Best Dive BCDs for 2025
Author: Dr. Simon Pierce
As a whale shark biologist and underwater photographer, I rely on my scuba diving equipment to be highly functional and reliable so that I can get on with the job. With that experience, a lot of people ask me about the gear I use and recommend.
The Cressi Travelight is the best dive BCD in 2025 – and it’s the BCD I’ve bought myself. The Travelight does everything well. It’s lightweight for travel (as per the name), very comfortable to wear with integrated weights without a wetsuit, and it’s tough enough for harsh conditions in cold water too. It’s not an expensive model, and it’s feature-rich compared to other travel-orientated BCDs – the Travelight skimps on weight, but not on function.
While I prefer the simplicity and comfort of jacket-style BCDs, back-inflation (wing) and in-between ‘hybrid’ BCDs are popular alternatives. The popular ScubaPro Litehawk is a light travel-orientated hybrid BCD that has a back-inflation design, optional integrated weights, and can lay flat for packing. The Oceanic Excursion is an excellent full wing-style BCD. It’s heavier than the two above, but comfortable to wear, and provides more lift and weight capacity for technical and cold water divers. If you want the ability to fully customize your setup, you should consider a modular BCD. The Scubapro Hydros Pro (wing-style) and Hydros X (jacket) BCD are both tough, well-designed, high-end choices that can be configured to completely suit you. That also makes it easy to switch out bits of your rig for different dive styles or conditions.
Keep reading to check out my full reviews and rationale for these choices – and to check for the best deals!
BTW, I’ve listed all our winners for best dive gear here that includes my best Dive computers, Dive Masks, Dive Fins, Regulators, and Full-Face Dive Masks in 2025.
Overall Winner: Cressi Travelight BCD
The Cressi Travelight is the best dive BCD in 2025. I bought the Travelight myself to give it a proper test, and have subsequently racked up about 1000 dives in this BCD. If I lost it somehow, I’d buy this model again tomorrow. It’s that good.
Though the Travelight is one of the lightest jacket-style BCDs, Cressi has saved weight by optimizing the materials rather than cutting features. The Travelight is well-padded and very comfortable for tropical diving in a rash-shirt and board-shorts, but tough enough to get mashed against the rocks during high currents across hundreds of dives in the Galapagos Islands – as I can attest!
Comfort is the stand-out feature for this BCD. The Travelight has an internal, well-padded, and foldable backplate. It fits well, with a nice hydrodynamic profile, and feels like I’m being gently spooned through the dive. Unlike many rigid, exposed backplate systems, it feels great when I’m not wearing a wetsuit. I’ve done plenty of shore diving in the Travelight too and, unlike some cut-down lightweight BCDs, it remains comfortable while walking around with a tank on and the weight pockets in.
Feature-wise, the Travelight has everything a recreational diver needs, including a good integrated weight system, rear trim-weight pockets, full storage pockets on either side, a double tank-band to avoid slippage, and solid attachment points everywhere. I look like a Christmas tree when I’m geared up for both science and photography, and I’ve never run out of places to put things.
The integrated weight pockets have a very satisfying ‘click’ when correctly inserted – and I’ve never had a weight pocket come out unintentionally. The rear trim-weight pockets are well-located and great for weight distribution. They make it very easy to maintain an upright position in the water and avoid the bottom-heavy feeling that some integrated BCDs (and weight belts) give me.
While the weight pockets attach inside of the storage pockets, the full-sized storage pockets are still easy to access and use. The full pockets on the Travelight are, for me, a major advantage over hybrid or wing-style BCDs. I typically have a large inflatable marker buoy attached to a reel in my right pocket, and a Nautilus Lifeline and other gear on the left. Pockets are good.
With the Cressi Travelight, you’re getting a lightweight, comfortable, full-featured BCD at an excellent price. The Travelight BCD comes in a specialized fit for women too, and it’s easy for me to recommend it as the best BCD for almost any recreational diver.
Best Lightweight Hybrid Travel: ScubaPro Litehawk BCD
The Scubapro Litehawk is an ultralight, optionally weight-integrated, back-inflation BCD that offers free arm movement performs well without adding any unnecessary bulk. It’s a fantastic BCD for divers that often travel to warm waters, packing flat or even rolled-up.
The Litehawk is a great choice for divers that prefer a neat, refined setup that minimizes weight without sacrificing comfort. The wing-style rear inflation helps to maintain a very stable trim in the water.
Best Wing with Pockets: Oceanic Excursion BCD
The Oceanic Excursion is a full-featured tech-capable BCD that has large pockets and great lift capacity but retains freedom of movement. Wing BCDs have excellent stability in the water, due to the back inflation, while avoiding clutter up-front. The Excursion manages all this adroitly but retains two full-sized storage pockets in case you need to carry extra gear. My friend (and Divemaster) Josh Cooper has the Oceanic Excursion and notes that, aside from the above, “the comfort level is amazing”. The Excursion is heavier than the two travel-orientated options above, but this BCD is built to have the extra lift capacity and steel attachment D-rings that are preferred by tech divers.
