Posted by Jason on November 01, 2001 at 12:32:34:
In Reply to: Re: backplates shift center of gravity NOT reduce weighting posted by Karl S. on November 01, 2001 at 09:09:28:
I'm not sure who out there is actually teaching to be neutral at the surface at the end of a dive. Some ballpark with a full tank, but that has 6-7lbs of air in the tank.
SOP is neutral at 15ft at 500psi. That's a smidgen different from 20ft.
There's nothing wrong with steel tank on steel backplate with a wetsuit in our waters. Even adding in the weighted STA, I still have 10lbs of ditchable weight, more than enough to make up for the tank air. Same applies if one uses the negative Faber tanks. I wouldn't mix both the 7lb STA and the Faber, however. Of course, you're the one diving with 85lbs of lift. You can load it up!
Beginners also benefit from having their octo in a known and secure place, and certainly from the trim that results from the steel plate.