Fitting Your Back Plate and Harness
by
Dr. Bill Creasy

In diving, simple is good, and there are few things simpler than your back plate and harness. It is the heart of your diving system. It offers a rock-solid diving platform that doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t shift or ride up. It fits divers of every size and shape. It places weight on your back, not your waist, where you need it to achieve proper trim. It serves every skill level, from basic recreational divers through the most advanced technical divers and cave explorers. And it is indestructible.

To take full advantage of your back plate and harness it must be properly fitted, and this involves a seven-step process.

Step #1: Make sure that the single piece of ballistic nylon webbing is properly threaded through the stainless steel or aluminum back plate, and that the stainless steel buckle and hardware are properly attached and positioned.

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Step #2: Loosen the straps and slip the unit on, making sure that it is centered vertically on the spine and that the top of the back plate is just under the large vertebrae at the base of the neck. Properly positioned, you should be able to touch the top of the back plate comfortably.

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Step #3: Tighten the shoulder straps so they are snug, but not too tight. To check the tightness, bend over at the waist. You should be able to slip the palm of your hand under the shoulder straps easily. Make sure that each shoulder strap is exactly the same length.

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Step #4: Position the shoulder strap D-rings at the hollow between the base of your collarbone and the top of your pectoral muscle. With your eyes closed and your arms at your sides, you should be able to bend your arms up at the elbow and hook your thumbs through the D-rings. The D-rings should be exactly parallel to each other.

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Step #5: Slip your knife sheath on to the left waist strap and rethread the stainless steel buckle on to the strap. Adjust the waistband so that it is just below your belly button, and tighten it so that it is snug, but not too tight, with the buckle right of center. Adjust the left hip D-ring so that it is directly beneath your left shoulder, centered on the lateral axis of your body.

Step #6: Adjust the crotch strap so that it is snug, but not too tight. If you do not plan on using a DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle, or scooter), thread the crotch strap through the front D-ring and adjust the rear D-ring so that it is even with the base of your gas cylinders. Unbuckle the waistband, slip the buckle through the crotch strap and retighten the waistband. The whole system should feel secure and comfortable.

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Step #7: Fine-tune your adjustments, making sure that all hardware is properly positioned and that the unit is snug, but not too tight. When you achieve a proper fit, you may trim the right tail of the waistband.
Once properly fitted, your back plate and harness comprise the core of your diving system, the foundation upon which your configuration is built.

Important Note?Ǭ†?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù

When you fit your back plate and harness be sure to wear the exposure system that you will wear while diving, whether a 3mm shorty for tropical diving, a 7mm wet suit for California beach diving, or a dry suit with heavy thermal protection. If you change your exposure system from one dive to another?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùsay from a wet suit to a dry suit?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùyou will need to readjust your back plate and harness accordingly.

It is much easier to fit your back plate and harness if your teammate helps you!

Now?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùgo have fun!

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