As for regs, I have the AquaLung Legend LX. But it runs over $700. It's a cold water set. If you don't need a cold water reg, you can get something less expensive. Breathes really nice.
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
Wow, this is super helpful @stuartv! Thanks so much. I'm still inexperienced enough that I need weights, but I really like the integrated weight belts some jacket BCs offer. What are my options for mounting the weights to the back plate to avoid a weight belt? And from what I've read, it seems a steel plate would be good if I need a bit more negative buoyancy? How does the buoyancy of a BP+W system compare to that of your average jacket BC? I'm assuming the jackets are slightly to moderately positively buoyant, while the BP+W system is probably neutral to slightly negatively buoyant?
And as for Lake Travis, I did my AOW there in April and swore I'd never get in it again as a diver. It was miserable!
As a newer OW diver thinking they are going to get into it more, and having seen a lot of recommendations on this and other site I am thinking about going with a BP/W for my first BC. I like that fact that being a big guy it will conform to me better, and being in MI it is useful with a dry suit (one of the certifications I will most likely get). Having looked around and also based on some others opinions I was thinking about getting a HOG total buoyancy control system HOG Total Buoyancy Control System Package - BCD - Products
Some of my questions are:
Would this be a good first bc, or what would you recommend?
How do I know which wing is best for me?
With the above mentioned system is there any benefit to go with the soft flex plate besides travel?
I'd like to chat with you " off the public forum and expeditiously, send me an email to discuss further, I remember being in your position but my LDS was strictly bp&w only... Szotakro@gmail.com& and in case you have yet to learn the answers to some of your " more general questions"… They are very manageable for traveling, and super modular for adjusting to most sizes, 6'2" is not out of the realm of comfortHello all!
New to the board, but hoping to become more active!
As a fully recreational diver, I'm at the point where I'm diving just frequently enough that I can probably justify getting my own BCD as opposed to renting (living in Central Texas, there aren't many easily-accessible dive sites nearby!). I'm not looking to break the bank, I don't need a BCD chock full of features, but just a good, reliable BCD that I can travel with and be comfortable knowing is my own. If we assume I dive 10 days a year, and I'm paying $10/day to rent a BCD, that's $100/year spent on rental equipment. While just having something as my own and knowing how it operates is worth something to me, the ability to eventually recover the cost of the BCD by foregoing rental fees over the course of 5+ years of ownership.
I know nothing about BP+W setups, but I've seen many people in the scuba community singing their praises. I'm primarily a tropical, single tank kinda guy, and I'm pretty big (6'2, 230ish on a good day). I had been looking at the Mares Prime MRS + jacket BCD, and for the current price ($250), it seems like a solid choice. That said, I've also read there's not really a point in getting an "entry-level" BCD, only to feel the need to upgrade as you become more skilled. I dove Sipadan in June, and will be in Palau in February, so I'm trying to get some of my equipment needs squared away before that!
So with that context in mind, here's are my open-ended newbie questions:
-Would you recommend a BP+W setup for me?
-Where do I begin learning about the different types of BP+W, and how do I determine which one is right for me?
-Are they good for traveling (i.e. pack down)?
-How are the maintenance costs relative to jacket BCDs (which I admittedly know little about as is)?
-Are there any good full set-ups that will serve my purpose (without overwhelming me), while also allowing me to grow into them as I further my diving capabilities (currently AOW)?
I hate that my questions are pretty generic, and I tried to add as much context about who I am and what I like to do, but the truth is, I was all but sold on getting a jacket BCD because it's really all I knew. But over the course of searching for BCDs for divers like me, enough people were talking about BP+W setups that I felt I would be remiss if I didn't at least inquire.
Please let me know if I can provide further context to help y'all answer some or all of my questions.
Cheers!
Cameron
My opinion is that in this case your opinion ought to be pretty much right on.My opinion is that without the slots for the cam bands, will be very hard to do without the STA using your DRIS wing.
I do not mean that this is impossible, you can just cut the slots using an hot iron.
After this to stabilise the tank from rolling left-right, you can add this: OMS Soft Single Tank Adapter (STA) with Bookscrews - OMSDive or something similar.
Also if you don't like big metallic STA, those could be a lightweight solution: Lightweight Travel Single Tank Adapter (Pair)
Happy diving