When Should I Switch to Backplates?

[@harambeexpress]

I've never dove anything other than backplate and wing (and long hose primary donate). Some people call this a technical configuration - it's not. It's just the simplest, cleanest and most capable and that's why tech divers use it. I'd put every no-experience diver in a backplate and wing. I can't see even a single advantage to jacket BCDs. I've never understood the whole "pushes you face down on the surface" thing. Just lean back! Maybe deflate the wing a little if you really need to. I'd say never bother with padded/recreational/comfort harnesses if you are using a wetsuit or drysuit. Save your cash. I'd recommend just buying a traditional DIR style harness and if you really need some padding make some neoprene sleeves to go over the shoulder straps to give you the padding that a wetsuit would normally provide. I think HOG sells some pre-made? I think Halcyon sells a "cinch system" which should improve the ability to don/doff an otherwise DIR style harness. Really - simpler is better! More D-Rings, clips and padding is not better! Forget about any wing that has elastic on it (aka. bondage wings). I'm also on team Single Tank Adaptor. Some people say they're not necessary but I think they're more solid.

[@alzahraniabdulrahman]

NO ONE talked about rotate like wash machine if you inflate wing BCD, solve this issue first

[@OrenNoah]

Quick answer: ASAP. You can even learn in a BP/W. Actually, you likely should.

[@douglasljdunn]

Built my own Hogarthian BP/W, skeletal Al BP, donut double bladder, saved a mint, easily repairable, customisable

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

They're surprisingly cheap compared to 'rec' BCDs and fully customisable

[@Garwanen]

DIR is the way. No (chinese) plastic parts, just single 3 meter webbing (Halcyon) with metal D-rings and stoppers. Simple and robust setup, easily and affordably changeable. 3mm steel backplate for drysuit diving and for travelling aluminium backplate. Donut wings - smaller one (OMS) for single cylinder diving, larger one (custom made Halcyon) for doubles.

[@DarR1299]

Wow, what a great tutorial as I intend to go with a back-plate and keep my AL Zuma as a spare.

[@redhabensiam]

Hello iam using a Mares Dragon BCD and i want to switch to Mares XR rec Tek , iam heavy and I fear that 17L is not enough. Can you advice le ?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Unless you're diving with the BCD fully inflated underwater, you'll be fine. Remember your BCD is only there to compensate for any loss in buoyancy from compressing exposure protection and any excess -ve buoyancy from excess lead or heavy gear. The Dragon has between 14-24kg of lift depending on size. If you're properly weighted and not carrying a lot of heavy equipment then 17 Liters of lift should be plenty. My holiday wing only has 8.2kg of lift which is plenty when I'm correctly weighted and only wearing a thin wetsuit.

[@SacredTridentHunter]

I just recently bought my first BCD, I was going back and forth between which one, but ended up with the Apeks Exotec, I knew I was going to transition out of the jacket style as I want to start my public safety diving path but I can't wait to test it out this dive season as it fits pretty comfy, feels a lot like the SCBA I'm used to at the fire house

[@hocksee]

I bought a Cressi Travel light BCD last year so far I only did 20 dives with it, I'm really thinking of buying the Xdeep Zen Deluxe, should I go for it immediately or use my Jacket style for more dives first ? Appreciate your insight Mike

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

I personally love the Zen so I'll always recommend it. The deluxe will be a nice crossover and if it's in your budget, I would hang up my Travel Light. Most divers who transition to a wing-style BCD don't go back to jacket

[@lukec.1916]

#askmark I hope my question will be noticed, even tho it is not under an askmark video:) Thanks for answering my first two questions. In a few months time I'll be moving to Norway and I don't really want to give up diving, so I was looking into drysuits, but there are so many options. Could you maybe break down the different types of drysuits and their (dis)advantages. I also would appreciate a recommendation for a budget drysuit that still isn't too much of a compromise. Thanks in advance:)

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Sure, there are loads of brands depending on where you are. Scubapro Exodry, Waterproof D70, Fourth Element Hydra are all nice neoprene drysuits at affordable prices. Typhoon, Northern Diver, Otter are all good brands with budget ranges. I made a drysuit basics video a while back, it doesn't have specific models in it but, it might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZTcapWgac-rnNk

[@jbminus42]

What is the name of the "buckle" that can be seen at 11:25 in the video? The one that give a DIR style 2-inch webbing a little flexibility?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

That one is a Mares XR SF2 Loop. There are quite a few similar designs such as the Agir Harpa and the Tecline Chinch

[@geemac44]

#ASKMARK Hi Mark, thoroughly enjoy the videos and podcasts and look forward to many more informative videos & pods. My question is an extension of your recent ‘choosing a backplate and wing’ video, and I ask if you could present the pros and cons of side-mounted tanks, buoyancy, trim, best tank positioning and additional weighting, if any, whilst predominantly using a 7mm neo-dry suit in most temperatures. Like twins, is there a means to breathe from both tanks rather than switching between tanks? I welcome your opinion as I'm between buying a twin back-mounted wing and backplate or side-mounted. Thanks Mark. Enjoyable and safe bottom time to all of our global diver buddies🤿😃👌

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Sidemount is more flexible in and out of the water in most aspects but it can be a bit more 'fiddly'. The only way to breathe from both simultaneously would be some kind of manifold or switching block. You would need to connect the two 1st stages which would limit your flexibility. I tend to stick to twins in cold water just because they're easier with heavy gloves and I don't delve into many tight spaces.

