Newb BCD setup Q:

blusporttrac · May 2nd, 2007, 05:51 PM

Alright first off hey guys im a newb. Just got my PADI and Dry suite certs did them at the same time. I have mask fins snorkel booties and Tec dive watch. I want to go DIR for my gear to try and cut down and the “man I wish I had”

So my question is what BCD are you guys using. I have looked at the DiveRite with steel back plate but should I be checking something different out? What lift wing should i be looking at for my first wing. Sorry if this is a repost I went back a couple of pages and did not see much but am sure this has been covered many times. Im hungry for info.

Chad S.

LCF · May 2nd, 2007, 06:15 PM

Welcome to diving!

To give you good advice on what gear you should look at, we need to know what kind of diving you will be doing. Are you going to dive locally? If so, you'll be wearing heavy exposure protection and you'll need significant weight. There, a steel BP is ideal, and you might even want to look into the Deep Sea Supply SS backplate to which you can attach weight plates to make it heavier. This is what my husband has, and likes very much.

If you are only going to do vacation, tropical diving, you won't be wearing much exposure protection, and you may want to look into an aluminum or kydex backplate, to minimize luggage weight concerns.

Tobin George writes a lovely explanation of how to calculate needed lift in a wing, and you can read one of those here

There are a number of manufacturers of backplates and wings. To be DIR, you want to avoid anything with double wings or bungies around the bladder. You want a relatively short corrugated hose, and no pull dump on it. You don't want knobs on the end of the butt dump pull.

You can look at Halcyon (good quality, but expensive), Oxycheq, Deep Sea Supply, Golem Gear and Agir setups. I recommend DSS, because I think their customer service is extraordinary.

blusporttrac · May 3rd, 2007, 12:07 AM

I want a good alround setup. Not sure what type of diving i will be doing at this time. i like the deep sea supply site and the prices seem to be in check. Thanks for the info

**neilh** · May 3rd, 2007, 12:31 PM

Also I guess as you're just starting out that you're looking at something for single tanks?

Keep in mind that some wings are designed for doubles and some for singles. E.g. the Halcyon Eclipse is a single tank wing, the Evolve is a doubles wing.

blusporttrac · May 3rd, 2007, 06:31 PM

Thanks for all the great info i would be lost!

I’m going to go single tank setup till I get more experience. I’m 6’2 200lbs and most of my diving will be fresh water. So 7m and dry suites.

I’m thinking

DSS Large SS plate
DSS Torus 35 Wing or should I be looking at the DSS 30 or 40 LCD wing
DSS Hogarthian Single Piece Harness

Like the added weights that DSS has for the plates.

TobinGeorge · May 3rd, 2007, 08:42 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by blusporttrac)

Thanks for all the great info i would be lost!

I’m going to go single tank setup till I get more experience. I’m 6’2 200lbs and most of my diving will be fresh water. So 7m and dry suites.

I’m thinking

DSS Large SS plate
DSS Torus 35 Wing or should I be looking at the DSS 30 or 40 LCD wing
DSS Hogarthian Single Piece Harness

Like the added weights that DSS has for the plates.

Call me, I be happy to walk you through how I select wing size.

I need to know how buoyant your exposure suit is (the most buoyant one) and what you will be using for tanks.

If I have this information it's pretty simple to select the smallest wing that will safely meet your needs. Smaller wings have less drag, and are easier to vent.

If I don't have the buoyancy info then wing sizing is at least in part a "guess" and that almost always results in a larger wing than you really need.

Tobin

May 2nd, 2007, 05:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
blusporttrac(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boise Posts: 4	Newb BCD setup Q: Alright first off hey guys im a newb. Just got my PADI and Dry suite certs did them at the same time. I have mask fins snorkel booties and Tec dive watch. I want to go DIR for my gear to try and cut down and the “man I wish I had” So my question is what BCD are you guys using. I have looked at the DiveRite with steel back plate but should I be checking something different out? What lift wing should i be looking at for my first wing. Sorry if this is a repost I went back a couple of pages and did not see much but am sure this has been covered many times. Im hungry for info. Chad S.

May 2nd, 2007, 06:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
LCF(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 622	Welcome to diving! To give you good advice on what gear you should look at, we need to know what kind of diving you will be doing. Are you going to dive locally? If so, you'll be wearing heavy exposure protection and you'll need significant weight. There, a steel BP is ideal, and you might even want to look into the Deep Sea Supply SS backplate to which you can attach weight plates to make it heavier. This is what my husband has, and likes very much. If you are only going to do vacation, tropical diving, you won't be wearing much exposure protection, and you may want to look into an aluminum or kydex backplate, to minimize luggage weight concerns. Tobin George writes a lovely explanation of how to calculate needed lift in a wing, and you can read one of those here There are a number of manufacturers of backplates and wings. To be DIR, you want to avoid anything with double wings or bungies around the bladder. You want a relatively short corrugated hose, and no pull dump on it. You don't want knobs on the end of the butt dump pull. You can look at Halcyon (good quality, but expensive), Oxycheq, Deep Sea Supply, Golem Gear and Agir setups. I recommend DSS, because I think their customer service is extraordinary. Last edited by GLOC; May 2nd, 2007 at 07:55 PM. Reason: Made the link clearer

May 3rd, 2007, 08:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
TobinGeorge(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 566	Quote: (Originally Posted by blusporttrac) Thanks for all the great info i would be lost! I’m going to go single tank setup till I get more experience. I’m 6’2 200lbs and most of my diving will be fresh water. So 7m and dry suites. I’m thinking DSS Large SS plate DSS Torus 35 Wing or should I be looking at the DSS 30 or 40 LCD wing DSS Hogarthian Single Piece Harness Like the added weights that DSS has for the plates. Call me, I be happy to walk you through how I select wing size. I need to know how buoyant your exposure suit is (the most buoyant one) and what you will be using for tanks. If I have this information it's pretty simple to select the smallest wing that will safely meet your needs. Smaller wings have less drag, and are easier to vent. If I don't have the buoyancy info then wing sizing is at least in part a "guess" and that almost always results in a larger wing than you really need. Tobin __________________ http://www.deepseasupply.com

May 3rd, 2007, 12:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
blusporttrac(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boise Posts: 4	I want a good alround setup. Not sure what type of diving i will be doing at this time. i like the deep sea supply site and the prices seem to be in check. Thanks for the info

May 3rd, 2007, 12:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
neilh (Online) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Also I guess as you're just starting out that you're looking at something for single tanks? Keep in mind that some wings are designed for doubles and some for singles. E.g. the Halcyon Eclipse is a single tank wing, the Evolve is a doubles wing.

May 3rd, 2007, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
blusporttrac(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boise Posts: 4	Thanks for all the great info i would be lost! I’m going to go single tank setup till I get more experience. I’m 6’2 200lbs and most of my diving will be fresh water. So 7m and dry suites. I’m thinking DSS Large SS plate DSS Torus 35 Wing or should I be looking at the DSS 30 or 40 LCD wing DSS Hogarthian Single Piece Harness Like the added weights that DSS has for the plates.