BEST WOMENS BCDS 2023

The Cressi Start Pro shares many similarities with its sister model, the Cressi Start. But it’s a notch above because of the added integrated weight system that’s equipped with quick-release buckles. It was created with dive schools and resorts in mind, offering a durable construction that can survive the rough and tumble of day-in, day-out use. There are adjustable waist and shoulder straps so you can get the fit just right and a padded backplate with a carrying handle. The three exhaust valves will help you manage your buoyancy in a variety of underwater positions. It’s definitely one of the best womens BCDs for budget and beginner divers.

WEIGHT: 8.65 pounds
STYLE: Jacket
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

Designed by women, for women, the Soul i3 by Aqua Lung is a deservedly popular choice that makes our best womens BCD review list. It boasts swiveling shoulder straps and an extra-short backplate so it won’t ride up when you’re at the surface. This Aqua Lung womens BCD comes with Sure Lock weight pockets that are easy to load and a GripLock tank band for peace of mind. There are five stainless steel D-rings (plus two plastic ones) where you can attach all your accessories and a rolled neck collar for greater comfort. It also boasts a unique one-touch design for inflation and deflation that’s intuitive to use.

WEIGHT: 7 pounds
STYLE: Hybrid
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

If you’re after an ultra-durable womens BCD, then this Scubapro travel BCD is one of the best that money can buy. It features an innovative, modular design and is manufactured from injection-molded plastic parts. The harness is made from Monprene and dries super fast while being resistant to UV, chemicals, and abrasion. You can add and remove weight systems, straps and pouches as you please to create a completely customized setup. It comes with a dual-compound backplate for stability and comfort and is also almost neutrally buoyant.

WEIGHT: 8 pounds
STYLE: Back-inflation
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

Durable and affordable, the Cressi Start was designed to withstand the rigors of dive training and rental facilities. It features three exhaust valves for adjusting your buoyancy and a double air filtration system that’s easy to rinse clean. The backplate has been designed specifically for women’s bodies and there are two large storage pockets (plus two D-rings) for all your accessories. One convenient feature to note is that the cummerbund is independent of the air cell, so you won’t get that squeeze effect when inflating your BCD. It’s ruggedly constructed from durable Cordura material to ensure a long life, even with intensive use.

WEIGHT: 7 pounds
STYLE: Jacket
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Non-integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

Designed as a jacket, boasting a lift capacity of 19 – 40 lbs, and a low-pressure hose, Oceanic’s Hera is mainly designed with women BCDs in mind. Because of its sturdy and durable construction, this diving equipment can be used in cold and harsh diving conditions. Its height can be adjusted to fit most sizes, and the D-rings can take on many accessories.

WEIGHT: 8 – 9 lbs
STYLE: Jacket
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

If you’re looking for a simple yet efficient womens BCD gear, then the Patrol model is your choice. Featuring zipper pockets and bindings on the side portions of the womens BCD means accessories can be easily mounted. The pockets sit just right into place, and in case of any unintentional slags, there’s a spring closure, approximately 15 mm long. The 100% dorsal air chamber makes for the best buoyancy. Designed with a light backplate, the Patrol also comes with a padded, softback portion of the womens BCD, ensuring maximum comfort.

WEIGHT: 6 pounds
STYLE: Back-inflated
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

This back-inflation womens BCD is a great option for those with larger chests thanks to a unique front-zipping closure and modular design. The adjustable waist and hip straps will ensure a customized fit, no matter what your body shape. The patented PFS sizing system also ensures the weight is at the body’s center of buoyancy. This Zeagle Zena review shouldn’t fail to mention that it’s surprisingly light at just 6.2 pounds. That’s thanks to undersized D-rings and expanding pockets, making the Zena an ideal travel companion.

WEIGHT: 6.2 pounds
STYLE: Back-inflation
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 1000 Denier Cordura

When it comes to comfort, Kaila by Mares is the ultimate choice for women that enjoy a nice diving session.
With a padded back portion and collar, and an elastic sash to compliment the overall feeling, Kaila is the go-to choice for women of most sizes. Geared up with smart trim-weight positioning, this womens BCD will make up for one balanced underwater experience.
Designed to keep the air cells wrapped around the tank, the drag rate is substantially reduced.

WEIGHT: 9 lbs
STYLE: Jacket
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

If you’re a woman that enjoys a nice diving session, the Luna model might be what you’re looking for. With shoulder and torso straps, as well as a waistband and a sash, Luna also comes with a back pad that will suit women’s bodies in almost all sizes. Boasting 6 D-rings made of stainless steel, Luna is fully on-board with hanging accessories on the womens BCD. This American scuba brand is known to use quality materials in their diving products, which is why Sherwood Scuba is oftentimes the go-to choice for BCD gear.

WEIGHT: 7.8 pounds
STYLE: Jacket
WEIGHT SYSTEM: Integrated
MATERIALS: 500 & 1000 Denier Cordura

A womens BCD (buoyancy control device) is an essential piece of equipment in any diver’s kit. Not only will it help to keep you buoyant on the surface (so you use less energy) but it assists in maintaining proper buoyancy and trim underwater. You can control this by adjusting the amount of air that flows in and out of the womens BCD’s inflatable bladder, which is connected to your tank via a low-pressure hose.

A womens BCD that fits well is essential to your under and above-water comfort. It’s for this reason women should invest in a female-specific buoyancy compensator. They’re designed with all the features and functions of their male counterparts but with a fit that suits the female body. Most womens BCDs feature a shorter torso than a standard buoyancy compensator and are designed with adapted straps that accommodate the bust.

But before you rush out to buy a womens BCD, it’s important to understand the various features that are available. Some are designed with basic features for beginners while others boast modular components geared towards experienced, technical divers. In this guide, we’ll explain the different types of buoyancy control devices available for women and what to look for when purchasing the right one for you.

