Equipment Upgrades: BCDs

Jacket-Style Professional BCDs

The most popular upgrades with Aquanauts interns, these traditonal, unisex jacket style BCDs emphasize comfort and functionality for the professional Divemaster or Instructor. All offer ample pockets, integrated weight systems, trim weight pockets, lots of D-rings plus extra padding for those long work days.

T-Force

Pro QD

Introduced in 2006, the T-Force is the new Scubapro BCD for instructors and divemasters. Featuring classic reliability packed with innovative design & comfort extras,the T-Force is really for anyone anting top features in a modern BCD. Features the soft-padded & anti-slip T-Comfort backpack, trim weight pockets, expandable pockets, 6 stainless steel D-rings, and integrated weights.

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Search diving-related message boards such as Scubaboard or Yorkshire-Divers.com and you'll find people raving about the Seaquest Pro QD. "The best BC I've ever used," is not an uncommon comment. Why? The Pro QD continues quality and innovation and Seaquest's attention to detail makes the Pro QD the choice of the serious diver.

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Back-Inflation BCDs

The latest trend in BCDs, these BCDs combine the traditional jacket with a technical-diving style "wing." The result s a BCD that puts less squeeze on the abdomen and when even slightly inflated under water, ensures optimal dive positioning. Women looking for a back-inflation BCD should look below in the Women's BCDs section.

Knight Hawk

Balance

A robust and comfortable jacket with many performance features that deliver outstanding comfort, and easy handling.

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The Balance couples a rear bladder with a patented harness system that provides exceptional support and load distribution. Looking for the best in fit and comfort in a streamlined package? Look no further than the Balance.

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BCDs for Women

With women now make up a third or more of all new divers, scuba equipment manufacturers have responded with gear specially designed to better fit female forms and tastes. These BCDs not only flash a little more style, but are better proportioned than men's/unisex BCDs. Cmberbunds are slightly higher, bluckles fit more snugly and some vests even dispose of chest buckles that can cause discomfort. Many makers have also made their women's BCDs back-inflation style to descrease the squeeze.

Diva LX

Libra

The Diva LX provides all the features expected in a high-end buoyancy compensator: excellent fit, additional lift capacity, bigger pockets and more attachment points. The Diva provides excellent fit, large lift capacity, big pockets and plenty of accessory attachment points in a traditional jacket-style BCD.

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The Libra was specifically designed for women and features sculpted fit and shape. Additionally, many divers prefer back inflation as it provides greater freedom at the front of the BC and excellent stability while diving. For women divers that prefer the more streamlined approach that back inflation can offer, the Libra BC provides the perfect fit.

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Lady Hawk

Kaila

Tailored to the female torso, the Ladyhawk was designed form the bottom up to fit a woman's shape better than an all-purpose BCD. It features a progressively shaped aircell/back buoyancy and backpack style harness, rear weight pockets and quick-release integrated weights.

• Tailored specifically for female torso
Offers optimum comfort and diving control.
• Progressively shaped aircell/back buoyancy
• Backpack style harness
• Patented one-step quick-release weight integrated system
For maximum safety and comfort; pouches hold up to 5 kg each.
• Rear trim pockets
Holds up to 1.5 kg of non releaseable weights each.
• Rugged 1000 Denier/420 Denier Nylon packcloth
• Soft neoprene neck roll
• Pull-down accessory pocket
• Depth-compensating cummerbund
• Single side waist strap adjustment
• Available with optional AIR 2

The heart of Mares' "She Dives" line, the Kaila was designed especially for the female diver. The Kaila features the same airfill bag and MRS+ weight system as the top-end Dragon and the slender design of the front also facilitates buoyancy and comfort. The Kaila also features dual adjustable shoulder straps to adapt to different torso lengths and the Italian flair for style Mares is famous for.

Because the buoyancy-cell is separate from the harness, it expands outwards, away from the diver. This equates to armchair comfort while bobbing at the surface with a mouth-height well above the water," wrote Diver magazine in the U.K. "Under water, buoyancy-compensating air goes just where you want it - high at the back and at either side of the tank. And when it comes to dumping air, the alternative top dumps, one operated by pulling on the corrugated hose of the direct-feed and the other by pulling on a cord threaded through the shoulder straps and terminated with a big toggle, are in exactly the right place.

Travel BCDs

If you plan to wander the globe, dive and teach scuba, then airline travel limits (not to mention your own physical limits) have to be a concern. Travel BCDs like the ones below offer much of the same comfort and functionality without the weight. Constructed of lighter materials and components, these BCDs can be as much as half the weight of traditional jacket-style BCDs. You'll give up a few things, such as stainless stell in the D-rings and some pockets, but if travel is your plan, then the tradeoffs may be worth it.

T-Sport

Passport

"Scubapro seems to have got the features-versus-weight balance just about right with the T-Sport," says Diver magazine in the U.K. "The manufacturer has stripped out all the bits you don't want, but has kept the essentials you do want - making it a good, all-round travel BC. There are heaps of D-rings, three dump valves, two good-sized pockets and easy-to-operate buckles.

One particularly nice feature is the stainless-steel cam buckle to attach the cylinder to. Yes, this does add weight, but in this case is justified by it being virtually indestructible. The backpack has just about enough padding on it, while the wide shoulder straps make the T-Sport easy to put on without it twisting around.

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The Passport BC has been completely redesigned for 2007. While it still retains its travel-friendly features such as light-weight materials, packability and integrated rinse bag, it boast a fresh, new look and a new backpack.
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