Switched to an OMS BP&W from a Mares jacket style couple years ago and will never dive anything else. I completely agree with everything you said about jacket style BCs. My good friend, and the DM wife of my first scuba instructor, tried to get me into a BP&W just after finishing my OW and I resisted due to everything you described about learning in a jacket style - could never get proper trim. Bought my BP, first dive - BOOM - damn near perfect trim. Great video!
Thanks for the feedback Sam. I resisted for so long, but now have to admit that I do prefer mine - for everything except teaching. Equipment removal skills do not look graceful and easy in one of these.... But watch this space, I've been given an XDeep Ghost to test. So I'm diving with that at the moment and will give my thoughts once I've gotten about 15 dives logged on it
Hi I hope your doing well. I just switched from an old Cressi BCD that I had for years. I am now using the Oceanic Excursion QLR4 BCD, it is a great BCD especially with the trim pockets I Love It! Thanks for all of your great videos I have learned and copied a lot of you and the teams ways of doing things. I hope you have a great 2021 and I pray I see you one day! Cheers.
Thanks for the feedback John, and I am glad we've been able to help you in some small way. We would love to have you down here with us one day too... Good luck and stay safe
I have the xdeep zen . And a hollis backplate and wing . Haven't dove the hollis yet but love the zen but still tinkering with the final adjustments. I found that you kinda have to start back at zero and learn to trust a backplate when you first switch over because even if they do have the same functionality they do operate very differently.. or it could be just me ... I do love the wing..
I love the wing too. If you're diving with the XDeep, I doubt you'll find a need for the Hollis now though. But you're right, you do need to adjust your approach and mindset a little to the very minimalist BP/W if you've been diving a full BCD for a while
Thanks for dropping by. You're absolutely right, no regrets. Its funny as I was so dead set against the switch, the guy who lent me the rig and convinced me to try it now keeps poking fun at me for the 180 degree change. I'm having the last laugh though, as I won't give him his rig back :p
@@DeeferDivingCarriacou I am in Jordan so any recommendations in Aqaba or even Egypt? I care about standards and I would rather be told ‘do it again’ than rushed through just to get to the next customer. 🙏🏼
@@fadi9340 My business partner here in Carriacou cut his teeth as a diver in Dahab (I was more of a Sharm guy). He rated highly Dahab Divers and their lead instructor Mohamed ElSadany. A very patient and thorough instructor and well worth checking out. Most of the people I dived/worked with in Sharm are no longer there due to all that has gone on... By Mo would be a good guy to check out...
@@DeeferDivingCarriacou allah ybarak feek let me make some enquires I am sure some of my friends in Aqaba know him even so I shall make an introduction. Many thanks and we are waiting to show you Jordan whenever you are ready 🙏🏼
The key question is what material do you want to use for the plate (Steel or Ali). I'm 6' and 230lbs and dive with a 3mm steel plate, which means that in warm water I don't need any additional weight. Bladder size then becomes the next thing to think about. I like the donut style bladder and dive with one with 40lb of lift. This will probably be fine for you and should be able to provide sufficient lift even if you're diving cold water. Small bladders look too small on a large guys back (aka Dora the Explorers Backpack). Harness - Many people like the 1 piece harness of the hogarthian model. For tech diving I can see the benefits too. However, if you're going to be recreational diving, getting something like the DiveRite Transplate harness - which does up like a regular BDC is a boon - makes it so easy to get on and off over larger, less mobile shoulders. Now I'm diving with a Hollis rig (with the Diverite harness) and its good. Does what it says on the tin. I'd switch in a heartbeat to a Deep6 rig or something from Halcyon. Deep6 because I'm kinda going through my Orange phase right now! Good luck with your choice though....
You know I was in a cave today. Doing some filming and I was upside down filming the overhead and I was pretty glad that I had a jacket style b c d. To each his own
You're right John, and for that purpose the jacket would be the perfect tool. What's better is that you knew this and used the right tool for the job. I've got another video, following this one, which many people had asked about - why the difference between jacket and back-inflate. If you have not seen it yet, its here - ruclips.net/video/o5R2qF10UtM/видео.html&lc=UgzA3mjMWjYJ2CfFZ4R4AaABAg
LOL... You read between the lines perfectly :) No. They're not perfect for everyone and I still recommend a jacket style to newer divers. But if you're contemplating a back-inflate BCD, like a Zeagle Ranger et al, then I would wholly recommend a BP/W. The downside of all that minimalism is the lack of pockets though. Purpose of the video was that we encounter so many people who are of the opinion that BP/W is only for tech divers and too uncomfortable for recreational diving. Its not.
Great honest video! Appreciate the content.
I appreciate that! Thank you
Awesome Video, Very Helpful Thank You .Happy and Safe Diving 👌😁
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, a great listen 😊👌🏻
Thank you. We appreciate your feedback..
Thank you so much, I loved the video. You converted me , I was hesitant not anymore.
I'm so glad! I know they look daunting and uncomfortable.... but I am still so glad that I made the switch last year. Good luck with your upgrade :)
Switched to an OMS BP&W from a Mares jacket style couple years ago and will never dive anything else. I completely agree with everything you said about jacket style BCs. My good friend, and the DM wife of my first scuba instructor, tried to get me into a BP&W just after finishing my OW and I resisted due to everything you described about learning in a jacket style - could never get proper trim. Bought my BP, first dive - BOOM - damn near perfect trim.
