What BCD is good for me?
So with all of the different styles of BCD's on the market, how do I know which one is right for me?
Well it's like choosing a car for example, they are fundamentally the same and will all have a steering wheel, a set of wheels driven by an engine, somewhere for the driver and normally at least one passanger to sit and they will all get you from A to B around town.
But it's how it gets you there that makes the difference and of course your choice can be defined by your budget.
The added features available on a car like heated electric seats and windows, mirrors with cameras and sensors make it easier to use. Styling that makes it pleasing to the eye. Safety features that reassure you and your family to drive it. The power coming from the engine to give you the speed and power needed for your journey and enjoyment.
The style of vehicle can be a cosmetic choice or it may be a practicle one. Is it designed to go off road, go fast, handle the family or take a large load?
So all BCD's will take a cylinder and have a bladder that you can control the amount of air going in and out of for your buoyancy. But what else do you want or need?
Whether you are collecting scallops in the harbour, chasing crays around the rocks, taking photos on the reef, exploring ship wrecks or heading overseas for a tropical holiday, fundamentally a great BCD should enable you do all of these things. This is true whether you are diving on a single tank or doubles.
We feel that the following features are key in a BCD.
- Easy to don and doff
- Weight integrated with easy to use weight pockets
- Comfortable and fits well - correct sizing and adjustments for body size and shape
- Easy to use
- Streamlined - Not bulky
- Stable in the water
Added features that we really like
- Adjustable D - Rings - for stowing gear
- Modular system - for easy maintanence
- Weighted back plate - for greater weight distribution.
- Octi Pocket
- Colour Options - some can be personalised
After learning to dive in a wrap around jacket using a weight belt, I continued to use this style for about 60 dives in the tropics in my 3mm suit not knowing any different. When I finally bought my first BCD, it was weight integrated, but still a jacket. Where I was diving in Asia, weight intergrated had become popular, but rear inflation BCD's were not a common sight like they are today.
After a few years of diving with this BCD I came to New Zealand where I moved from a 3mm wetsuit to a 7mm wetsuit and eventually a drysuit. This meant alot of extra lead. My weight pockets were not so easy to load into my BCD any more and it felt bulky. This is when I upgraded to a Scubapro Knighthawk. With all of the inflation behind me and larger and easier to lock in weight pockets, the BCD felt free'er and not as restrictive. In the water it was even better as the rear inflation stablises you into a horizontal position.
Around 300 dives later I got to try a back plate and harness and now it is my BCD style of choice. My original one wasn't a quick adjust system, so it took some time to get it set up correctly, but now I have adjustable straps on it and so it's really easy to adjust and get on and off.
I am happy in either style of rear inflation BCD to teach students how to dive, to take photos and videos, wiggle through a wreck, as well as collect scallops in the harbour or grab a crayfish on the reef as they make it easy.
Some divers are worried about weight for travel and so a quick drying and light model is ideal. These tend to be aimed at casual users and so not as robust as the want ot save on weight using lighter materials.
Correct size is important as it needs to be big enough to fit with enough lift to keep you buoyant on the surface with your cylinder and weights in.
Our absolute favourite for the past 7 years is the Back Plate and Harness design. It is getting more and more popular outside of technical diving as divers are exposed to them. It can be adjusted to fit a vast array of body sizes. So if you are a dive school renting out BCD's, or a young person still growing or want a BCD to share amongst a group this ONE SIZE FITS ALL harness is fantastic. Of course if it is your harness, you can cut off any excess harness webbing when correctly sized.
