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Steel or Ali Backplate

Apeks WTX Single Tank Wing System

The Apeks single tank WTX-D30 and WTX-D40 wings with backplate and harness are now available as a complete set-up Apeks WTX Single Tank Wing System, all ready to go.

Dispatched in 1 to 2 days

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If you need to contact us for any issue or assistance, you can do so online by filling out the online Contact Form , emailing us at [email protected] or calling us on +44(0)1305 824 555. If it's about a purchase you've made for us please also include your order number.

Our brick-and-mortar store Underwater Explorers based on Portland, Dorset is staffed 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays. As it's an active store visited by divers from around the country and world regularly, if we can't make it to the phone for any reason please leave a message and we'll get back to you asap.

Any queries are usually answered the very same day and at most within 24 hours.

Why Portland?

We’re located on the Isle of Portland (in Dorset) because Portland has been one of the most popular scuba diving locations in the United Kingdom even before we set up operations here back in the year 2000.

On one side, we’re minutes away from the sheltered waters of Portland Marina and Harbour, while on the other, it’s just a brief walk to reach our famous scuba diving destination  Chesil Cove and start of the 16-mile-long Chesil Beach .  

Portland’s location makes it ideal for scuba diving, freediving, snorkelling and other surface water sports activities. 

Check out how many wrecks we have around here by clicking on Scimitar Diving's Wreck & Dive Sites chart!

Alongside dive clubs, many instructors and dive schools travel here to train and offer scuba diving certification ranging from open water diver to mixed-gas tech diving or rebreather diving levels.

Whether you’re doing a boat dive from Portland Marina or Castletown or a shore dive at Chesil Cove , Portland is well known for offering many possibilities: Reef diving to wreck diving and night diving, underwater photography or underwater videography. Anything other than cave diving is possible here.

Likely being the best-stocked diving shop in the UK, at Underwater Explorers we offer in-store scuba diving equipment advice and sales, as well as gas fills, to locals and visitors (read About Us ).

But... If you’re googling “scuba diving shop near me” like some, look no further, there's DirDirect online.

Here at DirDirect, we list our cutting-edge equipment for worldwide delivery and we’ve got you covered whatever your level of diving: We’re your local dive store wherever you are in the world.

All that with over 20 years of experience especially in technical diving, from training to equipment, advice and sales.

The Apeks single tank wing with backplate and harness is now available as a fully set-up Apeks WTX Single Tank Wing System, all ready to go.

You have two backplate and wing options. Choose from stainless steel or a lighter aluminium backplate. For these fully set up systems, Apeks offers either WTX-D40 wing providing 40lbs lift or the smaller WTX-D30 with 30lbs lift.

Apeks WTX Single Tank Wing System includes

• Apeks WTX-D40 or WTX-D30 wing with inflator hose
• Apeks stainless steel or aluminium backplate
• Apeks Deluxe One Piece Harness (fitted to the backplate)
• Two Apeks cam bands with stainless steel buckles

Apeks WTX-D30 & WTX-D40 Wing

The Apeks WTX-D Single Cylinder Wings are narrow in design, allowing a cylinder to nest deep inside them.

Single-cylinder wings, often referred to as donuts, are oval-shaped air cells or bladders that are not permanently attached to a harness. While single-cylinder wings have their origins in the realm of technical diving, they are becoming very popular in the recreational community. Not only are these single-cylinder wings streamlined, but due to their shape being a continuous loop, they are very stable underwater. There is no dramatic shift of air from left to right.

Apeks single-cylinder wings are a smart design that allows a cylinder to nest deep inside them. These wings fit nicely with the rest of the Apeks WTX collection of high-quality harnesses, plates and accessories. They can be configured in multiple ways to match the type of diving that you do. As with the rest of the WTX collection, these single-cylinder wings are built from the finest quality materials.

• K style inflator positioned off-centre so as not to interfere with regulator 1st stage
• Low profile 16” oval-shaped corrugated hose
• Apeks Flex inflator hose
• Safety cable to prevent hyper-extension
• Low profile flat dump valve positioned in front, lower-left side
• 2 large drain grommets
• Centre mesh drain panel
• Lift capacities: WTX-D30 30lbs / WTX-D40 40lbs

Apeks Deluxe One-Piece Webbed Harness

This simple yet strong Apeks Deluxe One-Piece Webbed Harness can take the load of a fully rigged technical diver. It can be easily customised with the hardware of your choice.

