What's the best BCD setup for GUE Fundamentals class?
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- #gueheroes #divegue #globalunderwaterexplorers
In this video, I explain the best BCD setup for GUE class, especially the Fundamentals Class. Many students are not sure, which BCD setup they should get for the class. Questions often adress the best size (or better lift capacity) you should aim for, the best material for the backplate and how to setup the harness (the latter is covered in one of the next videos, so make sure to subscribe ;) ).
The GUE Fundamentals class is the best and easiest way to become a better diver. This is a whole series about how to be best prepared for the GUE Fundamentals Class.
Appropriate BC's:
Singles:
scuba-adventures.eu/wing-syst...
teclinediving.eu/single-tank-...
Doubles:
amzn.to/30pgqXM (I just would take it without the Cinch...) - Jak na to + styl
![The Best Way To Dive GUE Fundy - [Wetsuit Vs. Drysuit]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-ZjiKZbTtws/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for another helpful video! I just ordered my first backplate and wing. My awesome dive shop took me for a dive and let me try the set up. I wish I would have started out with it, it makes so much more sense.
True story! I used a standard ADV jacket and then a bungee wing and finally came to my current Halcyon wing (actually with Tecline AL backplate). It’s just so much better!
Nice Video - again!
I recently switched to a short steel backplate after a year and a half with a standard steel backplate. It's easier for me to support the D12 on my hips. But now I have the problem that it is harder for me to get the valves - even if the water laga is probably better. Or maybe it's just practice :)
Nini Ma I didn’t mention short backplates. But yeah for short persons, they might be much better. What do you think, why it’s harder to reach the valves... if you’re short, it shouldn’t make a big difference. Be sure to mind the key points (head back, elbow forward, a bit gas in the dry suit and so on).
I had several takeaways from your video, but the main one is I need to take the GUE fundamentals course. Great videos, thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Good to hear that! 😂😂. So with whom are you gonna take it?
That’s a great question! I tried going to your website but it seems to be down. Are you stateside?
I’m redoing my page now. Sorry!
No problem! Looking forward to seeing it.
Hello Ben,
Thanks a lot for all your great videos!! As a soon to be GUE diver (can’t wait going the fundamentals) I -stand before the problem with finding the right equipment.
Your videos do really help a lot! Planing buying a plate a wing now. How do you explain the big differences in prices? For example Halcyon at about 1000€ and Xdeep for almost half of that price. It is “just” a metal plate, wing an harness. Or isn’t it “just” that?
Thanks in advance!
Well.... I’d like to know that, too. Especially when it comes to back plates. I think 10 years ago, the premium ones like halcyon were really better built. I personally own some Tecline BP’s, too and they are as good as the Halcyon ones. It might be different when it comes to wings - still it’s difficult to explain the difference in price.
Thanks for the great video! Do you any experience or opinion on the xDeep wings and backplates? When researching the different brands, it was hard for me to understand how their brand is at almost half the price of a Halcyon system.
Never dove one myself. Most brands are half the price, not only XDeep. I assume the reason is that Halcyon is mostly hand made in USA (and sure... you pay for the name). The customer service is really good and I use my Evolve far more than 10 years now without replacing anything (and... lazy me... without any service;) ). Can XDeep do the same? I have no idea...if it lasts half the time for half the price it might be a good deal anyway.
Hi Ben .. thank you for the video. Can you give thoughts on the Techline backplate and wing ? I’m considering getting one
I have got multiple sets. Nothing wrong with it. I like Halcyons inflator hoses better, but it’s just personal taste. Otherwise, it’s a good setup.
Thanks for the great videos. Is ditching and donning the rig taught and perfected in the Fundamentals class. It seems like that would be a difficult skill to master especially with a crotch strap.
Yes it is taught and it’s easier than you might think 😄
Helllo,Ben!I love your videos and I subscribed!I have two questions:
1.I'm a PADI Divemaster and I'm thinking of technical diving course.Should I go first with other agencies like IANTD/TDI or directly take the GUE path?
