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Buoyancy Compensators: Back Inflate BCs versus Vest Style BCs

Buoyancy Compensators: Back Inflate BCs versus Vest Style BCs

Written by Noreen
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Published on November 22, 2019
buoyancy compensator vests on a stand

A buoyancy compensator helps divers maintain their buoyancy underwater while wearing heavy scuba gear and carrying a scuba tank. This essential piece of scuba equipment is an inflatable scuba vest or jacket with air pockets. A BCD dive vest also serves as the central object that secures your entire dive kit.

If you’re looking to purchase your own diving gear for technical or recreational diving, a buoyancy compensator will probably be your biggest investment. But there’s also the dilemma of figuring out which BC type is best for you. These vests come in two main styles: back inflate and vest-style. To help you choose between the two, we’ve listed down each styles’ characteristics, as well as their pros and cons. 

What are the Two Types of Buoyancy Control Vests?

a man trying on a BCD vest

Many brands offer back inflate and vest-style BCD vests. Both styles differ considerably, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with each style. Here’s a closer look at these diving vests:

Back Inflate Buoyancy Compensators

Mares Pure SLS back inflate BCD

Featured Product: Mares Pure SLS BCD (Back Inflate BCD)

Mostly used by technical divers, back inflate BCDs have no inflatable bladders in front of them or beside them. This characteristic leaves the diver’s chest area completely uncluttered (though this BC style does have chest straps on it). Back inflate BCs feature an inflatable wing (or air cell) on their back-plate. It sits on your back between you and your cylinder. A wing-style BCD also has flotation bladders on either side of your scuba tank. Back inflate BCs offer greater versatility, making them popular among divers. 

Vest Style Buoyancy Compensators

Cressi Start jacket-style BCD

Featured Product: Cressi Start BCD (Jacket-Style BCD)

Vest-style or front adjustable jacket BCDs could be the most common BCD style among divers. A jacket-style BCD is a wearable sleeveless jacket with a built-in air bladder that wraps around the diver. This bladder also inflates in front, beside, and behind divers.

Vest-style BCs come in many styles and configurations. They also offer a better fit for all divers since these are gender-specific equipment. Jacket BCDs are a favorite among dive shops that offer scuba gear rental services, as well as recreational divers.

Back Inflate vs. Jacket BCD: What Are Their Pros & Cons?

BCD vests on a boat

Floating Position

Back Inflate BCD

  • The air bladder on the back part of a back inflate BCD helps it keep divers in a better horizontal position underwater. Back inflate BCDs also help divers propel forward and use less air than a vest-style BCD.
  • These BCDs can keep your face down in the water if you don’t intentionally kick to lean back at the surface. However, with a little practice on the surface, it’s not hard to keep afloat face up.

Jacket-Style BCD

  • A vest-style BCD is extremely stable on the surface and acts somewhat like a life jacket. It helps a diver stay vertical when floating at the surface without much effort.
  • Jacket-style BCDs can change your body’s position underwater if they’re not the right fit for you. They usually hold you in a slightly vertical position with your fins pointing down if you don’t weigh them properly. This position isn’t perfect for navigating through water. But if you strap in a vest or jacket BC properly and it fits you well, you shouldn’t find it hard to keep yourself in a horizontal position while you’re swimming.

Comfort

Back Inflate BCD

  • Back inflate BCDs are more comfortable than vest-style BCDs. That’s because they don’t wrap around the diver completely and only feature chest straps. These features make back inflate BCDs less obtrusive and leave you free to move underwater.

Jacket-Style BCD

  • A vest type BCD is often very comfortable and provides pockets for storage, and in some cases, pouches for weight integration. They can also feature quick-release mechanisms, and even offer you the option of more pockets. But this style is also a little more restrictive.
  • Some divers complain that jacket BCDs squeeze their chests when they’re inflated, making them feel discomfort. So if you don’t want to feel uncomfortable in a vest-style BC, make sure to get the right size and fit for your body.

Underwater Performance

Back Inflate BCD

  • Back inflates allow better trim underwater. They create less drag than jacket BCDs, making the diver much more streamlined in the water.

Jacket-Style BCD

  • Vest-style BCDs contain more padding and a cummerbund. Both features cause it to create more drag underwater.

Inflation

Back Inflate BCD

  • A back inflated BCD has air bladders behind you, making it a little harder to deflate it completely underwater whenever you need to.

Jacket-Style BCD

  • It’s much easier to deflate vest-style BCs in seconds as straps press against the air in the chest area.

That said, you should try out both styles to find out the most comfortable one for you. Don’t let anyone fool you into believing that back inflated BCs are only for experienced divers or divers that want to go technical. It’s a matter of preference and what style fits you best.