• 12’ of 2-inch stiff webbing with centre grommet
• 2” wide crotch strap
• 6 stainless 2” D-rings
• 2 neoprene shoulder protectors
• 2 elastic retaining loops on the shoulders and one on the crotch strap
• Heavy-duty stainless waist buckle
• 6 stainless serrated retainers

Apeks backplates are available in stainless steel or aluminium.

Four each upper and lower slots accommodate nylon cylinder cam bands so a single cylinder can be strapped directly to the plate. A series of 4 slots provides lateral stability of the cylinder that traditional two-slot plates cannot.

Three holes at the top of the Apeks Backplate offer a range of height adjustments for the wings and the cylinders. In addition, a corresponding lower centre slot allows for misaligned lower band bolts.

Upper and lower perimeter holes along either side and holes along the bottom allow for accessories mounting. 2" wide crotch strap slot.

• Aluminium Backplate weighs approx 753g
• Stainless Steel Backplate weight approx 2.2 kg

Not a fixed harness fan but still don't want breakpoints? Check out our review of   Adjustable Harness Systems without compromise

Confused on which wing to buy? Read our review on the   Best Single Tank Wing Systems   where we explain commonalities and differences comparing this wing to the other top wing systems.

We aim to dispatch all in-stock items within 2 working days but will inform you of approximate delivery times should any item on your order be out of stock or on supplier backorder due to current manufacturing or transport delays caused by global shortages and/or impeded production.

Please refer to our Shipping Policy and Returns & Refunds Policy for detailed information on delivery terms and returns.

Our current shipping rates are as follows:

• UK mainland orders £45 and over: FREE • UK mainland orders under £45: £4.90 Fixed Rate • Channel Islands, Isle of Man & Highlands: £9.90 Fixed Rate • Northern Ireland: £14.9 Fixed Rate • European Union: £13.90 + 5% of order value (maximum £30) • Rest of the World: £19.50 + 8% of order value (maximum £55) • BFPO Post Codes : £20

INTERNATIONAL EXCEPTIONS:

For international orders containing weights , cylinders (excluding suit inflation bottles) and Suex scooters please contact us in advance before placing your order.

These products are not included in our global max-capped shipping rates and are only shipped outside of UK mainland after freight cost is calculated based on total weight, dimensions of parcel, location of delivery and the courier service used. We will let you know what this cost will be before processing any order.

All cylinders we ship within and outside of UK mainland are filled and tested on site before being emptied for dispatch. Cylinders shipped outside of the UK will be empty and will also have their valves removed, requiring reassembly after you receive delivery. Twinset manifolds and bands will also be removed and dispatched together with the cylinders for safe global shipping.

RETURNS & REFUNDS

We offer a 30 day return for any product sold under our Returns & Refunds Policy Please contact us before any return with your order number and date details. Receive our Returns Authorisation Form and instructions and enclose them with your return to expedite a refund. Detailed information is available in our Returns & Refunds Policy .

Email us at  [email protected]  or call us on +44(0)1305 824 555

Note that all returned items are shipped at the customer's own risk and remain the customer's property until received by Underwater Explorers, so please ensure they are packaged well and use reliable postal services with tracking facilities. The goods will be inspected on arrival. 

Return postages are at your own cost and our outbound shipping costs (if items are sold with integrated basic shipping charges i.e. Free shipping for orders £45 and above) the UK shipping rate may be deducted from any UK mainland refund unless linked to a fault/defect claim.  Please contact us with your order number and name before sending any returns to:

Underwater Explorers – Returns Unit 1, Maritime Business Centre Mereside, Portland Dorset, DT5 1FD  United Kingdom

Please refer to our Shipping Policy and Returns & Refunds Policy for detailed information.

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Apeks WTX Wing

Description.

• Apeks single cylinder wings are a smart design that allows a cylinder to nest deep inside them
• Can be configured in multiple ways to match the type of diving that you do
• K style, low profile 16" inflator with brass buttons and oval-shaped hose with safety cable to prevent hyper-extension, positioned off-center not to interfere with your regulator

OTHER OFFERINGS FROM - APEKS

Let customers speak for us.

