What do you look for in a BCD?

[squee!]

SO I am new to diving, Fresh out of a 4 week OW course, and have 2 dives outside of my course dives and 2 more this comming weekend in St. Croix. I want to get my own stuff, because I am sick of getting screwy regulators or BCDs that donb't fit all that well. However, After looking through the mounds and mounds of equipment there, I don't think i have the experience to pick and choose what I want. I primarily want to do recreational diving at this point (no more than 80 feet at this point), what should I be looking for in a BCD? What are the important qualities and characterisitics you more experienced divers look for in a BCD and why? Perhaps sparking this discussion will help me decide what I should be looking for.

thanks for your input.

 

[srkdvr]

MMMMMM, comfort, fit, quality are the only things I look for in my gear. Price does not come into play, because I believe you get what you pay for and this is what keeps me alive as I dive so cheap don't make it for me.

Rich

 

[RICHinNC]

What do I look for in a bcd??? Preferably a middle aged single cute lady that has a fetish for a mature slightly pudgy but very cuddly guy with a gray beard.

other than that.....a good fit where it wont move around on me and does not restrict my movement in any way. Not to mention it must have good bouyancy control.

Some would say they all have good bouyancy control....but I think some are better than others....so try one out first before plunking down the big bucks.....

And of course............get a bp and wing !!!!

 

[Walter]

First, it should be streamlined. That means no padding or cummerbunds.

Second, I don't like weight integrated. A PITA, IMHO.

Finally, I look for a BC, not a BCD.

 

[squee!]

Second, I don't like weight integrated. A PITA, IMHO.

Finally, I look for a BC, not a BCD.

So you prefer weight belts? I thought integrated weight systems were superior? At least that is what I was told . . .at least for convenience sake.

And lastly, what is the diff between a BC and a BCD?

 

[Walter]

Integrated weights are far from convenient. With a weight belt, you put it on before the dive and take it off after, just like you do with your mask, fins, etc. With integrated you take the weights out of the BC (both sides), set up the BC on the tank, then put them back in (both sides) before each dive. Of course you can leave the weights in the BC while setting up the tank, but then you have a BC that doesn't cooperate and is too damned heavy with which to work comfortably. Many (not all) are either difficult to drop in an emergency or drop too easily when you don't want them to drop. Doesn't sound superior to me.

BC is generic. BCD is agency specific. Buoyancy Compensator is an easier and more sensible name than Buoyancy Compensating Device. Why make the name harder than necessary, especially when BC was the first name?

 

[sitka diver]

confort maters to me dont worrie about cost I have a dui bc and a few years ago I took the air blader off of it and now I just use the back plate it has worked so good dont really see why u need a air blader when u use a drysuit

 

[SubMariner]

comfort, fit, quality are the only things I look for in my gear. Price does not come into play, because I believe you get what you pay for and this is what keeps me alive as I dive so cheap don't make it for me.

The only thing I can add to that is the amount lift that meets your particular needs.

Bonne chance,