A scuba BCD holds your gear setup together and helps you lock in your buoyancy underwater, so divers can be pretty picky when it comes to their BCD selection. ScubaLab's team of test divers reviewed 14 jacket, back-inflation and women’s BCDs to help make that decision even easier. Check out the reviews below, and scroll down to the bottom to see our testing protocols.

Here are the models included in the 2018 BC review:

2018 BC Review

JACKET BCs .

• Cressi Carbon
• Beuchat Masterlift X-Air Comfort
• Mares Prestige
• Mares Prime
• Seac Pro 2000
• TUSA Liberator
• Zeagle Bravo

BACK-INFLATION BCs .

• Aqua Lung Rogue
• Cressi Commander
• Riptide Mutineer
• Zeagle Covert XT

WOMEN'S BCs .

• Riptide Mira
• Scubapro Bella
• Zeagle Marina

For the complete ergo results of the 2018 ScubaLab BC test, click here.

JACKET BCs

Cressi Carbon

With almost no inherent buoyancy, the Carbon manages to be comfortable and supportive without being bulky. It can easily be fine-tuned for a snug fit, and took the high score for stability. One diver noted that it “lets you float in most orientations with little effort.” The weight pockets slide right in, and took top scores for loading and ditching. Eight metal D-rings, an octo pocket and two zippered cargo pockets leave plenty of room for accessories, although the pockets zip toward the back, making them tougher to access.

The Carbon features a number of extras, but that’s not why divers overwhelmingly chose it as their favorite. Like an alchemist turning lead into gold, the Carbon takes all of the basic elements of a good BC and makes them shine. The Carbon is our Testers Choice for jacket BCs.

Beuchat Masterlift X-Air Comfort

With its rigid back pad wrapped in plush foam and huge air cell that hugs your body snugly without being too tight, it’s no wonder test divers found the Masterlift to be what one described as “extremely comfy and secure.” Testers had initial hesitation with the BC’s quick-release tank band but felt it was very secure once they figured out how to adjust it. The weight pockets slide in easily, and the design allows you to actually see the buckles. There’s also a Velcro flap that cinches after the buckles are in; some divers found the extra belt-and-suspenders security a bit of overkill.

The Masterlift took the highest score for stowage thanks to its roomy pockets. They feature internal D-rings and bungee cords, and remain easily accessible, even when this beast of a BC is fully inflated. Multiple divers picked the Masterlift as one of their favorites of the test.

Mares Prestige

Most divers liked the Prestige’s Slide & Lock weight pockets, which display a green indicator when locked and require a two-step process to secure. However, a few divers ­tended to hit the lock button on the handles while ­trying to shove them in, activating the lock early. The BC’s low-cut air cell took top score for surface floating position. Underwater, the BC fit nicely and kept the tank “rock solid,” as one tester said, with no rolling or pitching. “Goes horizontal to vertical and back without thought” is how the diver described its stable attitude control.

The cargo pockets are a bit tight, but the octo pocket, D-rings and grommets are well-placed. The easy-to-find dump valves operated flawlessly, and the ergonomic inflator won praise for its textured buttons and precise buoyancy control, earning the best score in the category for ascent control.

Mares Prime

This budget-friendly starter BC lets you add optional integrated-weight pockets. We tested it with integrated weights, which have a pinch-to-release system that worked well. Divers found the Prime easy to set up and ­adjust, and stable underwater, with what one diver called “really good attitude control.” Divers noted a bit of squeeze on the surface but also a nice heads-up position. Its plastic D-rings are sparse, but it has useful octo and gauge pockets.

There are large cargo pockets, but testers really didn’t care for the hook-and-loop flaps that secure them, which close tightly but are tough to open and interfere with accessing contents. The Prime doesn’t skimp on lift — we measured 50 pounds in size large. The Prime has the same inflator as the Prestige, and took similarly high scores for ascent control and valve operation.

Seac Pro 2000

The ruggedly built Pro 2000 combines a thick, cushioned back pad with an air cell that ­provides 41 pounds of lift in size medium to ­create a beefy BC that is comfortable and capable. The tank-band-mounted trim pockets made securing the tank more difficult. The integrated weights, on the other hand, couldn’t have been simpler to load — the visible externally mounted buckles were easy to line up and popped right into place. The BC’s attitude and stability were rated very good, although some divers noted it favored a slightly vertical orientation.

Its floaty disposition and stiff inflator buttons — which were a little too eager to add and dump air — made it difficult for some to maintain neutral buoyancy. Testers found the cargo pockets tough to reach, but the large number of D-rings and drop-down pocket leave plenty of storage options.