Got certified with Dixie for the Rescue Diver. Charles was the instructor. He did a great job helping the class understand the why and how in real life situations. His years of experience and stories were great. The course was challenging and intense. As it should be! Charles worked with us and helped us every step of the way to make sure we were learning versus regurgitating. Great weekend of learning. Thanks Charles.

Our daughter took the Open Water Camp in June 2022 and she loved it. As parents we were comfortable knowing that she was working with professionals who are great dive instructors (Martha and Natalie), great with kids and focused on safety. I have experience with a few dive shops in South Florida and DXDivers is the most professional. We've done a few dives with DXDivers since her certification and I feel like everyone in the shop and on the boat is looking out for her. She'll be back for Advanced Open Water camp in the future. I highly recommend this Open Water Camp with DXDivers.

Completing the Instructor Development Course through Dixie Divers was a great! Thanks to the awesome support of the DXDiver family, and under the guidance of course director Charles Kiss, we crushed the written exam and skill demonstrations required to pass the PADI Instructor Examinations. The entire shop was invested in our success as PADI Professionals and shepherding us into the start of our professional dive careers. Thank you to Charles Neeley and Tyler Bo for always being available and willing to talk me down lol. We were incredibly well prepared.

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Apeks PSD WTX Wing 30lb or 40lb Options

Shop for more:, guaranteed safe checkout, description.

• More abrasion resistant than Cordura
• Fast-drying
• When it doesn't get rinsed, it won't smell or pick up bacterial growth
• The airway uses an 18 round spiral hose and has a rapid exhaust dump valve aka a cable pull dump

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6 Best Scuba Diving BCD’s in 2023 (Review)

Last Updated: January 26, 2023 | Written By: Matt Fitzgerald

ReadyDive may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn more

Table of Contents

For the diver wishing to fine-tune their trim and overall diving experience, a BCD is the next logical purchase. The variety of options on the market can make BCD selection seem somewhat overwhelming, especially as so many look the same as the next. However, there are some basic factors to look for in all BCDs, including but not limited to: lift capacity, storage capacity, bladder position and type, and weight integration. Hopefully, our buyers advice guide and product recommendations will help to simplify this process for you and help you pick the best scuba diving bcd.

Best Scuba Diving BCD’s Reviewed

#1 – apeks black ice bcd.

In the words of Apeks themselves, this is a BCD designed with the ‘advanced diver in mind.’ This is a BCD suitable for the extremity of public safety diving, as well as for normal recreational diving. Its size is fully adjustable so that it can be tailored to your exact shape. This is a BCD that will not let you down.

• Weight-integrated back inflation jacket style BCD.
• Ditchable dual channel weight pockets as well as non-ditchable trim weight pockets in back – capable of carrying up to 19kg total.
• SureLock II Mechanical Weight Release System – easy insertion and removal of weight pockets.
• Four dump valves – two tail valves, one shoulder valve, and Powerline inflator/deflator.
• Powerline inflator has very quick inflation rate, with environmental seal. Comes with integrated clips to keep the LPI hose streamlined.
• Two zip operated pockets – left has a deep capacity, extendable pocket.
• Height-adjustable chest strap to avoid it running over the top of the drysuit inflation valve.
• Knife attachment with grommets found on left pocket – this accommodates AquaLung squeeze-lock knives.
• Dual bladder retraction system to prevent excess drag.
• Able to be rigged for a twinset configuration.
• Uses the Wrapture Harness System – the Wrapture prevents ‘ride-up’ when on the surface, as well as keeping the tank in line with your centre of gravity by placing the weight on the hips when out of the water. This is achieved by use of swivelling shoulder strap buckles as well as the ultra-thin back plate.
• Air cell allows easy movement of air from side to side, and is constructed from 840 denier nylon.
• 3 shoulder D-rings and 2 angled tail D-rings.
• Big, bulky, and heavy – not ideal for travel.

#2 – XDeep Zen BCD

Building on previous designs, the XDeep Zen BCD is one of the best options on the market for recreational divers. Utilising a simple, minimalistic design, whilst not compromising on comfort nor performance, XDeep have come up with an excellent BCD. It is also perfect for travel, weighing a mere 1.1kg.

