusive visitor.
- Able to adjust the harness for my body frame.
- Lots of D rings that can be positioned to accommodate my needs.
- Quick release buckles and Velcro straps make getting into and out of easy.
- Doesnt take up much room. This will be so much easier to tote with me on a dive trip than the cumbersome BC.
Would I recommend this rig to another diver? Absolutely. I am very pleased, and pleasantly surprised at how easy diving can be. I had (according to my buddies) pretty good trim and am a pretty decent diver to begin with. The BP/W is another step in the right direction to becoming one with the ocean.
