This one is going to be more pictures than most. I still cannot believe this actually worked.
I went diving with a new dive buddy, Ronnie. He’s an SDI instructor that lives a couple of towns over from me. After diving, he made an interesting observation. He said my trim was good but that I kicked way too much.
This kept me thinking for a few days until I realized that my excessive kicking was due to my feet sinking the moment I stopped kicking. I was unable to stay in horizontal trim. After some research, I realized that I needed to be able to shift weight around more than most recreational BCDs allow. I decided to switch to a backplate and wing because of the ability to customize it.
Here is a detailed list of the components I ended up using.
Harness
I chose the Hollis Elite 2 Harness. I wanted the comfort factor and have some shoulder issues. The single piece of webbing, Hogarthian style would not help with the shoulder problems. This is a style some tech divers use, with a single piece of 2-inch webbing with the only break being at the waist. This means that you have to adjust the shoulder straps initially, then adjustments are minimal and a bit more . . . permanent. No unbuckling a shoulder strap or even adjust it through a slider to help take it off and put it on.
Backplate
After a lot of digging, I found the Scuba Force Black Devil Long and Heavy. This backplate is longer than normal with two options for the waist straps, allowing a better fit on my torso. It is double thickness stainless steel (6mm instead of 3mm), weighing 12 pounds (twice a normal stainless steel backplate). The shoulders on it are a bit broader than normal and narrower at the waist, which shifts the weight up. The comparison pictures below of a standard and the one I got are not to scale but close.
Wing
After I got the backplate and harness, I tried a couple of loaner wings while waiting for the funds to get my own. I got a Hollis DT50 Wing because it was affordable, looked solid, and had enough lift for what I felt I needed in my 7mm suit (and thought I needed in my 5mm). I also got a Hollis ST35 Wing to have a smaller wing for most of the year. I’ve dropped enough weight I may actually not need the 50 for singles.
Single Tank Adapter (STA)
These are not always necessary as many modern backplates have slots for the cam bands to hold the tank in place, but the slots on the wings I chose were not going to line up right plus I knew I’d want to ensure the wing was properly fastened to the backplate, so I elected to get one. I chose the OMS stainless steel one for three reasons. It was low profile, it added 2 pounds, and it has two options for placement of the cam bands.
Back Pad
The only one I could find that looked like it would fit is the Dive Rite Comfort Back Pad. It’s got some nice lumbar area padding so it’s comfortable. It also keeps the screws and wing nuts from damaging my wetsuits. I can dive without it, but the two screws are permanently mounted and a little long.
Trim Weight
I got two sets of the Hollis Trim Pockets. They each hold up to 5 pounds and I got two pair, one pair for each cam band or waist or whatever works to keep me in good trim. I ended up using two on the upper cam band and 2 on the waist. Using all four on both cam bands would have worked but found I myself flipping over on my back, so I need some on the front to stabilize me.
I also got a pair of Highland Weight Plates, which each allow you to attach up to four pounds to the webbing anywhere you have room. This allows tremendous flexibility in weight placement to adjust your trim in the water.
Cam Bands
I did not want the standard cam band that is always connected so you have to slide the tank through it. I find those types to be cumbersome and not as secure because they are so hard to tighten down. I’ve had them slip more than once and it takes forever to get them stable. I really liked the ones Scubapro uses on the Hydros BC, but I found the Highland (by XS Scuba) Cam Bands to be very similar and at half the price, so I got a pair of these. They’re perfect.
Weight System
A backplate and wing doesn’t have ditchable weights by design but knowing how much weight I’ll carry with a drysuit or 7mm suit, I got the Hollis LX2 Weight System, which is 2 ditchable weight pockets that attach to the backplate and harness at the waist, functioning just like the pockets on a normal BCD. But, they’re removable from the BC so I can only use them if I think I need them.
Gear Storage
I got one Hollis Storage Pocket, which I’ll use more with my sidemount gear (more on that later). Mostly, I use the D-Rings on the harness, but I’ll eventually get either tech shorts or a couple of thigh pockets for extra stuff. My goal is to be more streamlined so I don’t want a lot extra.
Results – Buoyancy
The result is a backplate with 14 pounds in it, without adding any lead. I have, in the past, needed 18 with no wetsuit. With the reduction of excess material, I found that this BC was adequate all by itself with no extra weight needed after a proper buoyancy check. I may even consider the Black Devil Long backplate for summers (1/2 the weight of the Long and Heavy). When I tested with a 3mm, I only needed 4 extra pounds (a total of 22 and a reduction from the 26 I’d used previously).
I was able to, for the first time, hover in perfect trim in the pool (as observed by an instructor who was sitting in there watching. I was able to stay in one spot and my depth only altered by a few inches and I didn’t have to kick at all to stay in trim. In addition, it has helped me so much with my trim and comfort in the water that I’ve been able to, for my 5mm and 7mm exposure gear, drop around ten pounds of weight. My last dive in my 5mm suit, I had the backplate, the tank adapter, and 3 pounds in each trim pocket. That’s 26 pounds.
Results – Trim
My trim was tremendously improved for several reasons. The backplate keeps the weight tight to your body closer to your center of gravity. The Black Devil’s design shifts the weight up towards the shoulders, which I needed. I have more buoyant tissue (that’s my nice way of saying fat) higher on my body and huge lung capacity, but my legs below the knees are all muscle. So I tend to float feet down, head up. To get into trim, I need more weight higher, so I got a pair of Highland Weight Plates, which allow you to attach up to 4 pounds each anywhere on a 2-inch strap. I use them on my shoulders.
Costs
If you take each component and add it all up, it’s a lot of money. I don’t have a lot of money. Finding the lowest cost vendor I could find for each piece helped make it more affordable. I also bought them not all at once but rather a piece here and there as I had money. Finally, I bought a lot of this stuff used. It took some research and some patience.
Final Observations
A backplate and wing BC setup allows you to use only what you need for any dive. At the most minimum, you need the harness, wing, and backplate and nothing else. You can not only add what you want or need, but you can add JUST what you want or need with no excess. The result is a more streamlined diving experience. There are many benefits, but the biggest one is less effort moving through the water.
I haven’t mentioned a feature common to a backplate and wing but not on most recreational BCDs, the crotch strap. This strap goes from the bottom of the backplate, through the legs, and attaches to the belt. This is probably the single most stabilizing feature of the backplate and wing. It keeps everything right where you set it and minimizes or eliminates shifting of the buoyancy system on your body. If you can, add one to your recreational BCD.
If you have any mobility issues, the extra benefit of the backplate and wing is the ability to put things where you can reach them easily instead of having to contort around, stuck with an off the shelf configuration. Finally, if age and use wear out a component, instead of buying a new BCD, you can replace JUST the worn-out component, saving you money and allowing small changes over time as your needs change.