• K-Type inflator.
• Dry BCD weight (without harness): 1.1 kg
• Anatomically sculptured back plate for maximum comfort and optimum weight distribution.
• Mesh pad on backplate to add comfort and reduce slippage.
• Easier donning and doffing – shoulder straps gain 20% increase in length when crotch and waist band are undone.
• V-shaped crotch strap – greater comfort than standard single strap design.
• Weight pockets can be added at the user’s will.
• Optional shoulder strap padding.
• Optional shoulder strap quick-release clips.
• 5 D-rings: 2 shoulder, 2 tail, 1 on left hip.
• CORDURA® 1100 dTEX.
• Lift capacity: 19kg.
• Minimalistic design.
• Air cell has minimal air migration, and is streamlined to the tank, minimising drag.
• All-in-one package (Backplate, harness and wing).
• Slightly high price.

#3 – AquaLung Zuma BCD

• Streamlined, travel-friendly, weight-integrated back inflation jacket style BCD.
• Less than 2.2kg total weight.
• Padded spinal column protecting the user from tank weight.
• Weight emphasis shifted to hips due to lower tank strap position.
• SureLock II Mechanical Weight Release System.
• Ditchable, quick-release weight pockets.
• Can be deconstructed and rolled up to fit in very small spaces in luggage.
• Drop down utility pocket with deep capacity.
• Powerline inflator.
• Plastic D-rings in place of metal ones for weight reduction.
• Rolled collar for comfort.
• Flat, streamlined dump valves for reduced bulk.
• 4 D-rings: 2 shoulder, 2 on top of waist pockets.
• Adjustable chest strap.
• Very affordable price.
• Lack of storage capacity – pockets are small, D-rings have a small circumference.
• No tail D-rings.
• D-rings are plastic, not metal – less durable.

#4 – OMS BCD

OMS are a trusted company, supplying divers with equipment for some of the most demanding of dives. Their Monowing, Backplate and Harness package, as sold exclusively by Divegearexpress.com offers a great BCD system for a very reasonable price, saving you the hassle of buying each item individually.

• Hogarthian (DIR) configuration
• Heavy duty nylon continuous webbing harness
• Metal backplate available in stainless steel or aluminium
• Waist belt sheath with knife and shears included
• Wing available in different sizes with differing lift capacities – 12kg or 15kg lift.
• Optional shoulder pads and weight pockets.

#5 – AquaLung Axiom BCD

AquaLung’s Axiom is a BCD favoured by many divers. It is very robust and reliable, and offers the diver a host of storage options without compromising comfort. This is a great option for divers who prefer a traditional wrap around, jacket style BCD.

• Two large zip operated pockets.
• Uses the Wrapture Harness System – the Wrapture prevents ‘ride-up’ when on the surface, as well as keeping the tank in line with your centre of gravity by placing the weight on the hips when out of the water.
• Swivelling shoulder strap buckles.
• GripLock tank band.
• Bladder retraction system.
• 6 D-rings: 2 shoulder, 2 waist, 2 tail.
• 3 dump valves: 2 shoulder, 1 tail.
• Knife attachment point with grommets for AquaLung squeeze-lock knives.
• Dedicated alternate air source holster pocket.
• Is not a purely back inflate BCD; perfect trim is harder to achieve and maintain.
• Big, bulky and heavy – not ideal for travel.

#6 – Apeks WTX30 PSD BP/W BCD

Apeks’ WTX30 PSD wing with harness and backplate is a great option for divers who are looking for a minimalistic rig with extreme durability. The PSD wing is designed for public safety diving use (hence the acronym!) and is therefore made of a very tough material; Armourguard. This means that the wing is capable of performing in all environments with minimal wear-and-tear. This BCD is an excellent option for divers of all levels.

• Minimalistic, robust harness design.
• 5 D-rings: 2 shoulder, 2 hip, 1 crotch.
• Backplate available in either aluminium, stainless steel, or Apeks’ travel hybrid.
• Wing made from Armourguard: more resistant than cordura, faster drying, anti-bacterial.
• Optional Surelock II weight system.
• 13kg lift capacity.

Choosing your First BCD: Product Recommendations and Buyers Advice

Scuba diving bcd basics.