TUSA Liberator

There’s nothing fancy about the Liberator, but divers found much more than meets the eye. It took top score for assembly thanks to its simple, effective tank strap and ­tank-buckle cam. “Wow” was how one tester described the BC’s comfortable, supportive fit. Although it has a fair amount of padding, it was almost dead neutral in the water. One diver noted that it was “so lightweight, I don’t even feel like I’m wearing a BC.” Divers found the Liberator stable and flexible, and able to easily switch between vertical and horizontal attitudes.

Its inflator is ergonomic (except for the oddly shaped mouthpiece) and provides precise flow control. The zippered cargo pockets are big and easy to access. ­Providing performance well beyond what you might ­expect from such a budget-friendly BC, the Liberator is our Best Buy.

Zeagle Bravo

The Bravo earned the second-highest score for assembly — no small feat considering the hassle that can come with some double tank bands. The Bravo uses an adjustable quick-­release valve strap to hold things in place, and divers appreciated the assist. Weights load easily, with plastic D-rings attached to the outside of the pockets, giving additional leverage. It scored second place for ditching; one diver commented, “Sure thing — one pull.” The Bravo earned very good scores for stowage thanks to its cargo pockets, six stainless D-rings and two sets of grommets.

The BC was very comfortable, but some found the sizes a little large — including medium-size divers in small BCs. It was stable but tended to pitch slightly on the surface and underwater. Its exhaust valves and inflator were very good for maintaining buoyancy and controlled ascent.

BACK-INFLATION BCs

Aqua Lung Rogue

The Rogue shares a modular design with Aqua Lung’s Outlaw, but without the Outlaw’s über-minimalist approach. The Rogue’s harness (rated very good for comfort) uses the same quick-release connectors that allow up to 27 size configurations of back plate and straps. But it has more lift — with a 35-pound air cell — four stainless D-rings, a right-shoulder exhaust, and drop-down cargo pockets big enough for an SMB. The integrated weights mount vertically, which lets them dump in a flash but makes them a pain to load.

With its bigger air cell (compared with just 12- or 25-pound for the Outlaw) and larger harness, the Rogue can’t quite compete with the “diving without a BC” feel of the Outlaw. But it was chosen among the favorites of multiple divers and is worth a look from those who want more lift and extras than the Outlaw offers.

Cressi Commander

The only BC in its category with a full back plate, the Commander also had the largest air cell, with several pounds more lift, and big cargo pockets. That makes the Commander larger than the others but didn’t hurt it in performance. The well-padded harness earned very good scores for comfort, and the big air cell is well-contained with a wraparound bungee system that keeps it streamlined. While the back plate makes it less compact than the others, it doesn’t carry a weight penalty, with the Commander weighing within a few ounces of the average in its category.

The zippered cargo pockets are easy to access and, along with the Commander’s eight metal D-rings, earned the top score for stowage. Some divers found the weight pockets digging into their hips, but the no-fuss Flat Lock latches were rated very good for loading and ditching.

Riptide Mutineer

Riptide has reintroduced its BC line, now ­distributed in the U.S. through IST Sports. Lightweight (under 6 pounds in our test size) and with a soft back plate, the Mutineer packs up tight for travel. The harness, with a cummerbund and wide back pad, doesn’t have much cushioning but has some cool details such as sliding sternum strap mounts and shoulder straps that swivel on D-rings. That helped it tie the top score for comfort, and the wide adjustment range was especially welcome considering we had a single size to test.

The integrated weights load easily from the top through wide zippers and are rated for 12 pounds each. Secured by Velcro with flaps protecting the pocket corners, they were secure but simple to release with the web loops, though divers with heavier weight loads had to finagle them out of the pockets after ditching.

Zeagle Covert XT

When we tried the original Covert, we joked that its fit reminded us of a corset. With an overhaul of the harness, air cell and integrated weights, it’s less like an undergarment and more like a tactical vest. Despite ­minimal padding, it received top scores for ­comfort and stability and diver comments like “snug and comfortable” and “precise attitude ­control.” The Covert XT has picked up a few ounces, but it’s still under 6 pounds in medium. And all the changes have made it better, with more-rugged materials (especially in the air-cell cover), more lift and more options for storage, including web loops to secure accessory pockets.

The redesigned integrated-weight pockets load easily from the top and take 14 pounds, while rear trim pockets hold 10. Even better than the original, the Covert is our Testers Choice for back-inflation BCs.

