BC vs. BCD

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defkonmusic

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Hey Everyone,

I know this may sound like a stupid question and I am a newbie so please bare with me, I have a couple questions.

I am a newly certified open water diver and would like to know everyone's thoughts on calling your buoyancy control device a BCD or a BC. On my first discovery scuba dive, one of the other divers (certified) insisted that it wasn't called a buoyancy control device but a buoyancy compensation device. Being the new guy I didn't argue and no one else was in the area to possibly correct him. Although I knew I wasn't wrong, I wasn't sure if he was right. Ive also heard them referred to as buoyancy compensator and I am assuming thats where BC comes from. Please let me know your thoughts.

P.S. I know I could just ask someone the next time I dive but I thought it might be a good topic of conversation. If there is another thread about this please let me know. When searching for BC, BCD, etc. there is a LOT to filter through.

Thanks!
 
You use your BC/BCD to compensate for your loss of exposure suit buoyancy when you descend and the water pressure increases. YOU control your buoyancy, through your breathing and BC/BCD (and/or drysuit) use.

Hence, it's properly called a buoyancy compensator ("BC") or bouyancy compensation device ("BCD").

I suppose a "buoyancy control device" would be your brain.
 
BC-most people are lazy.........BCD is for wimps....lol
 
I think in the early days they were called "Bouyancy Compensators" and abbreviated to BC, and then in a burst of political correctness this was changed to "Bouyancy Control Devices" and abbreviated to BCD, but nobody really noticed or cared.
 
I call mine a BP/W ... :D

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 

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