The acronym BCD, or BC, stands for Buoyancy Control Device, or Buoyancy Compensator, respectively. And, with this definition in mind, the term BCD encompasses all devices with an air bladder designed to affect a diver’s buoyancy. Therefore, BCDs include jacket style BCDs, backplate and wing BCDs, sidemount BCDs, and even no-mount BCDs for use on tanks. However, for the purposes of this article, we are talking strictly about BCDs for single-tank recreational back mount diving .

There are, generally speaking, three styles of BCDs on the market:

• Jacket-style
• Back-inflation jacket-style
• Backplate, harness and wing (BP/W)

It is a likely bet that your first taste of scuba occurred wearing either a jacket-style or back-inflation jacket style BCD. These are the most common types of BCDs, especially the former, and are stocked at the majority of dive centres for customer and student rental. A backplate, harness and wing setup, on the other hand, is less common. The reason for this is not due to an inferiority of the latter; far from it. Rather, the BP/W setup is often associated as solely the preserve of those engaged in technical diving. This is a widespread fallacy which will hopefully be dispelled over the course of this article.

Jacket Style BCDs

As the name suggests, a jacket-style BCD is essentially a sleeveless jacket. Most of the time, it comes with a chest strap, quick-release shoulder buckles, a stomach buckle, and a velcro cummerbund. The majority of clips and hard-structure parts are composed of plastic. In a jacket-style BCD the bladder, or air cell, encompasses the whole back and wraps around the waist of the diver underneath the armpits (sometimes referred to as a ‘wrap around’ BCD). This means that, on inflation, air is able to migrate to every portion of the jacket. Similarly, they often come with a lot of extra padding features to increase comfort. It is probable that this is what you were given to use during your Open Water course.

The jacket-style BCD is simple in construction, and is fairly easy and intuitive to don and doff without guidance. Consequently, they have become commonplace within the scuba industry. And it is true; they are easy to use, and require no special techniques for donning and doffing. They also usually come with numerous pockets and D-rings, as well as with the ability to integrate weights into the jacket itself, rather than having to wear them on an external weight belt.

However, it is indisputable that traditional jacket-style BCDs come with a range of drawbacks. Firstly, is the issue of trim. The jacket-style BCD tends to allow air to build up around the shoulder region, as well as allowing it to shift continuously from one side of the back to the other. This results in two things. Firsty, this forces the diver into a more pronounced head-up legs-down position which, in the worst case, puts the diver on a vertical plane. Secondly, it will mean that the diver is likely to be constantly rolling to one side, calling for continual readjustment to become level again. This is not to say that perfect trim (20-40° off horizontal) cannot be achieved in a jacket-style BCD; it certainly can be, and – ultimately – the quality of your trim is dependent on your skills as a diver, not your equipment. However, even if you can achieve perfect/near-perfect trim in a jacket-style BCD, you will be in a constant battle of readjustment and movement in order to maintain it. Due to its construction, the jacket-style BCD naturally wants to put your body into the vertical plane.

A second drawback of jacket-style BCDs is their lack of customizability. When compared to a BP/W (as will be seen later), a jacket-style BCD is very limiting. You are unable to move any of the D-rings, unable to move/add/or subtract pockets, unable (in most cases) to fully deconstruct it. In essence, you cannot get ‘under the bonnet’ of a jacket-style BCD. Therefore, you are unable to personalise it to both your physical needs as well as your diving needs. Similarly, unlike a BP/W, a jacket-style BCD lacks versatility; it can be used only for single tank back mount diving. Conversely, a BP/W can be used for single tank back mount, twinset and multistage diving, with only minor adjustments (swapping out of the wing). Considering the cost of some top of the range jacket-style BCDs, this is a limiting purchase for the diver in the long run.

A third disadvantage of jacket-style BCDs is their inherent bulkiness. As the majority of them are unable to be deconstructed, as well as having lots of extra padding, this makes for a large, relatively heavy piece of luggage. With a BP/W, and even with some back-inflation travel specific jacket-style BCDs, this problem is avoided – or at least minimised – by the fact that full deconstruction is permitted, allowing the air bladder to be rolled up. This makes for a much better option for the travelling diver.

