How to Choose a BCD: Jacket, Back-Inflate or Wing

A BCD lets you float at the surface, kneel on the bottom or hover in mid-water. It comes in several styles: jacket, back-inflate, wing with backplate, and sidemount. So the real question is not "which BCD is best" but "which style fits the way I dive".

This guide sums up PADI's advice on choosing one and the facts from each brand's official site. Then it sorts every BCD and wing we sell by the kind of diving it suits, with the prices on our site.

What is a BCD?

BCD stands for Buoyancy Control Device. Some divers say Buoyancy Compensator, or just BC; PADI says these all mean the same piece of gear.

PADI explains that a BCD does exactly what its name says: it gives you control in the water. Add air to float comfortably at the surface, let air out to kneel or stand on the bottom, or adjust it to hover in mid-water. The BCD also holds your tank.

The standard parts PADI lists for a BCD:

• An inflatable bladder
• A low-pressure inflator that also lets you inflate by mouth
• A deflator and an overpressure valve
• Adjustable straps and buckles
• An adjustable tank band with a sturdy back plate

Types of BCD

PADI suggests picking a style for the conditions you dive in most, before you think about size.

Jacket

PADI calls the jacket the most popular style for recreational diving. The harness and air bladder are one unit. The bladder sits mainly on your back and wraps under your arms, which keeps you balanced when you inflate it at the surface.

Examples in our shop: Aqualung Pro HD and Axiom. SCUBAPRO calls its Hydros X a front-adjustable BCD and says this style gives you buoyancy at the surface and makes it easier to stay upright.

Back-inflate

PADI does not list this as a style of its own, but brands use the name for several models: Aqualung Rogue, Dimension, Lotus and Pro HD Compact, and SCUBAPRO Hydros Pro 2. On Rogue and Dimension, the Bladder Retraction System pulls in the sides of the bladder as you deflate, to keep you streamlined and cut drag (according to Aqualung).

Wing and backplate

PADI describes this as a back-mounted wing bladder, and technical systems as a wing combined with a harness. A PADI article says wings are growing in popularity for recreational single-tank diving because they are simple, that most technical divers wear a wing, and that a wing can take twin tanks.

Apeks says single-cylinder "donut" wings began in technical diving but are becoming very popular with recreational divers. The air cell is a continuous loop, so it is very stable underwater, with no dramatic shift of air from left to right. Some wings are sold as a wing only, such as the Dive Rite Voyager, which pairs with a metal backplate and harness. The Apeks WTX Complete Kits come pre-assembled.

Sidemount

PADI explains sidemount as two tanks carried at your sides, not on your back. It is used in recreational, technical and cave diving. PADI says it suits divers who find two smaller tanks easier to carry and gear up with, and helps those who have difficulty lifting or walking with a tank on their back. Sidemount can reduce drag, and many divers find it more comfortable than a back-mounted tank.

Sidemount needs training first. PADI runs a Sidemount Diver course for recreational diving, and Dive Rite's Nomad Ray quick start guide says plainly that it is no replacement for proper training.

Travel BCDs

PADI says travel BCDs are made of lighter materials. Another PADI article says that if you dive on holidays, look at travel BCDs that are light and roll up in your luggage; if you mostly dive at home, a heavier-duty BCD may suit you better.

BCDs for women

PADI notes that some jacket BCDs are made specifically for women. In our shop: Aqualung Pro HD Women's, Axiom Women's and Axiom i3+ Women's (jackets) and the Lotus (back-inflate). Aqualung makes them shorter, or gives them a scalloped edge and curved shoulder straps, to fit a shorter torso and keep pressure and rubbing off the hips. SCUBAPRO's Hydros X comes in a Women's version with the same features as the Men's; only the size range differs.

Integrated weights

A PADI article says most divers either wear a weight belt or use an integrated weight system that holds the weights in pockets on the BCD, which reduces or removes the need for a belt. Which you use is up to you and your gear. On PADI's BCD page, integrated weights are an optional feature, not something every BCD has.

Each brand does it differently:

• Aqualung uses its patented SureLock II system: the weight pockets lock in with an audible click and come out with one pull
• SCUBAPRO Hydros X has quick-release buckles in a fixed place, so you can work them with one hand; Hydros Pro 2 uses a Monorail that lets you slide the pockets in and lock them with one hand, and each Standard pocket holds up to 4.5 kg (10 lb)
• Dive Rite Hydro Lite holds up to 12 lb (5.4 kg) of weight in total

To see how much weight each model takes, check its product page. Many brands don't give a figure, so ask us on LINE.

