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View CartBG next to product categories at left indicated that there is a Buyer’s Guide available.

Buoyancy Compensators

You may also wish to check our Tech Diving section for backplates and BC systems designed for equipment-intensive diving. Also be sure to check out our BC accessories. For help in selecting the right BC for you see our Buyer’s Guide at the bottom of this page.
Mares HUB Avantgarde
$1,699.00
The new millennium ushers in the age of HUB: the first and only integrated diving system. But HUB is much more. First of all, it is a system: i.e., a control unit which coordinates the diver's various instruments. Secondly, it is integrated: i.e., different instruments that where formerly scattered and separated are now incorporated into a single unit. HUB provides maximum freedom of movement, by eliminating trailing hoses and improving general comfort. The instruments are all readily at hand, yet concealable. In addition, HUB is equipped with Air-Trim, the new unit comprised of two simple button controls for inflation and deflation. HUB opens up a new era of diving. Just go under water. Modern, elegant, compact and lightweight, incorporating new technical and aesthetic features. HUB Century offers all the advantages of the integrated HUB system at a very affordable price.
Click on the name above for more specifications.

Note that the HUB does not include a computer. To provide a fully-integrated system, we reccommend an air-integrated computer such as the Sherwood Wisdom.

SPECIAL CLOSEOUT: One outdated model, size Medium is available at a closeout price of $899. Call or e-mail for description and to check availability.
Quantity
DUI Delta Wings Buoyancy Control System
$598.00
Features

• Patented one-size-fits-all harness; back-mount style
• 2 movable bent D-rings on harness & 2 on bottom for accessories
• DUI’s patented auto-retract attachment system
• Stainless steel waist buckle
• Removable weight-integrated pockets easily hold 40 lbs.
• Adjustable sternum strap
• Removable crotch strap
• Adjustable epaulets
• Adjustable lumbar pad
• Tank locator strap
• Power inflator and pull-to-dump rapid vent valve. Can be used with alternate air source
• Manual bottom dump/overpressure valve
• Waist belt so DELTA BCS can be worn without weight integration
• Backmount bladders have dual shock-cords to lower profile
• Double-bagged, horseshoe style bladder
• Bladder lift capacity 58# and 35#

**Special Offer** With your purchase of a DUI Delta Wings BC System, non-weight-integrated, you may choose one DUI Weight and Trim system at no extra cost!
Quantity
DUI Weight and Trim System Classic
$110.00
• Weights adjust up and down.
• Comfortable fabric harness.
• Easily holds 40 lbs/18kg.
• Works with most any BC.
• Patented weight release system - weights can be removed one-half at a time.
See Size Chart for sizing assistance.
Quantity
DUI Delta Weight and Trim II
$110.00
• Weights adjust up and down.
• Comfortable fabric harness.
• Easily holds 40 lbs/18kg.
• Works with most any BC.
• Patented weight release system - weights can be removed one-half at a time.
See Size Chart for sizing assistance.
Quantity
Mares Morphos
$579.00
The most important revolution in the design of buoyancy compensators since the introduction of the jacket style BC.
Morphos is a convergence of technology that offers maximum freedom of movement and unparalleled comfort.
The supporting structure is independent of the buoyancy bag, which, thanks to its unique shape, allows for an optimum distribution of air and supports divers on the surface as comfortably as in their living room armchairs, all of which folds into a compact, lightweight “cocoon”.
A number of patents protect this product:
• Cocoon concept
• Armchair buoyancy bag design
• New backpack protection, which can be used in two positions. A special add-on makes it possible to adjust the thickness and height of the padding to suit the diver’s needs
• Integrated weights with mechanical release system (MRS)
• Mesh covered backing to reduce resistance to forward movement
• Air trim system: perfect buoyancy control, great safety and increased comfort during the dive.