2.What is your/GUE opinion on using weight belts?
Keep up the good work!Your channel is one of few that worth watching!Take care!
Hi! Thank you very much!
1. If you already feel that GUE is the right path for you, why would you go for another agency first? I‘m not saying GUE was the holy grail (although it was the holy grail for me personally) - but it makes no sense to do classes with other agencies if you already decided for GUE.
2. Weight belts make sense sometimes and sometimes not. It depends on your overall configuration and what we call the ‚balanced rig‘. In many occasions you need droppable weights. Where are you from?
@@DoktorBEN Thank you for your response!Yes,I feel that GUE is the right path!I'm from Bulgaria and unfortunately we don't have GUE instructor here...But I'm thinking to do GUE Fundamentals abroad(Europe).I prefer to spend more money(flight,hotel and so on) but really learn something.
So then it makes no sense to go for another agency first! I’d be more than happy to organize a class in Bulgaria 🇧🇬. Reach out to me on ben@gue.com. Maybe we can find a solution 😃
@@DoktorBEN I'll be more than happy!IBut I suppose organizing a class for just one diver it's not worth it?I think that a lot of divers here will be interested,but unfortunately I'm not sure...I can come to Germany if you organize a class there.I don't care if it's cold or murky .I'm a public safety diver for the Fire Depth.and most of my dives are in quarries,lakes and so on.
I need at least two divers for a class. So if you can get a buddy, we can arrange something. Otherwise you can join one of my classes in Germany if you like.
Hi Ben, Thanks for the videos.
And I have a doubt... Where to put the weights pockets? Attach on cam bands or waist harness?
I personally use a simple with belt if necessary. If you don’t like it, it’s with pockets on the harness.
Hi ! Can you make a video of where to put the D-rings ? Thanks !
Yes I can!
Hi Ben, could you maybe make a video about weights/lead/ballast in the GUE world? Do you guys recommend a simple belt with lead threaded to it, a belt with pockets to put the lead into, weightpockets on the harness, V-weight, P-weight or anything else? Thanks a lot!
Yes I can! I’m going to do it soon. Generally I can say, it depends on your configuration.
@@DoktorBEN It depends as always :-D Maybe talk about two major setups. Mono 10 with semi-drysuit for recreational and D12 with drysuit for technical aproaches. But both with a DIR-Style BCD. Anyway, I´m looking forward to it!
pointfortytwo I’ll do it soon!
@@DoktorBEN We are still waiting for the weights video... Just saying... ;-)
Yeah I know….too many video ideas 🤣🤣. It’s coming!
Hi there, love your new channel,
Is there a GUE specialty course for Using the conventional DIR equipment with a Fullface?
For coldwater diving having no fullface can limit the dive length...is there a GUE protocol for such Equipement configuration?
If so, i guess there is no long primary donate with a full face, only a long octopus donate?
Thanks
No, there's no protocol for use of a fullface mask fro a number of reasons.
@@DoktorBEN do you think this could be amswered in a video?
ChromexFz09 sure!
Hi Ben, I'm using a Halcyon ALU standard BP and Light Monkey 45lb Wing (20.4 kilograms) with double LP85's (13L x 2). This seems like the best freshwater setup in a drysuit so far -but I am wondering if I also need a V-weight? The rest of the balanced rig is as follows: my weight (168.7 lbs/76.5 kilograms) Hog 300 bar manifold, Highland 7.25 tank bands, Halcyon H-75p Doubles Regulator Package, Light Monkey 20-32 VF Canister light, nelson knife, and Avatar (Medium) Dry Suit. I have an upcoming class at EE in Sept, but I wanted to dive this a few times and get everything dialed in beforehand. Any help would be fantastic :)
Depends if you are top-heavy or not. Sometimes a v-weight helps to correct the trim. You can at any time try the configuration with almost empty tanks and see if you can securely stay at 3m or not.
DoktorBEN, will do, thanks!