Backplate, Harness and Wing BCD (BP/W)

The BP/W setup was the original equipment setup. In the early days of diving, divers would simply strap a harness to their twinset, with neither a wing nor backplate. However, they suffered issues of tank roll, due to the fact that the tanks were not fixed to anything. Thus came the advent of the backplate. With Floridean cave divers increasing their penetration depths and runtimes came a need to carry more tanks. This led cave divers to look for ways to outsource positive buoyancy. The initial attempts came in the form of rigging hydration bladders to the harness, and inflating them orally. Over time, came the development of the first ‘wing’; simply, an inflatable air cell to be attached to the backplate. With the concurrent popularisation of diving, manufacturers took this wing design and came up with the jacket-style BCD, adding quick-release buckles and adjustable shoulder straps too. The cave diving community did not, however, adopt the jacket-style BCD, due to its bulkiness; which posed a problem for both tight restrictions as well as for the handling of multiple stage bottles. And so, the BP/W setup became the preserve of cave and technical divers, whilst the jacket-style BCD became that of recreational divers.

A BP/W setup is very simple. It consists of three elements: the harness, the backplate and the wing, all of which can be detached from one another.

The first benefit of this setup is that it is fully customisable.

The webbing that composes the harness can be interchanged for one that is either stiffer or softer depending on diver preference. Similarly, D-rings are able to be moved, added and subtracted. If you find the shoulder D-ring too high when trying to clip your torch to it, you can simply move the D-ring further down the shoulder strap, for example. There are many different types of D-rings on the market, in different sizes with different designs; some are angled, some flat, some fixed, some sliding. If you require extra attachment points, then you can just add them yourself, be it on the shoulder straps, the waist belt, or the crotch strap.

The backplate can also be customised to your needs. They are available in either stainless steel or aluminium (and, in rare cases, in titanium or carbon fiber). This means that if keeping your luggage weight down is a real concern as a travelling diver, then you are able to do so by buying a lighter, aluminium backplate. Equally, if you are diving in a dry s uit in your local quarry, then investing in a steel backplate will be a better decision to reduce the amount of extra weight required. The beauty of this setup is in the fact that you can buy both a steel and an aluminium backplate, and interchange them depending on your diving needs. Similarly, different companies come with differently moulded backplates, accommodating different body shapes and needs. You can also add or subtract padding based on personal preference.

Following suit of its siblings, the wing can be interchanged based on the lift capacity required. If diving with only one tank, then a single tank wing is required; with a twinset, a double tank wing is required. The difference in size and lift is substantial: a single tank wing is expected to lift one tank and perhaps one stage; a double tank wing is expected to lift up to five tanks (twinset plus three stages). What is great is that if you are moving from single tank recreational diving into twinset technical diving , you need simply to purchase a new wing, rather than replacing the whole system. Similarly, if you were going on a diving holiday, involving both technical and recreational dives, you can just bring a single wing and double wing, rather than a twinset BP/W setup in addition to a separate jacket-style BCD – thus saving you substantial luggage space and weight.

The second benefit of the BP/W setup is that of trim. Given that the air cell is only on the back, in either donut or horseshoe shape, without unnecessary bulk on the diver’s front, the wing is able to place the diver in a position of perfect trim far more easily. Air will not migrate without the diver actively making it do so. This makes the achievement and maintenance of perfect trim far easier; though diver skill is still a prerequisite.

The third benefit of the BP/W setup is the fact that it is minimalistic. It declutters the diver from excess material, leaving them with the bare essentials required to dive. This gives the diver a very liberating feeling, cutting out that which is inessential. For many, the switch from a jacket-style BCD to a BP/W setup is a turning point in their diving ability and, therefore, experience. It is akin to becoming one with the underwater environment.

Back-Inflation Jacket-Style BCDs

The semidry of BCDs, the back-inflation jacket-style offers something of a compromise. And, as with most dive equipment, its name implies its function. A back-inflation jacket-style BCD is a jacket BCD in which the air cell is only on the back of the jacket – like a wing. This allows perfect trim to be achieved more easily, like that of a wing, without losing the feeling that accompanies the jacket. This is a great option for divers wanting greater buoyancy and trim control without making the full conversion to the BP/W setup.

