How long will a bcd last

Most manufacturers will have a special parts warranty that will give you free parts if you stay within your service agreement. If your gear manufacturer does not offer the parts for free, you will have to pay for them with each servicing, which may add up to a hefty amount over time. Make sure that the shop you are buying your gear from and the one you get your gear serviced at is an authorized dealer of your equipment brand.

Otherwise, the service you are receiving could potentially be unreliable and void your warranty as a customer. Read and follow the manuals that come with your gear.

As we have already stated, different manufacturers will have different requirement on how often you should have your gear serviced. Follow their recommendations to keep your warranty. Keep a file with all your gear purchase, servicing receipts, and warranty statements with the serial number, so you can prove you merit for free parts. It will also come in handy if you encounter a defect in your gear covered by the warranty program, are improperly charged or, for some reason, refused service and need to contact the manufacturer for resolution or restitution.

Finally, remember, divers treat and handle their gear differently, so there is no one approach to servicing that would fit everyone. Ultimately, your scuba gear is your life support equipment, and you are the one responsible for your own safety.

The One Year Rule The common industry practice concerning gear service is the one year rule, i. Regulators When talking about gear service, most divers immediately think about their regulators. In short, the technician will perform: a complete disassembly; inside and outside cleaning of the BCD, including the power inflator and dump valves; replacement of the inner workings with the special parts from the manufacturer, if needed; reassembly; examination of all straps and releases; a comprehensive leak test.

Tanks Unlike regulators and BCDs, all tanks have the same servicing requirements. The Bottom Line To recap, here are a few things you should remember regarding equipment servicing. Related Posts. Leave a comment Name. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published.

Although dive gear has not changed much over the years it is unquestionable that improvements have been made. Lighter materials and metals have been incorporated into the manufacturing of loads of kit, especially regulators. This allows them to become lighter and therefore more travel friendly. My father still uses his Scubapro M25 regs from decades ago he refuses to part with them and it really is unbelievable how heavy they are when compared to my ten year old Aqualung Legends.

The new legend just arrived at Scuba Monkey — and it is even lighter still. It is hard not to take it home! As airlines baggage allowances get stricter, us divers have to adapt or pay the price of hefty overweight charges. Hoses made of MyFlex, low volume masks, plastic D rings, foldable snorkels, nylon dive bags, full foot fins, lightweight BCDs, plastic weight buckles and regulators made from lighter composite materials all shave valuable weight off your kit.

This is revolutionary. My want monster attacks me pretty much every time I enter a dive center. Scubapro has a reputation for making exceptional scuba diving gear and accessories, which is why we have featured their products on various lists.

They continue to uphold their reputation with the release of the Litehawk back-inflate buoyancy compensator. The name is a hint as to its function, which is a lightweight travel BCD. Despite its weight and size, the Litehawk does not feel flimsy and in fact feels incredibly secure when strapped up.

The back-inflate design keeps the air cell away from the diver and contributes to its streamlined and open design; providing divers with excellent range of motion and lift capacity. As for storage, the Litehawk provides four aluminum D-rings and two utility pockets for you to bring along all of your diving accessories, from dive light to dive computer, and easily access them when you need them.

Though the Litehawk only has three sizes available, it has enough adjustability to cover a wide range of body sizes and types. As anyone with diving experience will know, it is extremely difficult finding a BCD that strikes the perfect balance of functionality, flotation, and versatility.

How much a BCD satisfies these requirements depends on the materials used, how adjustable it is, and whether the BCD type is suitable for your diving needs. The Hollis HD is a great all-rounder that excels in each of these criteria. It features a thick 2-inch waist strap and a durable stainless steel buckle to secure the BCD in place. Additionally, it uses 2-inch stainless steel D-rings that you can attach various scuba accessories to. The HD has an intricately molded back-inflate pad which provides the necessary amount of support for your back.

Its overall cushioning will keep you feeling comfortable and snug. The outer shell of this BCD is designed to endure rough conditions. The PU-laminated Cordura denier material will last you for years if you properly maintain it. Furthermore, the Hollis HD includes interchangeable quick-release weight pockets and uses their unique pinch and pull buckle technology. The air cells are located inside and they are constructed from high-grade urethane.