Great video!
Thanks for the feedback Sam. I resisted for so long, but now have to admit that I do prefer mine - for everything except teaching. Equipment removal skills do not look graceful and easy in one of these....
But watch this space, I've been given an XDeep Ghost to test. So I'm diving with that at the moment and will give my thoughts once I've gotten about 15 dives logged on it
Been using a backplate and wing for 30 years. I only use a jacket style BC for the same reasons you stated, teaching.
We're just introducing BP/W into the rental fleet and will start to use them for teaching too.
Just switched to a dive rite wing a bp this season. Love it. I feel it help my trim alot. Great video. Thanks and safe diving.
Right on!
Hi I hope your doing well. I just switched from an old Cressi BCD that I had for years. I am now using the Oceanic Excursion QLR4 BCD, it is a great BCD especially with the trim pockets I Love It! Thanks for all of your great videos I have learned and copied a lot of you and the teams ways of doing things. I hope you have a great 2021 and I pray I see you one day! Cheers.
Thanks for the feedback John, and I am glad we've been able to help you in some small way. We would love to have you down here with us one day too... Good luck and stay safe
I have the xdeep zen . And a hollis backplate and wing . Haven't dove the hollis yet but love the zen but still tinkering with the final adjustments. I found that you kinda have to start back at zero and learn to trust a backplate when you first switch over because even if they do have the same functionality they do operate very differently.. or it could be just me ... I do love the wing..
I love the wing too. If you're diving with the XDeep, I doubt you'll find a need for the Hollis now though. But you're right, you do need to adjust your approach and mindset a little to the very minimalist BP/W if you've been diving a full BCD for a while
Great video wings are so much better. Saw your post on FB group. Bet no regrets now
Thanks for dropping by. You're absolutely right, no regrets. Its funny as I was so dead set against the switch, the guy who lent me the rig and convinced me to try it now keeps poking fun at me for the 180 degree change. I'm having the last laugh though, as I won't give him his rig back :p
Just ask any Prius driver... Love it! 🤣🤣🤣
Weeeellllll... What can I say :) They're a great idea... in theory....
Would love for you to teach me advanced open water. Shame you’re so far! Very good information here I am a new subscriber.
Thanks for the sub! Where are you based Fadi? I might know of a good instructor near you that I can recommend....
@@DeeferDivingCarriacou I am in Jordan so any recommendations in Aqaba or even Egypt? I care about standards and I would rather be told ‘do it again’ than rushed through just to get to the next customer. 🙏🏼
@@fadi9340 My business partner here in Carriacou cut his teeth as a diver in Dahab (I was more of a Sharm guy). He rated highly Dahab Divers and their lead instructor Mohamed ElSadany. A very patient and thorough instructor and well worth checking out. Most of the people I dived/worked with in Sharm are no longer there due to all that has gone on... By Mo would be a good guy to check out...
@@DeeferDivingCarriacou allah ybarak feek let me make some enquires I am sure some of my friends in Aqaba know him even so I shall make an introduction. Many thanks and we are waiting to show you Jordan whenever you are ready 🙏🏼
@@DeeferDivingCarriacou I have his number now 🙏🏼 may I know your partners name so I can mention the referral? If you prefer you can DM here.
I want to buy a BPW, I am 249lbs and 6ft. Tall. What do I need to know to be able to choose the correct one?
The key question is what material do you want to use for the plate (Steel or Ali). I'm 6' and 230lbs and dive with a 3mm steel plate, which means that in warm water I don't need any additional weight. Bladder size then becomes the next thing to think about. I like the donut style bladder and dive with one with 40lb of lift. This will probably be fine for you and should be able to provide sufficient lift even if you're diving cold water. Small bladders look too small on a large guys back (aka Dora the Explorers Backpack). Harness - Many people like the 1 piece harness of the hogarthian model. For tech diving I can see the benefits too. However, if you're going to be recreational diving, getting something like the DiveRite Transplate harness - which does up like a regular BDC is a boon - makes it so easy to get on and off over larger, less mobile shoulders.
Now I'm diving with a Hollis rig (with the Diverite harness) and its good. Does what it says on the tin. I'd switch in a heartbeat to a Deep6 rig or something from Halcyon. Deep6 because I'm kinda going through my Orange phase right now!
Good luck with your choice though....
You know I was in a cave today. Doing some filming and I was upside down filming the overhead and I was pretty glad that I had a jacket style b c d. To each his own
You're right John, and for that purpose the jacket would be the perfect tool. What's better is that you knew this and used the right tool for the job. I've got another video, following this one, which many people had asked about - why the difference between jacket and back-inflate. If you have not seen it yet, its here - ruclips.net/video/o5R2qF10UtM/видео.html&lc=UgzA3mjMWjYJ2CfFZ4R4AaABAg
You were definitely not in a cave. No one will knowingly kill themselves to dive with someone in a single tank.
So, if I understood you correctly, the only downside to a backplate and wing BCD is that not everyone has one.
LOL... You read between the lines perfectly :) No. They're not perfect for everyone and I still recommend a jacket style to newer divers. But if you're contemplating a back-inflate BCD, like a Zeagle Ranger et al, then I would wholly recommend a BP/W. The downside of all that minimalism is the lack of pockets though.
Purpose of the video was that we encounter so many people who are of the opinion that BP/W is only for tech divers and too uncomfortable for recreational diving. Its not.