Problem with the BP/W is that the diver never EVER feels their BC inflating.
With a back inflate you sorta feel the inflate, right before the BC auto purges, with a jacket you feel the inflate immediately.
New divers will not always be able to adapt to this lack of feel easily.
A BP/W places more emphasis on technique, ability, buoyancy, and trim characteristics that just aren't present in a typical new diver.
Setting one up and using one effectively is like rocket science to someone who's never even seen one. And before the BP/W users jump down my throat, just think about it.
When you were certified did you ever think of things like tying down your danglies with bungee or inner tires? No.
Did your basic instructor teach you the proper way to clip something onto your shoulder D-ring? No
etc etc
Without any experienced BP/W diver as a mentor, a BP/W for a new diver is a horrible choice IMO.
Having said that however, using one is not hard if you have someone showing you the ropes.
So lets see...Backplates are now BAD because of a very nice feature... Backplate and wings make diving more comfortable because they don't change size as the inflation changes. This leads to the system fitting the same before, during and after the dive. No rolling around, or nonsense like this. But, if your training is poor, a good feature turns into a bad one. Again, fix the PROBLEM of poor training, not the symptom. A new diver CAN and SHOULD be taught proper bouyancy. Ideally, scuba classes should be turning out divers who know those skills, and it is shameful that they aren't. We should stop excusing this behaviour and start training people right.
Additionally, proper clipping of gear should be covered in even the crappiest open water course.
I think another big issue that leads to newbie misinformation about BP&W is the simple fact that many/most recreational instructors/DMs don't have a clue about them. This is certainly true for the majority of instructors/DMs working in holiday locations.
As is typical with many dive pros, they won't want to admit a lack of knowledge to a customer, so they make up a 'cover story' about them being purely for 'technical' diving etc etc.
THIS. Oh goodness yes, this hits the nail on the head!
No, telling divers that they don't need to have BP/W to be considered "worthy"divers and that Jacket BC is fine and appropriate for what they are going to be doing. Should their needs change, just as any diver, they would asses their needs and the solutions available when appropriate.
Divers go a lifetime without needing a BP/W and they are happy, safe and content with their Classic or ADV style BC's no problem. Let's not over-sell this BP/W thing.
So...BC users can go a lifetime without need a BP/W. Funny thing is, BP/W users can go a lifetime without needing a BC. Lets not oversell this jacket BC thing.
It's very interesting...
When the pro-BP/W people say "A beginner
can dive with a BP/W..." for some strange reason the anti-BP/W people hear us say "A beginner
must dive with a BP/W..."
On the other hand, when the anti-BP/W people say "A BP/W is too hard for a beginner to use a BP/W" and we counter with ""It's actually very easy to dive a BP/W..." the anti-BP/W seem to hear us say "If you don't dive a BP/W you will always be a terrible diver..."
Once again, a nail hit on the head!!
I am biased. I learned in a BC. I bought a BC. I bought another BC. I hated, hated, hated them all. Every single one of them let the tank slide around and hit my head. They changed size when I added gas. They sucked, and they were expensive units too, real nice Scubapro gear. When I bought my first backplate and wing, it was a breeze to set up. There are numerous guides on the internet, and it's really no more difficult than threading two things together. It's the same concept as belts use...if you can dress yourself, you can figure it out, not to mention, most stores sell them somewhat pre assembled. The first time in the water was like heaven. The rig fit me perfectly, and stayed with me. Icould move and the tank wouldn't hit my head because it moved with me. It was a glorious moment, and one that made me certain I loved diving, where before it was more of a love-hate relationship.
Should I mention how so many students get supremely confused when trying to figure out all the doodads on a jacket BC? Weight pockets get jammed in wrong. Straps get unclipped. All sorts of stuff. One of the high end rental BC's, a nice Scubapro, used a cumberbund AND a belt clip thing, that confused students very reliably. Everyone who put on a Zeagle Express Tech, which is immediately and easily adjustable, put it on right the first time and had no confusion at all. Very simple and easy to use system. Small observation, nothing scientific about it, just my experiences as a DM.
Once again, I don't care what people use. But, this baloney about backplate and wings being just for technical divers, and being harder to use, needs to stop. All I ask is for dive shops and dive professionals to give objective reviews and correct answers to students about things like this.
But, that is clearly too much to ask in an industry whose favourite line seems to be "aluminum tanks older than 20 years can't be filled" and "don't buy online, those products probably aren't safe or don't come with a warranty, plus they are putting me out of business."