Halo! Doktor Ben
Thanks for your informative videos. I watched many of 'em while I was Corona quarantined and they were very entertaining!
Quick question, would you recommend a 40 lbs wing for both cold and warm water?
Been diving for 10 years and I have actually never dived in cold water. But never say never, right?
I am looking to invest in a BP, Wing, Webbing etc. with the idea to do the GUE fundamentals class soon. Perhaps get accustomed with the rig until I do. Any suggestions?
Yeah the 40lbs is sufficient for D12 tanks and cold water. It’s the setup I’m diving.
For a single tank, the standard doubles backplate pushes the tank very far away especially when used with an STA; this is what I use however. Using cam bands only make slight difference but still not near touching the pillar valve and have no issues with doubles. A better solution would be to have a specific singles backplate folded flatter with a built in STA. Thoughts on how to improve?
Well...I didn’t cover STAs at all (because I try to keep videos around 15 minutes to watch). Just bands feel to loose in my opinion. So I use a STA, too. I don’t have the feeling, the tank is too far away from the body. Are you able to manipulate the valves on a single tank using a STA?
DoktorBEN No I cannot reach the valves on a singe tank with the STA as the tank is simply too far away, even with a t shirt on. No problem with double 12 litres in drysuit.
Well... it’s always easier with double tanks, but it definitively works with single ones, too. You can send me a video of yourself doing it... maybe I can figure something out...
DoktorBEN cheers for the kind offer!!
Neil Egerton you’re welcome!
Hi Ben! I just purchased a complete rig with D12L and tecline 6mm steel backplate the shed off som of the extra lead, since i mostly will dive cold with thermal and drysuit. Should a 3mm plate be better for more trim options? Just ordered so i became a bit unsure. With recreational setup i would need 15kg
I fear, 6mm might be a bit too heavy…I often recommend 3mm AL even for cold water, because then you can play more around with your weights
@@DoktorBEN thanls for reply. The 6mm, complete rig will arrive in the mail shortly, so ill might need to get another backplate if it comes to it. I'll test my new rig first. Hoping to take a fundy class when the time comes 👍 cheers from norway
@@DoktorBEN Hi again! I tested my rig (6mm SS plate, donut 22L, D12, drysuit, thermal suit, HD fins) and i couldn't decend because i was too light) i have no additional weights so i would really like some good advise on where/how to add more lead. I do want the rig to float so im hesitant to and more lead to the rig in case it sink if i loose the slightest air from the wing. I have some tecline weightpockets not fitted yet. Any chance for a weight setup video? or comments? Thanks👍
Yes I can do such a video. But still I’m wondering why you need so much weight…write me on ben@gue.com. Maybe we can have a look on your setup together via Zoom.
Hi! Would you recomend a gue fundamentals course to be done in a warm water environment, or cold water??
Doesn’t really matter to me. I think you can easily apply the knowledge. Do you dive cold or warm water more?
@@DoktorBEN i dive mostly cold water with 7mm semi dry suit. Once a year i travel to southeast asia. I would like to learn how to use dry suit
Hi ben. Do you have any experience or opinion on tecline and apex wtx backplate wing ? Since im planning to buy my first wing bcd..currently im kinda look into tecline and apeks wtx bcd..thanks in advance
Hi Arif! I don't have any experience with Apeks. But I use almost all the time a Tecline backplate (and use my Halcyon SS backplate only occasionally) and I can't say anything bad about the Tecline backplates. Katja (my girlfriend who often appears as diver in my videos) uses a Tecline BP and Wing system and is very satisfied with it, too. So I can recommend Tecline!
Thanks ben..tecline peanut seems nice also 😆
@@arifadhwa7324 never tried one, but I'm not sure if the lift is equal on both sides.
@@arifadhwa7324 Currently deciding on which lift capacity I should choose. 16kg seems to be on the lower side but 21kg too high. @DoktorBEN what are your thoughts? Mostly diving in cold water with a SS Backplate and 7mm wetsuit
What kind of tanks do you use?