WOMEN'S BCs

Riptide Mira

The Mira appears virtually identical to ­Riptide’s Mutineer, with a cummerbund, soft back plate and a pair of tank bands, as well as swiveling shoulder straps and a sternum strap that can be quickly moved up or down about 3 inches. That helped the Mira tie the top score for adjustability, and earn a very good score for comfort. For stowage, it suffered competing against jackets with big cargo pockets. But while the Mira comes with just two D-rings, it has sleeves to add up to nine more.

Some test divers noted more inherent buoyancy than they liked, and wished there were rear trim pockets to distribute the weight. But divers found the Mira travel-friendly, and rated it very good for surface floating position and overall assembly, singling out features such as the unobtrusive but useful ­carry strap and mesh rear pocket for a strobe.

Scubapro Bella

The graphics on this redesigned jacket are an eye-catcher, but there are also lots of new details, including a quick-connect tank buckle and a new shoulder-strap design with ­triangular stainless connectors. The result? The Bella was rated excellent for setup, with one tester calling it the “best tank band in the test.” Women divers praised the Bella’s fit, giving it the top score for comfort and for stability and attitude control. “Perfect ­buoyancy,” one diver commented. It took top scores for ascent control, valve operation and surface floating.

The integrated weights, which secure with a buckle, were rated good for ditching and very good for loading — “Couldn’t be easier,” one tester said. Some divers found the pink accents a bit much, but when it came to performance, the Bella was a standout. The Bella is our Testers Choice for women’s BCs.

Zeagle Marina

Like the Bravo, the Marina’s back plate is made of heavy webbing with generous padding. But the two are quite different, with the Marina’s back pad, waist section and air cell tailored for women. Female test divers judged the effort successful, giving the Marina very good scores for comfort and stability. The ­integrated weights, which handle 10 pounds each, were rated very good for loading and took top score for ease of ditching. A pair of rear trim pockets are well-placed but pretty tight, with the max 3 pounds each.

The BC was rated very good for ascent control and valve operation, though more than one diver noted the rock-hard inflator mouthpiece. Zippered pockets are large and accessible though snug on the surface; with functional octo pockets and six stainless D-rings, the Marina took top score for stowage in its category.

HOW WE TEST

ERGO TEST

ScubaLab test divers equipped with ­underwater slates and ­waterproof test sheets recorded their observations about each BC’s performance and assigned scores and notes in each of the following ­categories:

• Assembly: Ease and security of making tank and hose attachments

• Loading Weights: Ease of loading and security of integrated-weight system

• Comfort: ­Overall comfort, both in and out of the water

• Adjustability: Ease of ­adjusting and range of ­adjustment

ATTITUDE AND STABILITY

In swim and vertical (head-up and head-down) ­positions; overall sense of control of attitude

STOWAGE ­

Usefulness and accessibility of cargo pockets, D-rings, loops, etc., for securing ­accessories

VALVE OPERATION ­

Ability to control when inflating/deflating by power inflator and manually; ergonomics of the controls

ASCENT CONTROL

Ability to maintain desired ascent rate and attitude

SURFACE FLOATING POSITION

Comfort and stability while inflated at the surface

DITCHING WEIGHT SYSTEM

Ability to drop weights quickly; weights secure from accidental ditching

OBJECTIVE TEST

We conducted three in-water tests (in fresh water) on each BC to measure ­criteria important to performance and safety.

FLOW RATE TEST

We tested the ability of each BC’s exhaust ­system to prevent uncontrolled ascent in the event of a stuck power inflator. Each BC, at 10 feet and loaded with 20 percent of the manufacturer’s claimed buoyant lift, was held upright while the power inflator and upper exhaust were ­simultaneously activated for 20 seconds. Industry ­standards require that, at the conclusion, a BC has not become positively buoyant.

BUOYANT LIFT

Each BC (in size medium ­unless otherwise ­noted) was fully ­inflated with the ­power inflator while mounted upright to a neutrally buoyant bucket, which was then ­progressively weighted until the BC would not support ­another pound without sinking.

INHERENT BUOYANCY

To determine how weighting would be affected by built-in buoyancy, each BC (in size medium unless otherwise noted) was submerged and air was removed from bladder, pockets, padding, etc. Weights were then added in half-pound increments until the BC would support no further weight without sinking.

HOW WE SCORE

Test divers ­assigned scores to BCs in each ­evaluation category as follows:

5=excellent

4=very good

3=good

2=fair

1=poor

What’s most important in selecting the winning BCs?

While test divers rated each BC on nearly a dozen separate factors, as always two were key: comfort and stability. Other factors are important (sufficient lift, weight-system operation, valve and exhaust controls, storage), but if a BC doesn’t fit well and provide stability and control, the rest doesn’t matter.