The right Buoyancy Compensator Device is one of the most vital elements of your SCUBA kit. Today’s buoyancy compensators are manufactured in a wide variety of styles with different functional features, and the choices can be mind boggling. You know you want to stay comfortable, float on the surface, and adjust for neutral buoyancy at depth, but do you want a jacket style BCD, or a back inflated BCD? Does your new BCD need to accept certain accessories? This guide is designed to help demystify the process of buying that first buoyancy compensator or replacing one that is sorely outdated. The styles, features, and benefits are many, and there is no “best” BCD – your choice should be based on your personal preference and on the way you intend to use your buoyancy compensator.
Back Inflation BCD’s vs. Jacket Style BCD’s: What’s the Difference?
A jacket style buoyancy compensator is designed to provide flotation all around the core of your body, while a back inflation provides flotation at the back of the vest. Both provide the same basic functions of allowing you and your equipment to float on the surface and adjust for neutral buoyancy at depth.
First, let’s talk about a few features these styles have in common. Both come with a variety of waist and shoulder adjustments to allow you to custom fit the BC to your frame, and quick releases at the shoulders make removing the BCD easier. Look for between 620-1600 denier – the denier number simply designates material strength.
Both styles come with a variety of different options for weight placement. Some have trim weight pockets, typically located on the back surface, which are used for trim only – weights you place in these pockets are not normally ditchable. Some models have integrated weight systems where you carry weight in pockets; this weight is easy to access and can be ditched in an emergency. Still other styles require you to wear a separate weight belt.
The number of D-rings and pockets, lumbar support pads, shoulder dump valves, and adjustable cummerbunds on either style is variable; mainly, these are designed to allow for easier use and greater comfort.
Now, for the differences between the two basic styles; you probably learned to dive while wearing a jacket / vest style buoyancy compensator. This style provides excellent vertical stability at the surface, since it has an air cell that wraps all the way around the body. Normally featuring big easy-access pockets on the lower front portion, plus a Velcro closure at the waistline, this style offers good lift capacity in both warm and cold water. If you are a newer diver, or if it has been a while since you have dived, a jacket style BCD makes achieving neutral buoyancy simple - since you can feel the air increase inside the unit, it takes only a little practice to get a sense of how much air it takes to effect a buoyancy change.
Back Inflation BCD’s allow for greater range of motion and a streamlined feel. With cummerbund closures or simple front buckles at the waistline, this style normally has a high lift capacity for heavy loads, although some models are designed to bear lighter weights. Many of the newest models have pockets for inboard storage, along with utility pockets or D-rings on the straps. Like jacket style BC’s, Back Inflation BC’s are normally designed for use in either cold or warm water. Normally, back inflation BC’s have two cylinder bands to secure your tank, while jacket styles tend to have only a single band. In addition, this style tends to have a soft pack design rather than a hard built in backpack. Divers using back inflation BCD’s normally rely on the air cell to cradle the cylinder.
Best for divers who have a good grasp on proper buoyancy control in a variety of conditions, back inflation BCD’s allow for a more natural feeling. In addition, they are nice for travel, as they weigh less and take up less space – you can easily fold it into a small square. If you plan to travel by air for most of your diving, learning to use a back inflation BC allows you to save room in your luggage for other items.
BCD’s for Technical Divers
Built from heavier materials and designed for comfortable wear on lengthy dives, buoyancy compensators for tech diving have higher lift capacity and great stability. These features allows for deco tanks and extra gear. The newest styles feature modular designs, so you can re-fit the harness to encompass everything from multiple tanks to different air cells to back plates. Great for avid photographers as well as technical divers, these BC’s often feature the capacity to attach specialized light systems and big battery canisters.
In addition, back inflation BC’s can often be downscaled for travel and dives where you don’t need a lot of extras. Most models are designed for use in either cold or warm water environments, so you can go ice diving or travel to the tropics with the same familiar gear.
Just for Women
A variety of buoyancy compensators designed to accommodate the female frame more comfortably are available in different styles, and manufacturers are offering more choices than ever. In general, BCD’s for women tend to have shorter torsos, narrower shoulder straps that are designed to curve away from the chest for comfort and ease of use. While most women can get away with wearing a unisex model, and while some find that men’s BC’s fit perfectly well, those with curvier frames will appreciate the way these specially designed BCD’s feel.
Overall comfort and ease of use should be your main goal when choosing any BCD. If you’re a new diver and plan to dive frequently, consider getting a buoyancy compensator you can grow into – while a model with more features does cost a bit more than something with bare bones features, it is less costly in the long run to get one you’ll be able to use for years instead of choosing one that you will need to upgrade after a season or two. With proper maintenance, your new buoyancy compensator will last you for many dives to come.