How to fit a BCD and pick the right size

PADI puts fit and comfort first, then style, colour and optional features. A BCD should last several years, so don't trade fit for price.

BCD fitting checklist

• Try it on, and try several sizes if you are unsure (PADI)
• If you will dive in a drysuit or a thick wetsuit, wear it when you try the BCD (PADI)
• With the BCD on, adjust and clip every strap and release, and test the inflator and deflator (PADI)
• Inflate it fully by mouth and check it is still comfortable, not too tight (PADI)
• Check that the inflator hose works with your regulator setup (PADI)
• If the product page has no size chart yet, send us your height, weight and chest size on LINE and we will help you pick

Rent or buy a BCD?

New divers can rent a BCD at first. A PADI article suggests buying the bigger items, such as regulators, suits and BCDs, later, once you know what suits you underwater. While you rent, ask to try different options so you can see which works best for you.

PADI also warns that a badly fitting rental BCD can really take away from your enjoyment, and says one benefit of owning a BCD is that it stays set up the way you left it, so you don't relearn different gear on every dive. If you decide to buy, PADI suggests going in with a clear idea of what you need, such as big pockets or integrated weights.

For which gear to buy first, see our scuba gear list for beginners.

Our BCDs and wings: which one suits you

We are an authorised dealer for GULL, SCUBAPRO, Apeks, Dive Rite and Aqualung. Below, every BCD and wing we sell is sorted by use, based on what each brand states. Prices are the ones on our site when this guide was written; the product page always has the latest, and we confirm price and stock on LINE when you order. To compare specs line by line, see Compare BCDs and Compare wings / backplates.

Jacket and front-adjustable

The brands don't name a skill level for these models. If you are new and not sure, ask us on LINE.

• Aqualung Pro HD Men's · ฿23,400: a wrap-around jacket with SureLock II integrated weights that Aqualung says appeals to a wide range of divers. Resiste K fabric resists fading and abrasion in saltwater and chlorine.
• Aqualung Pro HD Women's · ฿23,400: Pro HD shaped for women, with curved shoulder straps and a shorter torso that rests comfortably on the hips. Sizes XS–ML.
• Aqualung Axiom Men's · ฿32,390: a jacket with the Wrapture inner harness, which holds the BCD snug so it doesn't ride up at the surface and keeps the tank close to your centre of gravity. Aqualung says it supports easy trim and no rolling underwater.
• Aqualung Axiom Women's · ฿32,390: Axiom cut for women, with shorter sides and a scalloped bottom so it doesn't rub on your hips.
• Aqualung Axiom i3+ Men's · ฿33,870: the i3+ system puts buoyancy on one side lever: pull up to inflate, push down to open all the exhaust valves, without changing position. Aqualung lists 9 kg of ditchable weight for sizes XS–ML and 13.5 kg for L–XXL.
• Aqualung Axiom i3+ Women's · ฿33,870: Axiom i3+ in a shorter women's cut, with scalloped sides that take pressure off the hips.
• SCUBAPRO Hydros X · ฿46,080: a front-adjustable BCD with moulded Monprene shoulders and back pad that shape to your body, and integrated weights you release with one hand. Men's and Women's versions, with 13.2–20.3 kg (Men's) and 13.2–17.3 kg (Women's) of lift by size. Choose a BPI or Air2 inflator (Air2 builds a backup regulator into the inflator).

Back-inflate

• Aqualung Dimension · ฿28,990: Aqualung's men's back-inflation BCD with the Wrapture harness. Every size holds up to 13.5 kg of lead: 9 kg ditchable and 4.5 kg in pockets on the back. The chest strap slides on a rail to clear drysuit valves.
• Aqualung Lotus · ฿28,990: Aqualung's women's back-inflation BCD, with shoulder straps and side lobes curved to a woman's shape, the Wrapture harness and SureLock II integrated weights.
• SCUBAPRO Hydros Pro 2 · ฿36,725: SCUBAPRO's second-generation back-inflated BCD. One-hand Monorail weight pockets, a quick-dry bladder, and it folds flat to 58 × 28 × 14 cm. Eight colours, and quick tank switches from aluminium to steel.
• Aqualung Rogue · ฿29,190: Aqualung made it for accomplished divers who know exactly what they want. Back, shoulder and waist sizes set separately, 27 configurations in all; 15 L (35 lb) of lift; 2.2 kg overall. New to diving? Look at the jacket group first, or ask us.