Morphos also features all the characteristics required to make your dives safer and more enjoyable:
• Trim weight system. The option to store fixed rear weights, up to 5 lbs/2 kg per pocket (2 pockets), makes it possible to adjust buoyancy in the water as needed.
• Quick Adjustable System, for quick and precise cummerbund adjustment
• Two three-dimensional pockets whose internal volume remains constant regardless of bag inflation
• 50 mm swivel buckles on the shoulder straps ensure improved positioning of the BC throughout the entire dive
• Stainless steel rings, bent to facilitate attachment of the carabiners
• Chest strap: quick-release type, with two-side adjustment, to keep the shoulder straps securely in their natural position and prevent them from slipping.
• Oral inflator integrated inside the right pocket
• Swivel hose retainer, which ensures safe and optimal positioning of the console and the octopus.
• Buoyancy bag:
- double bag design, interior in extremely high strength polyurethane film, exterior in 840D nylon.
• A pneumatically operated valve, which can also be used manually as a dump valve.
• Two lateral manual valves make it possible to discharge in any position.
Quantity
Mares V1 with MRS
$429.00
Today’s most respected BCs, further improved.
Excellent buoyancy, impressive convenience and high performance make the V1 suitable for any situation. TODAY, ALSO WITH THE NEW M.R.S. INTEGRATED WEIGHTING SYSTEM
• “Classic Aircell” buoyancy bag, made with a Duroskin Cordura® exterior and a 420D Nylon interior.
• The Ergo inflator unit is compact, ergonomic, reliable, and easy-to-use.
• Two quick air dump and over-expansion relief valves for safer buoyancy control.
• Cummerbund with the Quick Adjustable System, for fast and precise cummerbund adjustment.
• Anatomical padding on the backpack (Back Protection System)
• Side pockets made of leather-like material, soft and extremely durable.
• 50 mm quick-release swivel buckles on the shoulder straps for consistently perfect positioning of the BC during the dive.
Quantity
Mares Ariel
$449.00
Ariel revolutionizes the traditional structure of the BC. Comfort, performance and stability are integrated into the Dragonfly buoyancy bag, with its swivel buckles, BPS padding (Back Protection System) and QAS system cummerbund, allowing easy and precise adjustment. The MRS system is standard, and is completed by a pair of rear pockets that house the fixed weights (Trim weights). The special look and streamline cut complete a BC designed especially to meet the needs of the female consumer.
Quantity
Sherwood AVID
$399.00
Want to rest easier on the surface and below? Want a jacket-style BC that can comfortably carry everything, while still looking good? Here you go.

Avid features the CQR weight-pocket system for a more secure, comfortable dive - plus two, non-releasing, trim weight pockets that can hold up to 10 additional pounds.

Jacket style, this BC wraps air completely around you for easy floating on the surface and provides:
• A 3-D designed aircell and elastic front closure that allow full inflation while eliminating “squeeze.”
• Easy oral and power inflation.

Avid stows all your gear securely with:
• Two, locking nylon straps with adjustable cam buckles that thread through our unique MiniPac™ to tightly secure your cylinder
• A specially designed, Velcro-closing pocket for our optional, fold-up Avid snorkel
• System-ready features for Akona BCD Pro Kit and QuickClip™
• Two, large zippered pockets
• Six, stainless steel D-rings

Avid is built to last, built for comfort:
• Exterior constructed of heavy-duty, 1000-denier, urethane-backed nylon
• Adjustable, depth-compensating cummerbund keeps the fit snug
• Right-shoulder pull dump
• Sternum strap

Size Lift Releasing Weight Trim Weight
XS 20# (2) 8# (2) 5#
SM 25# (2) 8# (2) 5#
MD 29# (2) 10# (2) 5#
LG 32# (2) 10# (2) 5#
XL 36# (2) 10# (2) 5#
2XL 36# (2) 13# (2) 5#
Sherwood AVID   $469.00
Quantity
Sherwood Freedom
$479.00
Sleek. Compact while diving and traveling. This BC provides back buoyancy - plus safety and stowage features that will let you feel new freedom diving. It comes with the compact AKONA Safety Tube for signaling location and emergencies.

Freedom includes the CQR weight-pocket system for a more secure, comfortable dive - plus two, non-releasing, trim weight pockets that can hold up to 10 additional pounds.

Convenient and comfortable:
• Compact 3-D, back-inflated aircell
• Easy oral and power inflation
• Adjustable, depth-compensating cummerbund keeps the fit snug without squeezing
• Right-shoulder pull dump
• Sternum strap
• Inflatable safety tube in convenient side pocket

Freedom secures your gear and accessories:
• Unique, flip-down center pocket for your stuff
• Two, locking nylon straps with adjustable cam buckles that thread through our unique MiniPac™ to tightly secure your cylinder
• A Velcro-closing pocket designed to hold our optional, fold-up Avid snorkel
• System ready for AKONA BCD Pro Kit and QuickClip™
• Two, large zippered pockets
• Six, stainless steel D-rings

Size Lift Releasing Weight Trim Weight
XS 18# (2) 8# (2) 5#
SM 23# (2) 8# (2) 5#
MD 28# (2) 10# (2) 5#
LG 37# (2) 10# (2) 5#
XL 42# (2) 10# (2) 5#
Quantity
Mares Jubilee
$299.00
Back-mounted model minimizes space during transport and reduces water friction during the dive.

Ample padding in the backpack area affords an improved fit and greater tank stability against the diver’s body. The swivel buckles on the shoulder straps permit correct positioning of the vest, assuring maximum stability.
Two fixed “Trim Weight” pockets with buckle closures, capable of holding up to 5 lbs/2 kg each, assure a balanced underwater swimming position.
Padded collar for superior comfort
MRS integrated weighting system as standard.

• Buoyancy bag made with a “Duroskin” Cordura® fabric exterior and a 420D Nylon interior.
• The Ergo inflator unit is used for inflation, quick air dump, gradual inflation and oral inflation. Rear quick air dump and over-expansion relief valves.
• Cummerbund with the Quick Adjustable System, for fast and precise cummerbund adjustment.
• Center “key-holder” pocket
• Anatomically cut, padded shoulder straps
• Stainless steel rings on the shoulder straps, bent to facilitate attachment of the carabiners
• Waist strap with two-side adjustment and quick-release
• Quick-release style chest strap with two-side adjustment to hold the shoulder straps securely in their natural position and prevent them from slipping
• Swivel hose retainers to ensure safe and optimal positioning of the octopus and console

This BC has been discontinued; our remaining stock is being sold at a closeout price!
Quantity
Mares Origin
$299.00
Precise and safe buoyancy control, for a simple, comfortable BC.

