| A scuba BCD, or buoyancy compensatory device | | | | body fat and they will therefore need a higher lift |
| (sometimes known as the buoyancy control device), | | | | capacity. Nevertheless, having said this, BCD makers |
| is part of the basic diving kit. It allows the diver to | | | | take this into account when they design their |
| control his buoyancy and is counteracted by his | | | | products. The only time this should become an issue |
| weights. | | | | is where the diver has to carry a lot of weight, in the |
| There are various different styles of scuba BCD to | | | | form of extra kit, for example, underwater camera |
| meet the dimensional requirements of their owners. | | | | equipment. Diving BCDs offer the diver, a high degree |
| Jacket style BCDs are the most common and buckle | | | | of control over his buoyancy. He can inflate and |
| up at the front. Vest style BCDs have inflatable | | | | deflate according to depth, weight, compression and |
| panels at the sides and wrap around the front. Both | | | | density. |
| styles feature tanks straps at the back, and extra | | | | It is vital that your diving BCD fits correctly, and isn't |
| pockets and straps to house the remainder of your | | | | too tight underneath the arms. On the surface of the |
| diving gear, for example, the octopus, regulator and | | | | water it should feel snug across the stomach and fit |
| integrated weight system. | | | | you like a jacket. The diver should be able to feel the |
| Wing style BCDs, instead of having side panels, have | | | | straps but they should not cause you any discomfort. |
| balloons which extend beside the tank support. This | | | | BCD manufacturers make a huge variety of different |
| style of BCD makes it easier to the diver to swim in | | | | BCD designs, many suited to women and their body |
| a horizontal position, balancing buoyancy at the back. | | | | shape. |
| Diving BCDs are rated in accordance with lift capacity | | | | The more expensive BCD ranges feature integrated |
| and the amount of weight that they are able to | | | | weight systems. An integrated weight system |
| counteract. When choosing a scuba BCD, it is | | | | eliminates the discomfort and chafing caused by the |
| important to take into account lift capacity. The BMI | | | | weight belt. Some high-end BCDs also feature |
| of one person, lung capacity and bone density, can | | | | integrated breathing systems. This means that all the |
| vary greatly to another. Bigger, more muscular men, | | | | diver's comes together in one piece. |
| are naturally less buoyant, because they have less | | | | |