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| Originally Posted by Little Pete AAAAHHH hideous dumpies 
I really don't like dumpy 12s. They sit so far down your back you never feel as if they're secure and they're just fat and orrid  |
I use dumpy 12's because they sit high up your back. I've got back problems and with standard 12's, I have to lean forward when sitting which is very uncomfortable. With a dumpy, I can adjust it so that it is at the same level as my bum when I am sitting down. They also have the advantage that I can carry them with straight arms - with standard tanks I have to carry them with my arms bent which is much more effort.
One thing I cannot stand is the way that many Americans have their cylinders slung with the cam band just below the shoulder of the tank such that the base is just above knee level. Could never understand why they do this although I have been ticked off by US dive guides several times for not setting my cylinder up like this.
As with so many things in diving, whether you go for standard cylinders or dumpies, it is a matter of personal preference.