All of the sections in this BCD are solid on their own, but combine together to make a versatile BCD that can be used in nearly all conditions. The Sherwood Avid BCD makes it onto our list because not only is it undoubtedly one of the best scuba BCDs currently on the market, but it is available at a great price. This model comes with an improved integrated weight-release system, simplifying the process of adding and releasing the weight from the pockets. Thanks to its unique design, you will feel like you are diving with a device that provides an air wrapping around your body, providing a sense of weightlessness and freedom that makes navigating the waters much more enjoyable.

Additionally, the Avid is able to stay secure on your body and you will feel virtually no squeeze thanks to its suspension chest straps and 3D air bladder constructed from denier nylon and a urethane lamination. When fully inflated, the avid provides you with a secure and reliable fit.

Pair that with its highly adjustable straps, and finding one that fits the contours of your body perfectly should be straightforward. If you are in the market for a feature-rich scuba BCD that can withstand the wear and tear of daily use, then the Apeks Black Ice back-inflate BCD from Aqua Lung is something that should be on your radar. This BCD from Aqua Lung uses their patented SureLock II Mechanical weight release system that keeps the weights secure under normal circumstances, but can immediately unload all of the weights with a single-pull release.

Inserting the weights is as simple as putting it into the pocket until you hear a click, securing it in place. Despite its compact design, the Black Ice does not lack any crucial features that may be missing in other scuba BCDs of a similar size. It even comes with nifty extras that make it a convenient and reliable piece of equipment.

Additionally, thanks to its modular design, the Black Ice can be customized to fit you perfectly, with the exact features you want for your next dive. There are three sizes available so finding properly fitting straps for your body type and size is painless. It will almost certainly provide you with incredible comfort and last you long enough to justify your investment.

Furthermore, it is one of the best BCDs for women. So what else makes the Hydros Pro a high end device? The premium-grade materials it is constructed out of is chemical and UV-resistant, and the injection-molded Monprene gel is highly resistant to damage.

Whether it is impacts or abrasions from rocks, coral, or other underwater structures, the Hydros Pro can take a beating. Another great thing about the Hydros Pro is its near-zero buoyancy which means less lead weights are needed in your setup.

This leads to better stability underwater, less hassle, and ultimately a more enjoyable experience for divers. For comfort and stability, a dual-compound backplate is included.

This model uses a single tank band adjustment system that is much easier to set up. Next, the Hydros Pro is modular and is therefore easy to customize by adding or removing components to suit your diving needs. The included harness is well-made and does not use Velcro or zippers. You can swap it out and change the pouches, straps, weight system, and more, all depending on your needs.

Its modularity is also beneficial for travelers that worry about luggage space. The Hydros Pro has an instant-dry feature which basically means it absorbs very little water and dries quickly out of the water. If you are a seasoned diver who travels often, and you have the funds, then the Hydros Pro is a great investment. When selecting the best scuba BCD you need one that is suitable for the type of diving you will be doing while also considering comfort, durability, and lift capacity.

Thankfully, the Zeagle Ranger covers all of these aspects because of its integrated weight system, back-inflate design, and heavy-duty construction.

What makes the Ranger stand out from its competition is its versatility that is also intuitive to set up. Since it is so versatile, seasoned divers will find it ideal for their needs since they can just use the Ranger in lieu of having multiple BCDs. Being a hybrid BCD, the back-inflate functionality on this jacket makes it suitable for cave and wreck diving. The streamlined design and ruggedness makes it the perfect choice for overhead diving environments where precise trim control is necessary.

All of these awesome features means the Ranger carries a higher price tag than most of the BCDs on this list. However, it is a BCD that will last you for years if you take good care of it.

If you can take full advantage of its features, it is one of the best investments you can make for your scuba kit. With so many types of BCDs out there from various manufacturers and a wide spectrum of price ranges, it can be difficult to pick out the best scuba BCD for you that meets your needs without breaking the bank.

