Frequently seen in technical diving, the backplate and wing style of buoyancy compensator (BC) is becoming more common among recreational divers. This BC consists of two parts: the back plate, which is a hard metal plate with webbing harness, and the wing, the portion of the BC that inflates and deflates. The wing are completely independent of the backplate, and inflate behind the diver's back, making this a back inflating buoyancy compensator.
The advantage of a back plate and wing combination is that it is very adaptable. A back plate and wing can be used directly on double tanks, or attached to a single tank via a single tank adaptor. The wing can be switched out for models with more or less lift depending upon the equipment to be used on an dive. Recreational divers who are considering pursuing technical diving in the future would be well advised to purchase a back plate and wing combination, as it can be adapted to any future needs.
Back plate and wing buoyancy compensators are generally heavier and less buoyant than standard BCs. This can greatly reduce the weight required for a dive, and may make a back plate and wing combination preferable for divers who use buoyant exposure protection such as drysuits or thick wetsuits.
