An Epiphany Moment - Thoughts about the Backplate and Wing

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by gansell

started off with a buddy gold ablj, then people started to use BCDs, but the BSAC reckoned they would tip you onto your back and drown you, so I got one

Pardon my ignorance, but how do you drown on your back?

[gansell]

ah allegedly the weight of the tank would tip you so far backwards your head would be submerged. Unlike the old ablj, which was a lifejacket and WOULD keep you face up - at least that was the theory.

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by gansell

ah allegedly the weight of the tank would tip you so far backwards your head would be submerged. Unlike the old ablj, which was a lifejacket and WOULD keep you face up - at least that was the theory.

Oh. How far up were these tanks? Strapped to the back of their heads?

[gansell]

Originally Posted by Kirstie

Oh. How far up were these tanks? Strapped to the back of their heads?

Don't ask me! This warning came from the same crew who said "Dive computers WILL KILL YOU, only dive to the RNPL/1972 tables or you will die!!!"

[Mike Cunningham]

Yep it is true I am the person referred to in the first post and as mentioned above had the epiphany moment.
Pockets in the BCD are the tool of the devil or the weak in my case. I would pack my pockets like I was going for a short walk over the moors. Spare mask, spare slate, spare light, Dive tables ahh! a spare 2k shot bag etc etc…….not good but I could manage until it came to hanging all calm and tranquil like whilst we let nature do its work. At this point I would constantly struggle to maintain trim due mainly to the way I had packed weight in all the wrong places, lots of turning moments.
Enter the wing… no pockets hence no place for all the extraneous rubbish I had collected over the years. The wing was configured for a single tank with an integral weight plus a steel back plate. Approx 5.5K plus tank in all, nevertheless I donned the trusty weight belt with an additional 6k’s…wrong! After a short mud sampling session a.k.a buoyancy check off came the weight belt….nirvana.
This is a personal perspective I have a long way to go to be fully comfortable with the Wing, with the BC I knew where everything was, either in the pockets or clipped to the front with various plastic devices acquired over the years. The question in my mind now is if I actually needed any of these items would they have been in the place expected and easily obtainable the chances are not.

BTW what’s an epiphany, where do you buy one, where does it clip on, do you need a back-up?

Rgds Mike

[Conor]

You need a backup....rule of thumnb of the techy peeps, if its worth bringing then its worth bringing two

[Woz]

Originally Posted by Conor

You need a backup....rule of thumnb of the techy peeps, if its worth bringing then its worth bringing two

And if you don't need it, leave it in the car.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Conor

You need a backup....rule of thumnb of the techy peeps, if its worth bringing then its worth bringing two

Beware of the 'two the same' mentality. What you need is an alternative.

[Finless]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Beware of the 'two the same' mentality. What you need is an alternative.

Tsk tsk. God! Are you listening?



Take one nadger and one pickled onion?

[stabjacket]

probably a stupid question.....


if i was to keep my drysuit, but change from a stab to a wing, would i drop weight?

i have to use 20lbs atm (although i can get away with 18lbs)

cheers stab