Can you use a BC with a cinching harness such as the Halcyon Infinity on GUE courses?
Yes you can!
Hi Ben, love your videos and information. I recently completed my GUE fundies and am looking to complete my double primers. As I am quite small in size (162cm), I am thinking of switching over to a small backplate for doubles. What do you think are the differences between tecline and halcyon in terms of quality for doubles? I dive on a halcyon single tank setup currently and am loving it so far besides the price point. Am thinking of switching over to tecline as it is more budget friendly but I am concerned if the quality is of the same standard as halcyon - especially for the donut wing. Let me know your thoughts! Thank you :-) Would love to hear from anyone else who have had experiences with both tecline and halcyon too
Yeah very good! You chose the right path.
When it comes to quality, I don’t see much difference between Halcyon and Tecline and I use equipment from both. However in some countries, the Tecline Distribution is crappy so dealers have often long delivery times for spare parts for instance. There’s another interesting alternative recently entering the market. I tested some stuff and think they are very close copies of halcyon: look for Aqor dive systems
@@DoktorBEN Awesome! Thank you. Just checked out Aqor - unfortunately they don't have small backplates...
One more question, are tecline and halcyon wings cross compatible?
What do you mean by cross compatible? The hose is different, the rest seems to be similar. Oh one more tip... I don’t like the Tecline Donut 22 SE, because most people are to head heavy and it does not support this well
@@DoktorBEN What I meant is, can you put a tecline wing on a halcyon backplate? and vice-versa
Yes sure, I’m doing it all the time 😁
Was für ne Cam benutzt du für deine Wasser Shots?
Sony Alpha 6400... wie eigentlich für fast alle Aufnahmen.
Why no double bladders?
How do you get redundancy for lift if your main bladder fails and you're not diving with a drysuit?
You don’t need redundancy if you dive a balanced rig (watch my video about that for an explanation). A double bladder gives you additional risk of unintentional inflation, though and increases workload.
Using a primary light without cord, how do you stop the long hose, through the knife?
Possible. I prefer a long house retaining stick 🙂
@@DoktorBEN I didn't even know this stick existed! When I did my fund more than ten years ago, primary lights were all corded. Thanks for the tip! 😉
Sure! 10 years ago, it was not a thing 🤣
how often do plastic buckles break?
Always when it ruins a great dive…Murphy’s Law… 😂. It’s not super often, but happened to me
Donut !!
@5:24 I 100% disagree. A dual bladder wing is the correct way to have redundancy in buoyancy control. You don’t use a dry suit or an SMB/Lift Bag because that’s not what they were designed for. Think of it this way: Would you cut bread with a steak knife? No because the that not what the steak knife what designed for. Would it still work? Maybe but best get the right tools for the job. Dual bladder wings are literally built for redundancy in buoyancy control. I have the Apeks WTX-D60R wing that I use for my doubles.
Well…would you cut bread with a chainsaw? You can and will cut the bread 100%. But it’s unnecessary and poses additional risks without adding anything for the particular job. The same applies to dual bladder wings. As long as you dive a balanced rig, it’s a chainsaw.
@@DoktorBEN Are you saying that dual bladder wings are overkill? I’m not understanding how it’s unnecessary when a dry suit uses an LP hose just like a dual bladder wing. Does it really matter if the extra LP hose is connected to another inflator or a dry suit?
No it’s not just the hose, but the increased workload and need to manage two inflators in a stressful situation
@@DoktorBEN I’m interested in your point and how you make decisions about this. Literally the only reason I made my initial comment. Isn’t a dry suit much more complex than another inflator? Management of buoyancy with a piece of equipment that’s not made to manage buoyancy in a stressful situation seems like it’s the wrong idea. I think it would be much more difficult to shoot an SMB/ Lift Bag to manage your buoyancy in a stressful situation would be a lot harder than using another inflator. I understand where you’re coming from though. I also want to get some good information from you about this as well.
That’s a good topic for a TMT video. I’ll make one as an answer to this. Thank you for the great idea!