[@kyleknickerbocker8650]

#askmark How is Sean doing?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Shaun is good. He's working in London now so he has a nasty commute twice a week but, he and his family are good.

[@provuksmc6619]

This comment was made 20 seconds in for personal review: I want to use BP n Wing bc I want to be more than a recreational diver. I want to get into cave diving and and my thoughts are that a BP and Wing is a system you keep for a long time and you can customise it to your needs.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Yeah, backplate systems are the most customizable for long-term diving. Sidemount is a popular choice for tighter caves but backplates are the strongest all-rounder

[@escamoteur]

I just tried a wing style BCD the first time and I m sold and got my own one. I always felt squeezed when inflating an normal BCD. I still prefer the jacket style ones with integrated weights as it's more comfy for me than having the weights on a belt

[@Smoothjaswi]

I just got my open water cert and I'm trying to decide if I want to go straight to a BP/W or not. Great video

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

A lot of divers who dive BPW say they'll never go back to a recreational BCD. If you want a one and only BCD they're the most customisable. I'm more than happy to dive a recreational BCD but, all of my own BCDs are backplates

[@madladhobson]

i learned to dive with a wing. i did a taster with the jacket but they let me choose what i used while learning. i bought the same wing when i began diving after the open water. the XDEEP ZEOS great lightweight wing

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

Yeah, the Zeos is a strong platform. It's great when divers are introduced to backplates so early so they know that the choice is available

[@madladhobson]

@@ScubaDiverMagazine I only have one issue… it has no storage 😅 but my dry suit has had pockets attached to the legs so it’s no longer an issue

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

I prefer thigh pockets anyway, I struggle to reach pockets up around the rib cage

[@peterpanci78]

Thank you for another great video

[@TJordanWDE]

Just purchased an Apeks Exotec, and headed to Aruba at the end of Feb to try it out. Out of the water, it doesn't seem too different from my original bcd - the aqualung (seaquest) balance. Thoughts on the exotec?

[@thantthein1949]

I switched to a backplate wing from my hydros pro. I put it together myself using a backplate from dive gear express (highly recommend their gear), I added an Apex D18 bladder and 2 apeks cam bands. It's been great to dive with and don't see myself switching back. I feel the diving experience, buoyancy and freedom of movement is better. I don't like having a lot of stuff or material on me so it suits me. You're able to customize it the way you want it. With that being said the one thing I liked more about my hydros is the location of trim pockets and especially the ease of switching tanks. I find the backplate a little more difficult in that aspect. In any case, highly recommend trying it.

[@joethong726]

After getting my OW in May, I went straight to a BP/W DIR setup. Best decision of my life.

[@michaelchristenbury552]

How do I get Tecline equipment shipped to the U.S.A.? I really want one of the peanut wings.

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

They're working on it. I spoke with them about a US Distributor and they're working out the red tape and logistics.

[@user-ob3ob3ii3u]

Do you do dive meetups?

[@ScubaDiverMagazine]

I'm always happy to go diving but I have a lot on right now. I'm renovating a house that I'm moving into, my wife is pregnant and I have a 1.5 year old to look after so I don't have a lot of free time at the moment

[@peterpanci78]

How yo choose the size off backplate ?

[@aohanao8994]

I like your shirt

[@jaccos3858]

Thank you for this Video. 👌

[@benheckendorn2696]

A wonderful video again and very helpful, but I wonder which category is the bcd I got the Hollis S.M.S 75. I don't know if it's a kind of hybrid, I would guess since it allows sidemount and back mount (single and twins).

[@harambeexpress]

SMS stands for Side Mount System doesn't it? It's not an appropriate BCD if you are not doing sidemount.

[@benheckendorn2696]

This is true, but the Hollis SMS 75 is truly also a back mount bcd, which is strange, why did they call it: SMS when it's sidemount and back mount. They should have named them: SBMS 😯

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

I just made a bpw bcd I can tell you I actually like the jacket style, last year my buddy and I decided to call off a dive and surface. We had a fairly long swim back to the boat, I was glad I was using my jacket, just laid back and swam to the boat, my buddy struggled more than I did.

[@jamiemorris7688]

The real answer is to pick the right kit for the dive. I use a wing for drysuit diving at home and a jacket BCD for traveling.

[@hawaiimike2678]

Sounds like you both need more dives tbh

[@jamiemorris7688]

@hawaiimike2678 or maybe I just prefer the convenience of my lightweight bcd when travelling and the benefits of a wing don't justify the hassle of breaking down and changing the backplate thenflying with, on what are frankly quite easy dives. When it is end of life I'll probably replace it with a Aqualung Dimension. The steel backplate and wing can stay at home.

[@cameronsmith3988]

Wish that you mentioned that some bungeed wings are built so that the bungees do not force air out of the wing if punctured. Instead the bungee just provides structure to the wing to reduce the tacoing affect.

[@saar144]

An ad every 3 minutes? No thanks

[@danjcla]

Brave and Revanced are your friends.