Buoyancy Compensator Device

How they work

• Basically an air bladder which attaches somewhere on the diver. Usually the air is added to the bladder either orally or using a power inflator and air from a compressed gas cylinder. Simple enough?
• Modern BC's are form fitting, some specifically for men or women. Some are jacket style, some are back inflation style.
• Weight Integration - most have ditch-able weight pockets that can hold evenly dispersed lead
• D-Rings - provide attachment points for gear helping the diver streamline and protect the reef
• Tank Strap - holds your tank!

Types

• Back Inflation - These typically, when your trim weights are properly balanced, provide the best balance & stability underwater and the most freedom of movement
• Jacket Style - BC's like the Mares Vector, Kaila, Aeris Coral, Aeris Sport,etc are all jacket style. Which means the air cell wraps around your body. They typically give better balance on the surface, underwater it depends greatly on the shape of the bladder and your body. Some jacket style BC's perform great underwater and some don't.
• Stability Jacket - Scubapro Classic Plus and Classic Air are only modern day examples of this style and they provide superior balance under and above water. The air cell entirely wraps your body so wherever you move the air had free movement, which means that you control your pitch and yaw, not the air bubble moving back and forth.
• Back plate & Harness - Back plate made of stainless steel, ABS or aluminum attached to a harness much like what backpackers wear

Bladder vs. Bladderless

• Bladderless - Most modern BC's like, Aeris and Scubapro are bladderless, which means that the shell and the bladder are one piece and made of a heavy duty material. These bladderless BC's are more streamlined underwater due to the material & easy to see holes or tears, however they are difficult to repair and once they are rotted or torn significant, the BC is pretty much useless.
• Bladder systems will have an inner bladder and outer shell. The in bladder can be patched without unsightly patches on the outside of your BC, but it can be replaced. Bladder BC's have a lower cost of repair and you can't see the patch if there is one. However the shell may not dry as quickly or slip through the water as easily as a bladderless bc.

Harness vs. Jacket

• Harness Systems will hold the tank tighter to your body and are typically used for doubles or singles like the  Harnesses have a wider range of fit due to their design.
• Materials: Codura Nylon, Alutex, ABS, Stainless Steel, Nylon Webbing

Basic Repairs

• Rips, Tears can be repaired at your dive shop or if trained, using a patch kit. They are usually manufacturer's specific due to special glues and materials

Care and Maintenance

• Inside - Use anti-bacterial, anti-microbial soap like McNett's BC Life.  Which contains nonoxyl-9 to kill organisms that may grow inside the bladder and eat through the urethane lining.  Use as directed on bottle, but key is rinse.  Technically speaking if you use your BC jacket correctly you don't get water in it while diving.
• Exterior Cleaning - Use soft bristled brush and McNett's BC Life or Wetsuit Wash for exterior cleaning.Valves - fresh water rinsePower Inflator - fresh water rinse - check function and listed for leaks
• Velcro, Zippers - use soft brush to remove debris, lubricate zippers with McNett's Zip CareZip Care and Soft-Bristled BrushWhen storing,

• store it INSIDE between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, not in your garage, especially in Texas! The chemicals stored in garages can soften and deteriorate the butyl rubbers in your scuba gear, as well as the heat can dry it out and cause dry rot.
• Hang it UP using a good hanger like UK's BC Hanger with the bladder about half full of DRY air. This will prevent any mildew growth and prevent the bladder from sticking together if stored for a long time. (The catch is that its almost impossible to get these things perfectly dry after draining, the DRY air will help dry it out further, use your tank air it has no moisture)

Choosing Your BC

• This sometimes can be difficult.  The key is fit.  Everyone is going to fit differently.  Try them on, see where the pockets fit, how hard it is to reach the weight pockets, where the d-rings are.

Transportation of your BC

• On the plane: Choose a bag that protects well, does not say "Scuba Gear In Here" on the outside. The less people know how much you're carrying, the better. DO NOT use mesh bags, your gear will not survive. A sturdy, non-de script bag is your best choice.
• On the boat however you can only pretty much use mesh bags, you need something that drains, and everyting is going to get wet on the boat no matter what, you need a mesh bag.