Top 10 Best Scuba BCDs reviews 2021 – What Matters

Another important piece of gear that you do not want to overlook is the  buoyancy control device (BCD). It is also known as buoyancy compensator. Getting the best scuba BCDs that fits you will help to ensure a better diving experience and getting comfortable underwater.

The other important scuba equipments are dive computers, dive masks and dive regulators.

In this comprehensive buyer's guide, you will be able to familarize with the basic parts of a scuba BCD and how to choose the best scuba BCDs that matches your needs and everything else is secondary.

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Thank you for visiting Aqua Junkies. We've done our best to provide you with the most in-depth consumer guide with honest and accurate information relating to the best scuba BCDs currently on the market. A significant amount of time has been invested in providing you with this information, so We do hope you find it useful.

Most Recommended (Travel Scuba BCD):  If you haven't got the time to read our entire buyer's guide then I would suggest that you check out our editors' choice, Zeagle Stiletto, a well designed full features travel scuba BCD which includes the weight integration system yet it is light weight and compactness for travel that helps to avoid excess baggage fees.

It has five generous D-rings and two utility zipped pockets for accessories. 

Most Recommended (Scuba BCD):  For the best Scuba BCD, I would suggest that you check out our editors' top choice, Zeagle Ranger Scuba BCD, a hot favourite scuba BCD among the divers because of its versatility for both tropical water or temperate water diving.

The ability to have single or twin cylinders during deep dive and plenty of stainless steel D-rings. There is two large utility zipped pockets for accessories such as DSMB or dive knife.

Now, Iet's dive straight down into the best scuba BCDs in the market right now.

Top Buying Guide To Find The Best Scuba BCDs For You in 2022

Here is the short list of the best BCDs that we have uncovered during our research through many nights of coffees.

Basic Parts of A Scuba BCD

A) Dump Valves

Dump Valves let you expel air without using the deflator. The more dump valves a scuba BCD has the better. It is usually located on the rear right shoulder section and rear left hip section. Typically, most scuba BCDs have two.

It is not surprising for modern scuba BCD to have an additional dump valve built into the inflator/deflator system on the left shoulder.

B) Pockets & D-Rings

Depending on the type of diving that you are planning to do most, by having the right number of pockets and D-rings is important.

D-rings

There are two types of D-rings, the pre-bent outward D-rings which makes attaching clips much easier and the flat D-rings that lay flat against the BCD.

Pockets

Two pockets are usually sufficient for tropical dive or recreational dive for carrying your Fish ID slate. For cold water diving, you will probably need to have more pockets to carry more equipment such as delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB), reel or spare mask.

C) Inflator/Deflator Mechanism

This normal inflator/deflator system allows a diver to inflate or deflate the scuba BCD on a push of the button.

D) Air Bladders/POCKETS

The air bladders is where the pockets of air goes to or draw from when the BCD is inflated by the inflator or deflated by the deflator.

E) Adjustable Band

This is located at the rear of the scuba BCD that secure the scuba tank. Divers are able to change their tanks easily whenever needed.

How To Choose Your Best Scuba BCD Smartly

A buoyancy control device is used to adjust and calibrate a diver's buoyancy. The BCDs are designed to be one of the most important scuba gear for diving which can be easily inflated or deflated with a touch button. This allows the diver to hover, ascend and descend underwater.

Another purpose for BCD is to secure the scuba tank to the diver's body. 

Sizing

Sizing defers between men and ladies. The BCD design is slightly different as well between men and ladies. For Ladies' BCD, it is specially designed for shorter backs support and chest straps are omitted to prevent compressing to the chest.

The follow is the general size chart for selecting a BCD. For example, if you have a 43" chest and wear a dry suit of 2". You should get a BCD with 45" chest size.

However, It is always best to refer to the manufacturers BCD size chart.

Integrated Weights

Some buoyancy compensator models come with weight integration where you may not need to get a weight belt. Currently, it could not be the sole weight system if drysuit or wetsuit are worn. 

Thus, it is still advisable to get a weight belt. Though, weight integrated BCDs can help lessen any bruised hips by the weight belt after diving for warm water divers or ladies divers.

Lift Requirements

Every BCDs has its own set of lift capacity (amount of negative weight the BCD can  float). Divers should not be lazy and used it as a way to replace proper weighting.

The very first lesson that you learn during diving is about managing your weight during your dive. You should ensure that you are correctly weighted and not overweighted.

Below is weight guide reference on what it should be like:

BCDs Style

Generally, there are two primary scuba BCDs styles that are dominant among the divers. namely the wing style or harness style.

Wing Style

A wing style has inflation bladders on the back. There will be a tendency to turn the diver face down. It is more suitable for experienced, technical divers who knows what they are doing.

However, most divers like the "pro" look of the wing style BCD and failed to consider the level of proficiency, safety and performance.

You should go for the wing style BCD because you want to keep your front area free from clutter, you are an experienced travelling diver due to the ease of packing down the travel wings or you need to use multiple cylinders.

Harness Style

The harness style has its inflation pockets at the front and back which is suitable for new divers in recreational diving.

Alternate Inflator Regulators

All scuba BCDS comes with a basic inflator/deflator mechanism that can be replaced with an alternate inflator regulator that allows you to perform the same inflation and deflation with an addition of a spare second stage regulator. 

If you have an existing regulator that you used, it will be advisable to check if it will be compatible with the BCD.

if you don't have one, we got you cover with our best scuba regulator buyer's guide. 

What Are The Advantages of a Good Scuba BCD?

By selecting the best scuba BCD that matches your needs, it will make your dive journey a much more pleasant experience.

With Aqua Junkies buyer's guide, you will make better decisions that you will not regret later. With the information that you have on hand right now, you are able to choose the right piece of scuba BCD for your dive.

For example, a harness style BCDs for new divers, recreational diving or tropical diving and other important pointers to take note during your buy as well. 

7 Quick Easy Steps To Take Care of Your Scuba BCD

After getting your best scuba BCD, it is time to educate yourself on how to take good care of your scuba BCD. You want it to last. Don't you? 

Follow the clean maintenance steps below. 

1. Wash off your BCD exterior and interior with fresh water thoroughly. You don't want to ruin your inflator and dump valves with salt water content in them.

2. Flush fresh water into the bladder of the BCD through the low-pressure inflator as much as possible. 

3. Press the deflate button as you flush the fresh water into your BCD until it has become quarter full.

4. Orally inflate it to let the fresh water circulate throughout the inside of the BCD. Shake it well to make sure the fresh water passes through every inch of the BCD and let the water drain through the dump valves.

5. Repeat this process a few times.

6. Inflate your BCD partially before storing it to prevent the inside pieces from sticking together.

7. Keep it hanging in a dry, cool place. 

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Aqua Junkies Favourite Scuba BCD

Most of divers will usually have 2 set of scuba BCDs. One for travelling and one for a more comprehensive diving needs. Having an appropriate scuba BCDs to match the objectives of the dive is vital to have a good diving experience. 

Here is Aqua Junkies editors top favourite choice for each category.

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