BCD or Wing?

[shabel]

Hi.
Feel a bit out of my depth here but hey i figure i have to start somewhere.

I am new to the sport and in fact had my first dive last month in Egypt. Took my open and advanced open water and 15 dives later returned home.
Now I have the bug and want to dive here in the UK and abroard.
Time to get tooled up but what to buy with so much choice.
First dilema is a stab vest or a wing?
Can anybody help please?
Thanks for looking in.
Regards Kevin.

 

[Old Man Dave]

This is going to be a personal preference thing but here's my twopence worth.

A wing was meant to simplify things as stabs have got very complex. Stabs with separate harness, inner bladder, multiple pockets, loads of D rings, back up bottle etc, etc, etc. Some reputedly have a kitchen sink.

Origanally stabs were an attempt to simplify things by combining an ABLJ with a harness. They just went a bit far. So the wing was a back to basics approach. I have tried a wing as my buddy uses one and they are okay but a bit limiting. They do their job and no more and are quite expensive for what they are. I was not keen on my all singing all dancing stab either. It was expensive and too complex for ease of use.

I now use a very simple stab. It's the sort used by dive schools. Simple shape which uses the vest as a harness and has just 2 pockets and 2 D rings. It was half the price of a "normal" stab.

Like I said, personal preference, so that's it IMHO.

Dave

 

[shabel]

Thanks Dave, any feedback is well recieved.
When I was training they threw me a vest and that was that no questions asked. There was no choice and so of we went so to speak. Now the choice is endless and no definitive answers.
Thanks Dave Keep your spear sharp and elastic stretched.
Regards Kev