Misconceptions

Although BP/W setups are becoming increasingly popular in the recreational diving community, there are still many divers who – for various reasons – resist their rise. There are numerous misconceptions surrounding BP/Ws which will now be addressed. Of course, this is not to say that you are wrong to dive in a jacket-style BCD. Jacket-style BCDs are fantastic and offer a very easy, simple device with which to dive with. However, BP/W BCDs are also just as easy and simple to dive with. Similarly, from the perspective of equipment optimisation, streamlining, versatility and trim, BP/W setups are inarguably the best choice.

One of the primary misconceptions stems from the fact that BP/W setups are used mostly by technical divers. This, by implication, has led people to assume that they require advanced skills in order to be used correctly. And this itself implies that BP/W setups are not for beginners. This could not be further from the truth. Yes, jacket style BCDs are fairly intuitive to use, and are therefore an easy option to give to a beginner. However, the BP/W setup is no more difficult nor less intuitive once the proper techniques for donning and doffing are explained by the instructor. In fact, once this is made clear, the beginner diver will have much more ease achieving and maintaining proper trim. There are many instructors from multiple training agencies who teach their Open Water students in a BP/W setup from the outset. Similarly, DIR training agencies, such as GUE and ISE, teach their recreational courses solely in a BP/W setup. Once the fundamentals of donning, doffing and adjustment are made clear, the BP/W setup is ideal for a beginner diver getting to grips with buoyancy and trim.

A second misconception remains in circulation regarding BP/W setups. That is that they do not afford the storage capacity offered by their counterpart. This is, once again, a fallacy. As a matter of fact, it is arguable that the BP/W setup offers greater storage capacity. A standard jacket-style BCD usually has two waist pockets and between 2-5 D-rings. A BP/W setup, on the other hand, can have pockets and D-rings added at the will of the diver. If the diver wished for 5 D-rings per side of the waist belt, and 3 per shoulder strap, such would be possible. Similarly, the diver can add multiple pockets, with the specific capacity they require, wherever they like on the harness. The backplate also often has holes in it which fit the gate of a boltsnap, allowing for additional attachment points that are out of the way. In addition, many BP/W divers like to invest in ‘technical shorts’ which are worn over the wetsuit, with two large cargo pockets either side of the thigh. This allows for the BP/W to be kept free of excess equipment, enabling the feeling of freedom to be maximised. Although it may be argued that these are additional costs to the initial purchase of the BP/W, they are often inexpensive additions which can be fully customised to the diver’s needs. An equal benefit of this is that, if one of the component parts break, they are easy to replace and don’t require the whole BCD to be replaced or sent away for fixing.

Another misconception is that of expense. BCDs are no different to other dive equipment in the sense that they are as expensive as you want to make them. Cheap BP/W BCDs are as cheap as cheap jacket-style BCDs, and the two can be just as expensive as each other. The point to make, however, is that the replacement parts (e.g. D-rings, webbing, backplates, etc.) are far cheaper, and fixes and modifications can be done by the diver. This cannot be done with a jacket-style BCD, often requiring it to be sent back to the manufacturer for fixing.

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Collection: technical diving wings, harnesses and backplates.

Apeks Deluxe Webbed Harness

Apeks wtx backplate aluminium, technical diving wings, harnesses and backplates.

Find the best value Technical Diving Wings, Harnesses and Backplates at Mike's Dive Store. If you think technical diving may be the route you are going to follow when you take up scuba diving then perhaps you should consider a Wing type configuration. The technical diving setup means you can modularise your buoyancy control, meaning you buy a harness and then add on whichever bladder suits the type of diving you will be doing.

For example, you might want a small, lightweight wing for your tropical Red Sea dive trip and then switch to a heavier weight, higher buoyancy wing for some deeper, more challenging technical diving in the English Channel. The initial outlay for a technical diving harness and Wing is more than a conventional BCD, but you will save in the long run when you only need a second wing rather than a complete new BCD.

Nowadays, technical diving is ever so popular, and Mike's Dive Store offers a vast range of technical diving equipment from major brands like Hollis, Dive Rite, Apeks, Mares XR, Scubapro X-Tek range.

Mares is famous for putting a lot of effort into their technical diving research and development. As a result, they launch Mares XR range  of products which include the latest wings, harnesses and backplates. We think they look fantastic. This Italian brand not only looks super stylish but offers a real performance underwater. If you are looking for high-quality technical diving or sidemount equipment, Mares is worth consideration.