Best High-End Modular: ScubaPro Hydros Pro/X BCD
Available in both male and female fits as the Hydros Pro (wing style) or, added in 2020, the Hydros X (jacket style) BCD. Either choice has a plethora of accessories and can be customized to create the “one BCD to rule them all.”
The Hydros is a big, tough BCD that is built to last. It’s a full modular system, with the components bolted together – even the buckles – so that they can be switched or replaced according to your preference. You can also customize the colors to match your other gear as desired. No unusual tools are required.
The Hydros is overkill as a warm-water or travel BCD, but it’s a great option for people that do most diving more locally in more temperate waters. The monoprene material is extremely durable, and also drys immediately; water just beads off, which is really nice at the end of a big day.
Both the Pro and X configurations are stable and comfortable in the water with a long list of features. If you want a BCD that can evolve with you, and particularly if you’re interested in exploring technical diving, the Hydros is an excellent choice.
Weekender Travel: Oceanic Jetpack BCD
The Jetpack is in a class of its own. It’s a fully-adjustable travel BCD that doubles as a semi-dry backpack that can fit your other gear. Scuba diving is not exactly a minimalist recreation, but the Oceanic Jetpack is working at it – you might even be able to get away with a one-bag dive weekend. Nice.
As a BCD, the Jetpack is a light, comfortable, and durable wing-style option with integrated weights. As a carry-on backpack, the Jetpack is a conveniently-sized 42 l semi-dry bag with compartments to keep damp gear away from your clothes.
The reviews for this bag are excellent. I want one.
Author Credentials
Simon is a shark conservation biologist and world-renowned underwater photographer who dives, snorkels, and freedives for a living. He is a co-founder and Principal Scientist at the Marine Megafauna Foundation, where he leads the global whale shark research and conservation program. His marine research and photography are routinely covered by major media outlets, including the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and New York Times amongst many others. One of his photographs was chosen as a personal favorite of Sir David Attenborough’s, in conjunction with BBC’s Blue Planet II series, and another illustrates one of the global PADI scuba diving certification cards.
How We Tested
I looked at all the current models from top brands globally to find the best dive BCDs on the market in 2021. Aside from our own personal experience with lots of different BCD models, Madeleine spent hours watching YouTube Reviews and product explainers, arguing with Simon, debating with diver friends, and scouring reviews and message boards. To summarize:
- Between us, we’ve done around 2,500 dives and used lots of different computers.
- Madeleine spent (at least) 15 hours doing dive computer and dive watch research on Amazon, LeisurePro, and various other scuba message boards to get up-to-date on what’s available.
- We both read hundreds of reviews to determine the actual performance of the various features.
- We spoke to dive shop owners in Australia and Indonesia to find out what they use and recommend.
- We surveyed our extensive network of professional divers (scuba instructors, professional underwater photographers, marine biologists etc) to get their opinions and feedback.
- We watched dozens of YouTube reviews and product explainers, gathering multiple opinions.
Understanding BCD Types
Jacket BCD
Jackets are the most common BCD design and what most recreational divers use. The waist inflates and also contains big pockets. The straps usually feature D-Rings to attach your accessories. I prefer jacket-style BCD as they’re comfortable when floating on the surface, but particularly because I’m often quite upright in the water looking for big animals in the water column, or while I’m taking photographs in a more upright position than ‘perfect trim’.
Winged BCD
Winged BCD gives you buoyancy on your back. Usually, they don’t have big pockets with means they’re lighter in weight so great for travel. Harness style gives you a sense of freedom in the water without the bulky jacket.
Key Features to Consider
Integrated Weights
Integrated weights mean you insert the weights into your BCD, then use a quick-release to pull them out. For women this means they are not rubbing against your hips which can be uncomfortable during a dive. They are secure so they won’t just fall out unless you tug on the specific quick-release tag.
Integrated weights are way, way better than a weight belt – but make sure the pockets won’t slip out easily, like they do in some BCDs. Clip system is way better than velcro alone, which gets less effective over time.
Dump Valves
Every BCD has dump valves used to expel air. They are accessed by pulling on a toggle that opens the valve. You want a BCD with both shoulder and kidney (lower back) dump valves.
Pockets
Pockets are useful – means I can safely have a sausage stowed away, and/or a Nautilus Lifeline, as well as any other gear I might need.
D-Rings
Every BCD comes standard with two D-rings, one on each shoulder strap. These are handy for items you need easy and often access to yet don’t want to have to hold them in your hand.