what type of BCD for a young wanna-be diver

[sujo]

We just got our 8 yr old grand daughter into the PADI Bubble makers course. She seems to love it and seems to be a natural. We would like to get her a BCD, one that would grow with her as she grows. She might be 55-60 pounds and will probably stay small as she is very active. I have heard about the Dive Right teen program and Oceanic teen BCD, have also been recommended that we look into the BP and wing. Any advice for or against would be appreciated

 

[toddthecat]

May be a little young for BP/W. It takes a lot of finesse to get the buoyancy down, something she may not have yet. Not even sure harnesses are made that small. Can't advise on a BCD that "would grow with her as she grows". Probably won't find clothes that grow with her as she grows either. I'd go with a normal BCD and expect to replace it every few years...

 

[teknitroxdiver]

May be a little young for BP/W. It takes a lot of finesse to get the buoyancy down, something she may not have yet. Not even sure harnesses are made that small. Can't advise on a BCD that "would grow with her as she grows". Probably won't find clothes that grow with her as she grows either. I'd go with a normal BCD and expect to replace it every few years...

How exactly is managing buoyancy with a bp/w different than with a jacket?

 

[fisheater]

May be a little young for BP/W....

NEVER too young for a BP/W!

 

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

Only BC that fits kids properly and grows with them is BP&W! Complicated????? We run the PADI Seal Team program at our shop and the kids are all in BP&W's!

 

[SandPhantom]

Bp/w.

 

[mselenaous]

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Whether you go with their "soft" backplate styles like the TravelPac, they also make a short simple AL backplate with a small wing, then all you need is a few feet of replacement webbing every couple years.

 

[celer-silens-mortalis]

I agree BP/W is what I put my son in when he was 10. He is 16 now and still diving the kit. we are looking at getting a bigger wing. we have made a number of harness adjustments, but that's it. He has always loved it and he has better buoyancy control than most of the divers we see.

 

[redacted]

Here is the back plate you need: Ultra Lite Travel Plate *Pink* : OxyCheq - DiveOps, Analyzers and Scuba Diving Equipment

Then add this wing: 18# MACH V Chroma Series *Pink* : OxyCheq - DiveOps, Analyzers and Scuba Diving Equipment

You can probably even find pink webbing. As she grows older and bigger, you (someone) may want to replace the webbing. I use that plate and a similar wing, and I weigh about 220. OK, they did not have it in pink when I bought mine.

 

[SandPhantom]

I have two DSS systems and love them.