Travel

• DIVE RITE Hydro Lite · ฿29,900: a travel BCD at 6.2 lb (2.8 kg), with a soft backplate that packs down easily, 30 lb of lift and 12 lb of integrated weight. Dive Rite designed it for 7-inch cylinders and calls it ideal for warm-water single-tank diving.
• Aqualung Pro HD Compact · ฿23,400: a back-inflation travel BCD with no hard pack that packs flat or rolled. Aqualung says a size ML/L weighs under 2.2 kg with the airway and weight pockets included.

Wing and backplate

Apeks made the WTX Complete Kits for seasoned technical divers and anyone looking to take their diving to the next level. The Voyager wings are sold as a wing only, so you also need a backplate and harness. Never used a backplate and wing? Ask us on LINE before you order.

• Apeks WTX-D30 Complete Kit · ฿32,990 · Aluminium: a single-cylinder donut wing with 32 lbs (14.5 kg) of lift, plus a backplate and deluxe harness, fully assembled. Choose an aluminium or a stainless-steel plate.
• Apeks WTX-D40 Complete Kit · ฿34,490 · Aluminium: the same kit as the WTX-D30, with the WTX-D40 wing. Apeks' pages for this kit do not state the lift, so ask us before you order.
• DIVE RITE Voyager XT · ฿24,020: a 35 lb (15.9 kg) single-tank wing that Dive Rite calls ideal for steel cylinders in warm water, or heavier exposure protection in moderate temperatures. SuperFabric® guards against abrasion. Wing only.
• DIVE RITE Voyager · ฿19,400: the same lift and size as the Voyager XT, with a 1680-denier ballistic nylon outer bladder, 2.5 lb (1.1 kg), in five colours. Wing only.

Sidemount

Get sidemount training first: PADI runs a Sidemount Diver course, and Dive Rite's Nomad Ray quick start guide says it is no replacement for proper training.

• DIVE RITE Nomad Mini · ฿32,900: a small sidemount wing with 25 lb (11.3 kg) of lift, which Dive Rite made for warm water and strictly for aluminium cylinders. Up to 10 lb of lead inside the wing.
• DIVE RITE Nomad Ray · ฿35,900: 42 lb (19 kg) of lift. Dive Rite says it suits aluminium or steel tanks, warm or cold water, from entry-level sidemount to technical dives. Single or dual bladder.

BCD care after diving

PADI advises rinsing your BCD with fresh water, inside and out, after every use. Let it dry completely, out of direct sunlight as much as you can, and store it partly inflated in a cool, dry place with the weights taken out of the pockets.

Where to buy a BCD

Buy from an authorised dealer and you get the brand's warranty. Order on LINE @diverecords: choose the model and size on the product page, then tap order on LINE. Shipping within Thailand is free from ฿2,000. You can exchange sizes within 7 days if the item is unused and has never been in the water (you pay shipping both ways unless we sent the wrong item or it is faulty). Details are on our shipping and returns page.

New to diving? Watch our tips for beginners.

FAQ

What is a BCD in scuba diving?

A BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) is the piece of gear PADI says gives you control in the water. You add or release air to float at the surface, kneel on the bottom or hover in mid-water, and it also holds your tank.

Is a BCD the same as a BC?

Yes. PADI says most divers call their Buoyancy Control Device or Buoyancy Compensator a BCD or BC for short.

What is the difference between a jacket BCD and a wing?

A jacket combines the harness and bladder in one unit, with the bladder wrapping under your arms; PADI calls it the most popular style for recreational diving. A wing is a back-mounted bladder used with a backplate and harness; PADI says it is simple, growing in popularity for single-tank diving, and worn by most technical divers.

Should a new diver buy a BCD straight away?

You don't have to. PADI suggests buying bigger items like a BCD later, once you know what suits you, and trying different options while you rent. PADI also warns that a badly fitting rental BCD can really take away from your enjoyment.

How much does a BCD cost?

When this guide was written, BCDs on our site ran from ฿23,400 (Aqualung Pro HD) to ฿46,080 (SCUBAPRO Hydros X), and wings from ฿19,400 (DIVE RITE Voyager, wing only) to ฿35,900 (DIVE RITE Nomad Ray). Each model's price is in the list above; we confirm price and stock on LINE when you order.

How is a travel BCD different?

PADI says travel BCDs are made of lighter materials and roll up in your luggage. In our shop: the DIVE RITE Hydro Lite and the Aqualung Pro HD Compact, and the SCUBAPRO Hydros Pro 2 also folds flat.

Do I need training for a sidemount BCD?

Yes. PADI runs a Sidemount Diver course for recreational diving, and Dive Rite's Nomad Ray quick start guide says it is no replacement for proper training.