B.C. Choices

[jasondbaker]

I started out years ago with a seaquest balance.  I thought it was a good BC and I used it for both fresh and salt water dives.  I liked the fact that my chest was clutter free.  But I had one big problem with the BC.  Every once in a while it would ride up on me and shift depending on my horizontal trim.  I switched to a BP+W with a crotch strap and the problem was solved. My tank and gear felt like it was firmly affixed to my body.

I dive the same 36lb wing in both fresh and salt water.  I use a 6lb steel plate in fresh water and a 2lb aluminum plate in salt water.  I have each backplate rigged with its own harness because I hate having to make adjustments as I switch between a drysuit and a 3mm wetsuit. I like the balance of the rig in salt water because all I need to do is add 4lbs and I'm good to go.  It packs small and light for travel. 

One downside I can see to a BP+wing setup for diving is in situations where you might share equipment with someone else.  A BP+wing is a set-and-forget type system.  You don't want to have to adjust it all the time because it is a bit of a pain.