In order to make the most out of your investment, you need to know what to look for in a BCD. It is the same criteria that we used to evaluate the BCDs recommended in the review section, and it can assist you on your own research. Without further ado:. The most common type of BCD is the jacket design. The jacket style BCD is very intuitive to use and easy to don and doff. People feel very safe when this happens and for this reason, beginners are often recommended to start with jacket BCDs.

The vertical buoyancy that the jacket style BCD provides is great at the surface but leads to trim issues underwater. In order to efficiently swim, divers need to remain in a horizontal position.

They will need to take advantage of the trim pockets to comfortably weigh themselves with the correct amount of ballast so that they are not constantly being forced upright.

Another issue of the jacket style BCD is that it can be very restrictive. The air bladders are located all around the torso. When fully inflated, not only will it restrict your movement, but it can also make it difficult to breath or otherwise uncomfortable in general. A back-inflate BCD features an air bladder only at the back of the device. When it is fully inflated, it feels more comfortable than jacket BCDs because you are not being constricted by the air cells.

Due to the location of the bladder, it will force your face forwards into a horizontal position by default, making it easier to swim. As such, it is generally recommended for experienced divers. Wing BCDs are completely modular meaning that you can combine and remove various components to make an ever-changing BCD. This is almost exclusively used by technical divers that need very specific setups for cave or wreck diving.

Wing BCDs have a high barrier of entry. The initial cost is quite high and the knowledge required to select which components are needed can put a lot of people off. However, once mastered, it is the most versatile and effective type of BCD. You can use it for any type of diving by just switching out the wing for example.

If any individual component gets damaged, one needs to only replace that part and not the entire BCD. I use this rule of thumb when handing out rental equipment to students, and when I bought my own BCD:. Trust me, they are worth it and you will not be missing your weight belt ever. Read reviews , ask around your local diving community and browse online shops like Dive Right in Scuba to find BCDs you like.

If you are a beginner diver who wants to explore shallow reefs in tropical waters, you will not need the extra-large 45lbs double-wing made for diving double 8L scuba tanks. On the other hand, if you are an avid cold water diver looking for cold water diving equipment , that might just be what you want.

Decide whether you absolutely, positively need any of them before spending more money because of them. I am particularly thinking about any extra moving parts, inflator hoses with integrated regulators, and extra pockets at any imaginable place.

These are my top picks for buying BCDs for beginners online. Based in the US, Dive Right in Scuba offers a large inventory, super great support, and will be your one-stop shop for anything scuba diving. Another large retailer based in the US, Leisure Pro offers very competitive prices and carries all major scuba brands and items. No introduction is needed on this one. Amazon carries a large inventory of scuba diving equipment, most notably accessories, ABC sets, and dive computers.

If you want to see more recommendations, check out my where to buy diving equipment article. For more details, review our Privacy Policy. Tried and tested, the Pro HD has been used by hundreds of students at Social Diving and countless divers around the globe.

It ticks off all the important boxes like lightweight, integrated weight pockets, plenty of storage space, and superb build quality. Within a few months, it felt like there was one of them in every dive group on every diving trip or excursion.

It looks very cool, has integrated weight pockets, a power inflator, padded straps, and all the other features you could want as a beginner diver. It can be considered a travel jacket due to its light weight and small packing volume, however, without the usual drawbacks that come with them.

Great trim, convenient weight pockets, and indestructible design make the Black Ice one of the best hybrid BCDs on the market. The Apeks Black Ice is made for heavy-duty diving in cold water and will be your reliable partner for many years. Built like a tank and with the usual high quality from Apeks owned by Aqualung this is one of the sturdiest BCDs out there and you will probably never need any repairs done on it.

A favorite among dive guides and instructors, the Black Ice is comfortable, offers superb trim, and looks pretty cool, while doing so. The Zen Deluxe is made for diving in any environment and the best affordable Wing option out there. I love xDeep products and have sold several of them to students of mine. They all share my sentiment and will probably never buy another BCD again. They are perfect for beginners who want to dive into the world of back-inflate Wing BCDs and the Zen Deluxe is their best set.

They offer anything from super affordable to premium and have very generous free and international shipping policies.