Why does an LDS push newbies away from BP/WINGS?

[d33ps1x]

I like swimming around and taking pictures of the fishies! :out:

[turnerjd]

-hh once bubbled...


FWIW, I think my experience has been similar to what gedunk has described:

"The jacket might not be as streamlined or as easy to trim out but it did keep a head up position better at the surface...IMO, there is some good value to that, especially for newer or less active divers."

I'm carrying a big UW camera that can only accentuate that tendency. Besides, small variations in gear streamlining are pragmatically insignificant, so the justification to change BC's for this benefit is very weak.
-hh

I have to add agreement to gedunk and -HH here. I have and old Scubapro Master jacket with a Buddy Redwing strapped on the back.

If I dive a single, and then inflate ONLY the wing at the surface I end up with my face in the water, and find it very difficult to keep vertical. Jacket inflation only and I get to stay nice and vertical.

However, with twins, fully inflating ONLY the wing I stay nice and vertical at the surface. (with just the jacket I am pulled backwards and float on my back)

When I learned to DM, the instructor I had (who is also a great friend) used to dive in a BP&W for his "recreational" dives, but, because of the extra safety in floating head up at the surface prefered jackets for his OW students.

As a personal preference, I don't think students SHOULD buy equipment before or during their OW course. They should be encouraged to rent initially, so that they know what type of diving they actually like doing. Certainly before buying some form of BCD they should try out standard jackets, back inflation jackets, and BP&W systems. Nobody should tell a student what to buy untill they are capable of making an informed decision.

Just my .02€

Jon T

<edited for spelling mistakes>

[RiverRat]

Just my 2 cents. I was told by the LDS the same old story, BP/W not recommended for new divers, you'll have to dive double steels to stay upright, bla bla bla............
Well I just got back from Grand Cayman and Monday dove my FredT BP and Oxycheq wing for the first time. First dive I was overweighted but I giant strided off the boat and popped up to the surface straight as an arrow! So much for that BS story!
Once I got my weight right (3# on the belt, diving 9# SS plate with 2# STA's) I was neutrally buoyant from top to bottom and not using ANY air in the wing! I really started to get into using lung volume to adjust buoyancy. Almost had to learn quick navigating the swim throughs on the deep dives. If you're willing to learn and want to build your own rig a BP/W is an excellent option. It's really just another back inflate BC is it not? But with possibly more options. Now I know why one of the older guys diving with us was using a horse collar, he doesn't need it for buoyancy except at the surface! Maybe not even then....dunno, but as a new diver I have NO problems with the BP/W. The LDS is having a Christmas party tomorrow and I'm bringing pics......can't wait to show them me diving the rig hovering over the Coral like a helicopter. Now wait 'till I rebuild my regs, that should stir up the LDS!

Here's me diving in GC in first photo:
http://www.northeastcomputer.net/fam...ba/photos.html