BCD (Buoyancy Control Device)

Model: Hydros Pro with Air2

Manufacture: Scubapro

Website: www.scubapro.com

Cost: $1085

Purchase Advice: When purchasing a BCD you get what you pay for; more money means better quality, functionally and most importantly comfort. It’s the backbone of your dive system, everything attaches to it and it distributes the load of your equipment both in and out of the water. Familiarity with your power inflator and dump valves prevents a new divers biggest safety concern, an uncontrolled ascent to the surface. Buoyancy control is the number one priority for new divers, allowing them to relax and decrease their air consumption for longer bottom time on the reef.

I would suggest that for your first BCD, spend the extra money on a wing versus a jacket style design. In my experience, diving a wing style BCD is superior. The additional $250 to go from a bottom level jacket style BCD to a mid-level priced wing style BCD is only 50% more in cost but 200% more comfortable during the dive. Save yourself from the dreaded “Double Buy”. When a year after diving with a cheap resort rental jacket style BCD, you realize you should have spent the extra $250 bucks for the wing design from the start.