Bigger Wing with BMCLs

[BjFaeTorphins]

I recently had a dive where I was left on the surface in 2m seas fir half an hour while the boat picked up other groups after a drift dive.

I have the large standard so wing which barely gets my mouthpiece out of the water in flat calm. In 2m seas it was impossible to use my Lifeline radio to get the skipper's attention to tell him my buddy was puking and to come get us.

Has anyone had any success with a bigger wing that gets you higher out of the water that also works with BMCLs?

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[humpbackdiving]

I am thinking about getting a 60lbs apeks as irish seas are never flat!

 

[Mike Ferguson]

take some lead off.

you can thank me later.

 

[humpbackdiving]

i cant! I have a fat arse and need lead to sink the bastard thing!

 

[Ben Field]

In 2m seas it was impossible to use my Lifeline radio to get the skipper's attention to tell him my buddy was puking and to come get us.

I think that says enough about the usefulness of them... no amount of wing will lift you 2mtrs! Waving a 2+ mtr DSMB would have been more use I'd imagine.

For waiting in rough water nothing beats buoyancy, (sit on a lift bag if your wing is sh*te) and a snorkel.

 

[Mike Ferguson]

I was actually pondering the same issue after finding myself low in the water with waves going over my head and wondering how to get higher. On OC I sat about a foot higher when on the surface. It strikes me the issue is that a wing doesn't get the buoyancy in the right place for surface support in rough seas and the higher you sit out of the water the less buoyancy you have because a lot of the wing is then out of the water as well. I've loked at pictures of chaseys weird wing that's wider at the bottom than the top and thought that's not as daft as it looks.

I was actually weighing up my old buddy commando over xmas and wondering if it would work with BMCL's.

 

[Dave1w]

I was actually pondering the same issue after finding myself low in the water with waves going over my head and wondering how to get higher. On OC I sat about a foot higher when on the surface. It strikes me the issue is that a wing doesn't get the buoyancy in the right place for surface support in rough seas and the higher you sit out of the water the less buoyancy you have because a lot of the wing is then out of the water as well. I've loked at pictures of chaseys weird wing that's wider at the bottom than the top and thought that's not as daft as it looks.

I was actually weighing up my old buddy commando over xmas and wondering if it would work with BMCL's.

May be a bit tight with BMCL, but wonder if anyone has tried with FMCLs on a commando?

 

[Spiro]

How about submerging a couple of meters while you wait? the boats going to get there eventually sitting on the surface watching isnt helping you in any way.

 

[zirk]

Over the Christmas break I dove a lot. The seas were rough and I found myself waiting for the boat to pick me up numerous times. I take my 6 foot long inflated marker and put it under my arms like kids do with those foam noodles in the pool. It works well and is sort of relaxing. It gets my head we'll above the surface If the wait gets long or it is very rough I usually switch my BOV to open circuit and breath around the mouth piece until a swell warrants I breath off the reg. I find this process takes the edge off. I hate being left on the surface for long periods on rough water. Last summer I came up in a squall and a total white out with no boat around for half an hour. Never felt so alone.
I dive a rEvo with a dive rite nomad. I believe it has a 60 pound lift. I live in Florida and do not use a dry suit. My Nomad is set up with dual bladders.

 

[Mr Flibble]

I had a similar problem with the standard AP wing. I dive a KT box and dog bone backplate with the AP BMCL's. It just about manages to keep my head above water. When I take the rig off when getting back on the RHIB it fails to float and would sink if I let it go. Not good. I recently purchased a Red Hat Maximus wing to give me more lift. It's the 90lbs single wing (an OMS clone with a few differences). It's very well made, very sturdy looking and fits the KT box a dream. Dumps and inflator sit just to the side of the box. Had a first dive with it on Saturday and had plenty of surface support. With the wing fully inflated I had no WOB issues with the BMCL's, in fact breathing was easier than with the AP wing. Very happy with it. Also a good price to.