When Jacques Cousteau invented the first scuba gear, divers simply strapped the tank to their back—no buoyancy control device (BCD) existed. As diving progressed, technical and cave divers drove innovations to improve safety, comfort, and control underwater. Traditional BCD designs often resemble a jacket, allowing divers to carry essential items like slates and knives. Now things are getting serious with many more options for recreational and tech divers to choose from.Â
If you’re getting further into your diving journey you may want to think about investing in more of your own diving equipment. Although a BCD might seem like a big investment if you are considering going pro and completing your Divemaster course, it’s the perfect time to invest in one. With all the choices out there it may seem tough to choose the right style. Here we try our best to lay out all the options and of course dish out some of our expert advice!
Jacket Style vs. Wing Style BCD
The jacket-style BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) is a common style, popular among recreational divers. It inflates around the diver’s torso, providing lift from both the back and sides, making it easier for divers to remain upright at the water’s surface. However this can also influence your underwater orientation if you add air during your dive. This style is designed with large front pockets for convenient access to essential equipment like diving slates, knives, and ocean cleanup bags. Many jacket-style BCDs offer integrated weight systems, allowing divers to place weights directly into the BCD rather than relying on a weight belt.Â
Wing style BCD have their origins in technical diving where the concept of a balanced rig and perfect trim are important— partially in penetration diving. The wing style BCD will minimize extra buoyant material and will allow a diver to more easily obtain good trim underwater. The air wraps around the tank and the metal plate aligns with your lungs. This allows for you to have better trim and a more balanced rig. Better trim equals better buoyancy and better buoyancy allows for better air consumption, being safer and increasing your time underwater! Can you tell we are a bit biased in our BCD choice.Â
Weight Integration: Key Considerations
A common question in BCD diving is whether you need a BCD with weight integration. Integrated weight pockets offer a quick-release mechanism higher on the torso, enhancing trim and buoyancy compared to traditional weight belts. Combining a wing-style BCD with this setup often allows divers to reduce their overall lead weight, improving safety and control.
Quick-Release Mechanisms and Customization of Your BCD
Different types of quick-release options in BCDs support a range of diving needs. Some BCDs, particularly those designed for instructors or those who require fast donning and doffing, offer quick-release shoulder straps along with waist releases. Alternatively, a more streamlined setup, like the Hogarthian harness, has a single-release point, with the idea that divers should carry a cutting tool for emergencies.
For dive professionals, choosing the right quick-release options might also impact student training. Some instructors prefer wearing jacket-style BCDs for teaching, as students may find this configuration more familiar. However, exposing students to different BCD setups can build adaptability, allowing them to learn essential pre-dive safety checks and understand various equipment. We think having the ability for students to learn more various types of equipment is a good thing!Â
Weight and Portability
If you’re a frequent traveler, you may want a lighter, more compact BCD designed specifically for travel. Consider how often you’ll need to pack your dive gear. For those taking frequent diving trips, compact options can make traveling with your dive gear both easier and more enjoyable.
BCD Cost
The cost of a BCD can vary significantly depending on its style, features, and brand, typically ranging from around 2 Mill IDR for entry-level models to over 15 Mill IDR for advanced, technical BCDs. Factors like material quality, additional buoyancy adjustments, integrated weight systems, and quick-release mechanisms can increase a BCD’s price. Generally, jacket-style BCDs tend to be more affordable, making them popular among recreational divers, while backplate and wing-style BCDs, preferred by technical divers for their customizability, are usually at the higher end of the price spectrum. Investing in a high-quality BCD that suits your diving style is essential, as it enhances comfort, safety, and longevity of the equipment, making the purchase worthwhile in the long run.
Choosing the right BCD is all about finding what works for you based on your diving style, comfort, and travel needs. Curious about how to choose other gear for diving? Maybe you want to check out our blog on choosing the right dive mask and fins!
