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It's because the BP/W Minority on this board assume that we all dive like they do...
Indeed. So facture in the added cost for the lead you'll need on the jacket, and facture in the fact that you wont need weight pockets because those things are damn useless. You don't need pockets either. So yeah, there you are, less than 460$ at DSS,high end gear, vs more for a seahawk about which I have never, ever, heard anything good coming from someone that has more than 0 experience....
[rant]
@KawabungaDude, really, take time to go and have a look, figure out how come many many people dive without pockets and carry more gear than you, without being a
like 90% of the divers who encourage jackets because "they have pockets and ditchable weight, which you absolutely need". Last time I checked, the torches I found on the seafloor didn't come from hog' divers. Nor did the weight pockets. And I haven't seen that many bodies lying on the seafloor of people that didn't have ditchable weights...As for the crotch strap, you really don't feel it... You're in florida, it should be pretty damn easy to find someone that can lend you a BPW setup for a day, maybe even set it up properly for you.
[/rant]
Anyway, I'm out, before I get angry.
BDSC
Contributor
BDSC
Contributor
Yep.
I would say go back and look at my post on the Zeagle Express Tech. It is a back inflate BCD, get the demo and add the pouches and you literally have everything you are asking for and for about $350. Biggest no brainer in the history of earth. Single tank, warm water, light weight, integrated weight (no weight belt) and it is a perfect cross between a BP/W and a jacket BCD.
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haha, never mentioned the transpac, and didn't for a reason. I said Transplate, which is a harness option that you can put on the backplates.
DeepSeaSupply - Complete Rigs
$460, for the backplate, wing, and one piece harness. Remember that with this you are 6lbs negative, and likely able to take 8-10lbs off of your weight belt when compared to a jacket bc. Most divers with an AL80 and a SS backplate with a 3mm shorty do not need any more lead. With a steel tank, you can wear up to a 7mm wetsuit without needing lead.
Large - Dive Rite Transplate Harness - Red -Large
IF you decide for some reason you really want shoulder pads, quick releases, and a bunch of stuff you don't need, but makes it feel like a hiking backpack, then $80 for the Transplate. This is optional, not required.
DGX Neoprene Pocket Shorts | Dive Gear Express®
$50 for cargo shorts. Much better and much less likely to lose things than BCD pockets, and is better for the small things because you do not restrict them to being attached to your rig. You can wear these over your bathing suit as cargo shorts, though if you are diving without exposure protection, just buy a bathing suit with cargo shorts.
Dive Rite DC Thigh Pocket XT, Velcro Closure | Dive Gear Express®
that also works well and I love mine
DGX Gears Trim Weight Pocket (each) | Dive Gear Express®
there's a trim weight pocket for 4lbs, and since you say you're in warm water, you don't need more than that, so $10 each
DGX Gears Horizontal Expandable Zipper Pocket | Dive Gear Express®
that ones expensive, but $40 if you don't like the thigh pockets. I have one, it's nice for some things, but I don't use it anymore, thigh pockets are easier
Total mandatory cost, is $460, total total cost is $600, but you have an extra harness, two pockets for stuff, and two trim pockets for 8lbs of lead should for some reason you need that. For reference, 14lbs of ballast is about what we put students in wearing a 7mm wetsuit in fresh water, with an AL80, so you shouldn't need the weight pockets.
and how is my warm water recreational reef diving any different than yours? and how does your rig work better for that type of diving than mine? I'd love to hear it, because no one has given a reason why you would choose a jacket over a plate
admikar
Contributor
I haven't seen if you mentioned it, but did you actually try Black ice or Dimension?
I was in same situation as you are, beginner diver wanting to buy his first BCD. For some reason, all, more experienced divers, tried to talk me out of BP&W, so those two were my choices at local shop. Neither were comfortable, so I made a plunge and went Apeks BP&W(only brand in my shop).
Cost was 350€. Now I need 4kgs of weight comparing to 10kgs in jacket bc. I adjusted webbing myself, although it took me 1 hour (and no, there is no one solution for all).
OP
KawabungaDude
Registered
I have tried the Dimension and stiletto not the black ice. I think the dimension is pretty comfortable with its harness system.
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