Just like the previous company, Scubapro's proud recreational diving heritage has been supplemented by a fantastic range of technical diving wings, harnesses and backplates from Scubapro X-Tek range . This extraordinarily well-made and reliable line of technical diving products delivers all you need for your technical diving needs.  Scubapro is one of our favourite brands, and we stock a great selection of Scubapro X-Tek, X-Tek Pure and X-Tek Pro technical diving systems.

Hollis and Dive Rite are two American companies that need no introduction. They have been founded purely to offer technical diving equipment of the highest quality. Their development and design of technical wings, harness and backplates thrive on decades of technical diving expertise of their founding fathers and other diving explorers. As an ongoing commitment to our technical divers, Mike's Dive Store offers technical wings, harnesses and backplates from Hollis and Dive Rite.

If you are looking for technical wings, harnesses and backplate manufacturer closer to home Apeks is your brand. They have been at the heart of technical diving for some time and offer fantastic modular systems for all your technical diving needs.  The WTX and WTX-D Series is a selection of harnesses, buoyancy cells and accessories are a fantastic choice for any aspired explorer.  

If you are looking for some inspiration and advice read our Technical Diving Blog  or give us a call with any technical questions. 

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EXPLORE THE APEKS RANGE

WORLD CLASS REGULATORS

Our award-winning regulators are world renowned for their performance, adaptability and reliability

In the mid-1970s, two friends decided to combine their knowledge of diving and precision engineering. Working from a small garage in the north of England, they set about creating what has become some of the most respected scuba diving equipment on the market.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Decades later that spirit of precision-engineering and craftsmanship continues. Our world-class production facilities and the fact that we have total control over every manufacturing process makes Apeks scuba diving regulators the industry benchmark for design, quality and performance.

SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental guardianship is at the heart of everything we do. From single-use plastic free packaging to environmentally conscious materials and manufacturing methods, our goal is to protect and preserve our ocean playground.

EXPLORATION

Apeks products are being used to explore some of the deepest, coldest and most challenging dive environments on earth. Because when the environment demands, only one thing matters; that your dive kit is designed, developed and tested to keep you safe and comfortable.

EXTENDED ‎EXPERTISE

The DSX is our new Dive Computer and a one of its kind. It is the latest in wearable technology for the serious technical diver, or the diver just looking for the finest instrument on the market

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EXOTEC - Dive BCD

• BioReact - Articulating waist system for maximum comfort and freedom of movement.
• Modular - The Exotec is designed to be repaired and not replaced. All of the components and straps are modular and can be easily changed.
• PSD Technology - The bladder is made from the same Armourguard fabric that we use on our Public Safety Diver products. It is extremely durable and does not absorb water.
• GripTek - GripTek fabric keeps the BCD in place both on the surface and underwater.
• Wrapture - The Wrapture harness system works in harmony with the BioReact waist. This allows you to walk upright when out of the water with the cylinder weight distributed evenly on your hips.
• G-Hook - The G-Hook system allows for one-handed opening and closing of the chest strap.
• Custom Fit - Multiple adjustments allow you to customize the fit of the BCD.

FEATURES & BENEFITS

Additional details.

• Bladder constructed from super-tough Armourguard slick skin for increased abrasion resistance, faster drying and have a reduced risk of bacterial growth due to the slick surface
• Anodized aluminium hardware is both strong and lightweight
• 3-position, height-adjustable backplate allows for optimum fit
• Adjustable waist and shoulders
• 2 large pockets can be folded flat when not in use to reduce drag
• Multiple size settings at the top of the shoulders, as well as either side of the waistband, allows for a custom fit through any one of 3 sizes
• SureLock II Mechanical Weight Release System (patented) provides a safe, single-pull release. Inserting weight is as simple as insert and “click”. With SureLock, your weights are secure in the BC. Once engaged, the only way to release the weight is to pull on the handle
• There are 4 dump valves in all, one in each corner. 3 are proprietary flat valves are very streamlined and effective. The dump valve on the upper left is the rapid exhaust valve found at the top of the Powerline inflator
• The Powerline inflator assembly boasts one of the fastest inflation rates in the industry. This environmentally sealed unit has integrated clips to keep the LP inflator hose tucked in securely
• A dual bladder retraction system is used to pull in the sides of the bladder during deflation. This keeps unit streamlined and reduces drag
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