Which bcd should i buy

Different sizes feature different lift capacities. Many jackets also feature zippered or Velcro pockets on the sides or inside for storing accessories such as SMBs and torches.

The jacket-style BCD is tremendously stable in all water positions. Air placement can make it slightly challenging to maintain a horizontal position underwater. Jacket style BCDs are usually the best option for recreational divers.

As the name suggests, the back-inflation BCDs have no inflatable bladders on the front or the sides and inflate only the back portion. This style of the BCD allows for more freedom of movement and is generally more comfortable to wear. It also makes it easier for the diver to maintain a horizontal position, which is a plus when you are underwater.

However, some drivers complain about being turned face down on the surface. This can be fixed by adding weight to trim pockets on the tank band. These are usually only slightly bigger than the normal inflation units that are available. Using an alternate inflator regulator means that you do not have to have an octopus secondary second stage and in and out of air situation, you donate your primary second stage and breath off the alternate inflator regulator you can still control your buoyancy even when it's in your mouth.

Some consider these systems ideal for travelling divers who wish to reduce the weight and bulk of equipment. However like all new equipment we would recommend practicing using yours in a controlled environment first with your buddy. We don't like them for many reasons. Firstly, they use non-standard hoses and connections. So if a hose goes while you're away on a holiday and a hose goes, chances are you won't be able to replace it. There are workarounds for this, but few divers implement them.

Also, you'll be trying to breath from the combined unit on your left side, plus still using it as an inflator. This takes a lot of getting used to. Plus your dive buddy will be on the primary 2nd stage, and it's hose length is a lot shorter than a standard octopus regulator hose, so he or she will be crowding you. They tend to be made of lower denier materials with only basic features and are most suitable for tropical locations. Thinner material makes them lighter but also more fragile.

They can cope with plenty of dives, but too much rough and tumble around sharp rocks or wrecks can puncture the bladder so they're best for open water diving.

Often steel D-rings will be replaced by plastic or aluminium ones which are strong but much lighter to help reduce the weight of the BCD. Dump valves are one-way over pressure valves to allow excess gas to escape when you're fully inflated and allow you to dump gas in the water to adjust your buoyancy. Usually located behind your right shoulder and near the kidneys, you'll have a small cord that you can pull to open the valve.

Most BCDs have at least two so you can alter your buoyancy in any position. Some modern BCDs have pull dump built into the inflator on the left shoulder by a small cable inside the corrugated hose so when you pull the inflator down in an upright position you will dump gas. You should learn where these are by feel so you can quickly and intuitively dump gas without looking. Make sure that your BCD has enough pockets and D-rings for the kind of diving that you are planning to do most.

Often D-rings are pre-bent over your shoulders to flare outwards towards the bottom which makes attaching clips much easier than with flat D-rings which tend to lay flat against the BCD or straight out, usually found around your waist.

In tropical waters, one or two small pockets will suffice. They are useful for carrying things like your Fish ID slate. For temperate and cold water diving, you will probably want to carry more equipment such as a dSMB and reel, or spare mask, but you can always use thigh pockets for extra storage. We have plenty of amazing scuba diving BCD options available for you to choose from, but the following are our favourites:.

It's made rugged and durable to take the rigors of frequent diving, and is more feature packed than comparable jacket BCDs. A back inflation style buoyancy control device that is extremely lightweight, weighing in at a mere 2 kg 4. This female specific version of the Cressi Ultralight BCD features a cut to better suit women, plus lilac coloured trim.

With ample stainless steel D-rings for clipping on accessories, and a high lift capacity rear inflation bladder for improved trim and control in the water, this BC is great for whatever recreational diving you may wish to do.

Because we believe this is a great solution not only for divers learning buoyancy control, but also for experienced divers who want better trim and stability in the water from their BCD. This is the sturdy hanger you need to properly hang and dry your BCD. We use them in the dive shop for our scuba rental equipment, plus on our own personal BCDs. Mineral deposits and salt crystals when allowed to dry can cut right through the Urethane Laminate or Bladder requiring replacement of the BCD bag or bladder.

This stuff will keep your BCD smelling fresh and clean from salinity. It cleans, kills bacteria, deodorises and prolongs the life of your valuable BCD. You are shopping with a real scuba store. Divers Supply has 4 locations and has been in business since Secure bit encrypted payment pages Full manufacturers warranties Huge range of scuba gear Discounted web prices Choice of shipping methods with cost shown before checkout Caring for your BCD Your BCD is an essential piece of equipment to help you control your entire dive from your descent to your return to the surface.

After rinsing, inflate the BC, and allow it to dry inside and out. Both chlorine and salt water can harm your BCD. Make sure you drain all the water out of your BC after using it.

First, fill it to one-third full with fresh water, swish the water around and then drain the water from your BC. Leave your BC fully inflated until it dries. By doing so, you are testing the firmness of the bladder and valves. My Wish List. Last Added Items. Add to Cart Add to Cart. Remove This Item. Go to Wish List. Recent Posts. August February November Just so you know, some of the links in our articles contain affiliate links.

If you click them and make a purchase on one of our partner sites, we will earn a commission. Thank you for supporting Social Diving this way! Find the best places to buy dive equipment here. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content. Buying a BCD for beginners in Backmount vs Sidemount There are both Backmount, and Sidemount BCD configurations which refer to the placement of the scuba tanks during a dive.

A BCD helps us float and control our buoyancy underwater. Travel BCDs In recent years, travel BCDs have come to the market and basically, every manufacturer has its own offering for one of them. Check out Dive Right in Scuba. Dive Right in Scuba My top pick for buying scuba gear online Based in the US, Dive Right in Scuba offers a large inventory, super great support, and will be your one-stop shop for anything scuba diving.

Check out LeisurePro. Leisure Pro Another top pick for buying scuba gear online Another large retailer based in the US, Leisure Pro offers very competitive prices and carries all major scuba brands and items. Check out Amazon. Amazon Perfect for scuba gear and electronics No introduction is needed on this one. Dive in With Us! I would like to receive communication from Social Diving via email.

Thank you for signing up. An error occured. Buy on Amazon. Buy on Dive Right in Scuba. It will give you great trim in the water, looks really nice, and is super comfortable. Get the aluminum plate for traveling and the steel one, if you dive in cold water. Always dive with friends and happy bubbles!

It's fun.