Types of BCDs

Buoyancy compensators are available in a few different types, which relate to the positioning of their air bladders and/or how compact they are.

The most common type of buoyancy compensator (and the one you’re most likely to see in dive shops) is the jacket-style womens BCD. They’re designed with an air bladder that wraps around the torso and back of the diver. So when the womens BCD is inflated, it provides equal support and makes it easy to remain stable in various underwater positions.

Back-inflation womens BCDs position the air bladder at the back of the diver, freeing up space for your arms. They’re designed to help you maintain a horizontal position in the water but can take some getting used to. Some divers find it difficult to stay upright at the surface without trim weights on the tank or rear of their womens BCD.

Hybrid BCDs bring together both the jacket and back-inflation styles, giving you the best of both worlds. They’re designed so that you can maintain a comfortable upright position at the surface, without the wraparound air bladder being too bulky.

Backplate and wing BCDs are commonly used by highly experienced technical divers, as they can be customized to your diving needs. You can add individual components and design a system that’s ideal for deep diving or the confined spaces of cave and wreck diving. Modular styles are also long-lasting as they’re much easier to service and repair.

As many divers fly to dive destinations around the world, lightweight travel BCDs are also increasing in popularity. You can find women’s travel BCDs in jacket, back-inflation and hybrid styles, depending on your preference. But they are all designed to be lightweight and will fold up to a compact size that can easily fit in your luggage.

Weight integration

When it comes to BCD features, weight integration is one of the most important for many divers. Rather than wearing an uncomfortable weight belt, a weight integration system allows you to place weights directly into specially designed pockets on the BCD. It’s a great way to fine-tune your buoyancy, with most offering quick-release mechanisms so you can easily ditch your weights in an emergency. Using a weight integration system may take a bit of getting used to. So it’s a good idea to practice releasing the weights before you jump in for your first dive.

Lift capacity

Lift capacity refers to the amount of negative weight that the BCD can float when it’s fully inflated. While this is not so important in warm, tropical waters, it becomes increasingly important when diving in cold water with a thick wetsuit and lots of extra gear. If you’re diving in a BCD without adequate lift capacity, you may find it difficult to stay afloat at the surface.

The lift capacity you require will depend on various factors. But generally speaking, 12 to 24 pounds lift capacity should be adequate in tropical waters. If you’re diving in a full wetsuit, then you will need between 20 and 40 pounds while tech diving with lots of extra equipment may require 40 to 80 pounds lift capacity.

D-rings, loops, and pockets

If you’re diving with a lot of accessories or tools, then the number of D-rings, loops, and pockets will be important. You can use these to attach or stash surface marker buoys, dive torches and knives, as well as things like a backup mask and whistle. Even if you’re just starting out (and don’t carry many accessories), look for a BCD with at least two D-rings so that you can expand your dive kit as you progress. Metal D-rings are much more durable than plastic but will add extra weight to your BCD.

Expandable pockets are also a good option, as they can be rolled out when you’ve got extra accessories and hidden away when you don’t. Some BCDs also include mounting grommets that are handy if you’re diving with knives or other cutting tools that you don’t want poking around inside your pockets.

Backplates

Most BCDs come with a hard plastic backing equipped with a handle that makes it easy to carry your buoyancy compensator around. But some women prefer a flexible backplate that can be folded easily for travel. If you often find the plastic pieces of the backplate end up digging into your back and sides, look for a backplate with extra padding.

Weight

The weight of a BCD is a particularly important factor for traveling divers who don’t want to be carrying around bulky equipment or paying excess baggage fees. But no matter where you’re diving, having a BCD that you can comfortably manage when getting in and out of the water is essential. As technology advances, BCD material is getting lighter and buoyancy compensators are becoming more manageable, even for slightly built women.

Fit

Finding a BCD that fits you is essential, as one that’s too big and constantly rides up will be uncomfortable in the water and at the surface. That being said, you don’t want to purchase a size that’s too small and won’t accommodate a thicker wetsuit if you decide to dive in cooler conditions. Also take into account the frame of the diver who will be wearing the BCD. Some styles of BCD’s can accommodate plus-size divers more comfortably than other models.

Women’s BCD sizing is similar to a T-shirt size and most manufacturers will provide a sizing chart so you can determine which one is right for you. If you’re trying on a BCD in a dive store, you want the cummerbund to fit snuggly across your abdomen, with 2-3 inches spare at the end. After connecting the waist buckle, do the same with the sternum buckle and tighten it so that the shoulder straps are positioned correctly. You can then adjust these and there should be at least 1-2 inches of excess strap, just in case you need to accommodate a thicker wetsuit down the track.

Adjustable height

Another feature that’s popular with female divers is chest and waist straps with adjustable height options. These are designed to accommodate a shorter torso and are a great option if you’re quite petite and find that your gear is constantly riding up on the surface. The straps can be adjusted to achieve a high center of gravity, which not only helps underwater but also when carrying your gear across land.

Caring for your BCD

A BCD isn’t a cheap piece of equipment and you’ll need to care for it properly if you want it to last for many years to come. You can easily rinse the exterior in fresh water after each dive to remove any salty residue or debris from the ocean. It’s also a good idea to regularly rinse the interior of the air bladder. Salt can build up over time and eventually form crystals, which may rupture the inside. The easiest way to rinse the air bladder is by connecting a garden hose via the low-pressure oral inflator and flushing freshwater in.

As always, we create our content with you, fellow adventurers, in mind. So, how’d we do? Did you find this informative? Did it help you make a decision? Did we miss anything? We’d love to hear from you below. Thanks for reading and we hope your next adventure is a great one!