Buoyancy Compensators

Gain More Control Underwater with a Scuba BCD

A scuba buoyancy compensator is a vest-like fitted jacket that connects to your scuba tank through a hose. This piece of equipment contains an inflatable air bladder that helps you maintain proper air buoyancy whether you’re on the surface or beneath the water. A BCD scuba device has air pockets that you can inflate and deflate with the push of a button to control your depth in the water. Do this slowly and by letting out small amounts of air each time. Dumping too much air into your BCD could result in negative buoyancy, causing you to descend to the bottom.

BCDs can be broken down into three types. The jacket-style BCD slips on like a vest and inflates the front, back, and side of your body. The back-inflate BCD comes with an air bladder at the back so you can position yourself better horizontally underwater. Hybrid bladder BCDs, on the other hand, are designed to help you float and dive comfortably in horizontal and vertical positions.