Posted by MHK on December 09, 1999 at 12:58:07:
In Reply to: Halcyon Dive Equipment posted by Marta on December 04, 1999 at 06:43:22:
You've only seen them on *tekkie* diver's mostly because tekkies tend to spend more time configuring there equipment. Most recreational divers generally go with the most astetically pleasing look. Or they tend to go with whatever equipment the dive shop and/or instructor recommends.
Streamlinning becomes much more important in a tech rig, but it should absolutely not be ignored on the recreational rig, but sadly most do.
The Halcyon *wing* that you refer to is designed for a single tank set up and is designed to be used in tandem with a backplate. The underlying rationale is several fold:
- Proper swimming technique mandates that you swim vertically with your head up. By not cluttering the front ( ie your stomach ) like the jacket style bc you streamline your slip stream.
- If you are properly weighted, as the DIR system suggest, you should have minimal lift needs of your wing and thus when the wings are inflated they are designed to inflate above the body ( ie your back ) and the design provides for the wing to , in essence, surround the tank while allowing for proper swimming technique.
- Further the system suggests that you use a keel weight on your tank. This is a weight that straps around your tank and is designed to turn the body over face up in the event of an unconsious diver. The jacket style bc will provide for a unconscious diver to lay flat face down into the water and will likely result in drowning.
- Also, by using a backplate with the wings, the ss backplate is 6 lbs negative so you can remove 6 lbs from your weightbelt.
Later