A Beginners Guide to BCD Styles: Jacket, Back-Inflate, Hybrid

Welcome to Deefer Diving's TH-cam channel, D for Diving.
We're revisiting a popular video looking at the different styles of BCD available on the market, which we break down into only 3 types. Jacket style, back inflate, and hybrid. In this presentation, Gary talks through benefits and compromises of each style of BCD, as well as highlighting the issue of carrying too much weight when diving - as this greatly effects the BCD's performance.
In this presentation, the BCD's we use are the Cressi Start Pro as a jacket. The Cressi Back Jac as a hybrid, and the XDeep Zen as a back inflate. There are lots of other brands and styles available, but they principally fall into these 3 categories.
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Music : Surf Shimmy Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@SummersideDiver]

Nice explanations and coverage on these bcd. After my open water course I picked up a jacket bcd from my dive shop. Several dives later, I’m seriously considering a bp&w. I’ve not used the later yet, and hope I can rent or borrow before I decide if I want to purchase one. Videos like this help a lot, and give me ideas and information that further my knowledge and understanding

[@DeeferDivingCarriacou]

Thanks for the feedback Dan. If you have any questions and want some impartial advice, just let me know. I have them in rental stock if you want to come on a dive trip and try one.... Lol

[@sonickchri]

Thanks for this explanation.
9:27 So do you mean to say, if I have a back inflate BC and I am overweighted (consequently needing to add more air), at the surface, the tendency to push me forward will be exacerbated since I'm over-weighted and need to add more air to the BCD?

[@DeeferDivingCarriacou]

Yes. That's exactly what we're suggesting. If you're diving over-weighted then more air will be required in the air cell to compensate. When the aircell is more full it is more likely to want to tip you forward as this is the way the cell is designed to hold you. Correct weighting is much more important in scuba than many people believe.

[@UKDiver]

Nice video Gary! My ass is indeed great! I think like most long time divers, I started with a classical BCD but soon went over to a BP&W as great trim underwater for and hour plus dive became much more important in my diving than being sat upright for 5 minutes waiting for the boat. Often times, it’s horses for courses. Great video! Good to see Nora keeping busy in the background too! Will have to get out to see you guys soon 😎

[@DeeferDivingCarriacou]

Thanks for the feedback.... but yes you're right, more and more divers are switching over to the back inflate system (and BP/W) as it does really make a big difference when diving...
Look forward to seeing you over here some time soon

[@felipesanchezcuriel]

Great explanation

[@DeeferDivingCarriacou]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@petethehandyman9185]

Great video,ok I have a back mount bcd,Scubapro knighthawk, how can adjust it or use it so it not pushing my face in the water when on the surface? Does raising the tank up or down make a difference? Thanks

[@DeeferDivingCarriacou]

Hey Pete. I've not dived the Knighthawk, but have a lot of experience with backmount bcd's. The key thing is not diving overweighted. I can't tell you how big a difference that makes. When you don't need to add so much air to the bcd at the surface it means you have more flexibility.
After that, it's using weights to offset the bcds natural tendency. I find with back inflates adding some weight to the cam band strap helps. This way the weight sits way back behind you and means it helps when you push your shoulders back. Of course the downside is that you can roll more when in the scuba position.

[@petethehandyman9185]

@@DeeferDivingCarriacou thanks for the advice 😀

[@geemac44]

Hi Gary. Any thoughts on OMS Dive gear - positive or negative?🤿😄👍

[@DeeferDivingCarriacou]

I'll caveat this comment by stating that I've not dived any OMS gear, but have had the opportunity to see their fins and wings up-close and personal many times. I like their gear. It's seems solid and very comfortable. Those people I've had diving with me swear by their OMS fins, and I so nearly bought an OMS wing (because it was available in Orange!). I plumped for the Deep6 for a combination of reasons, but I really wanted to try something that was not cordura based. But if you're thinking of OMS or Halcyon you can't go wrong