• Functionality and effectiveness are the guiding concepts behind the design
of Vector Origin, which features a contoured cut for an excellent fit, and adjustable quick-release shoulder straps
• Ergo inflator
• Buoyancy bag: 840 denier fabric—Classic Aircell
• Valves: 2 front, 1 rear
• Waist strap: adjustable, with quick release 50 mm-buckle.
• Buckle adjustment straps finished with pull-rings, which are easy to grip even when wearing heavy neoprene gloves
• Padding: anatomical, neutrally buoyant padding on the backpack
• BC body: 840 denier nylon
• Pockets: a roomy side pocket with high impact YKK® zip and zipper-pull, and another with flap closure, both self-draining
• Shoulder straps: padded, with anatomical cut
Rings:
• on the shoulder straps, two 40 mm stainless steel rings;
• on the BC body: two 20 mm technopolymer rings and two non-twisting 25 mm technopolymer rings
Swivel hose retainers: one retainer, guarantees safe and optimal positioning of the console and octopus
Quantity
Mares Vector 1000
$499.00
This traditionally-shaped BC offers the utmost in technical design.

• Ergo Inflator
• Two rear quick dump/over-expansion relief valves
• QAS (Quick Adjust System)
• BPS (Back Protection System)
• Two self-draining expandable pockets
• MRS (optional)
• Trim Weights
• Materials:
Cordura® Duroskin exterior/420 nylon interior
AISI 304 Stainless steel rings with bend
• Buoyancy lift 13.5 kg (size L)
Quantity
Mares Vector Pro
$349.00
Excellent value for your money. Increased buoyancy lift. Hi-tech look and characteristics.

• Ergo Inflator
• Two rear quick dump/over-expansion relief valves
• QAS (Quick Adjust System)
• 3-D Utility Pockets
• Padded backpack
• Materials:
Cordura® 1000 exterior/420 nylon interior
AISI 304 Stainless steel rings with bend
• Buoyancy lift 13.5 kg (size L)
Quantity
What to Look for in a Buoyancy Compensator

The buoyancy compensator (BC) is one of the key pieces of life-support equipment used by every SCUBA diver. Aside from safety, the BC's purpose is to maintain neutral buoyancy and trim in the water so that one can swim relatively effortlessly thought the water and enjoy the dive. As such, you should carefully select one which meets your particular diving needs and fits your particular body. Then make sure you know how to use its features so that you can reach automatically for the right control to establish neutral buoyancy. And be sure to keep it in good working order!

If you are unfamiliar with BCs in general, the first thing you need to do is to take a Basic SCUBA class! We offer them if you don’t have a class available where you live. To help you select the right BC, we offer here a brief description of the key features and differences among today’s BCs and why you might want to choose particular sets of features.

BC Types

First we divide BCs into three main types: Front Inflation, Back Inflation and Technical Diving. We recommend Front-Inflation jacket-style BCs for most recreational divers, and most of the BCs we offer are of this type. The location of the air bladder(s) toward the front of the body provides the best safety margin against drowning for an unconscious diver. Most divers (about 90%) will float at the surface face up in an inflated Front-Inflation BC. Please note that a BC should not be used as a personal flotation device for boating safety or similar applications. Front-Inflation BCs also tend to have the ability to provide the best trim, allowing you to comfortably maintain any desired orientation underwater. The principal disadvantage of Front-Inflation BCs is the fact that you end up with a lot of “stuff” right in front of you where it can interfere with your underwater activities and provide extra drag. Back-Inflation BCs such as the Sherwood Freedom or DUI Delta Wings solve this problem by putting the air bladder(s) on your back where they are out of the way and allow you to be slightly more streamlined in the water. However, an unconscious diver with an inflated Back-Inflation BC floats face down at the surface, and in normal use, when inflated more than 50% on the surface, it tends to push the diver forward making it more difficult to rest head up on the surface or talk to your buddy. Technical Diving BCs such as those we offer from OMS and Halcyon on our Tech Diving page are also designed with air bladders (“wings”) on the back, but instead of the jacket design used by most recreational divers, most use a backplate leaving the front of the body clear. They usually use dual bladder designs for redundancy, provide significantly more lift capacity and are designed to accommodate double tanks plus side sling and front sling tanks and offer a lot of places to attach accessories and disperse the weight of extra gear (high-intensity lights, reels, lift bags, etc.). The backpack harness arrangement makes Technical Diving BCs one-size-fits-all.

For the large diver over 300 lbs. who cannot comfortably wear even the largest sizes of jacket-style BCs, we suggest the DUI back inflation BC or one of the many the Tech BCs that we offer.

Lift Capacity

BCs come in a range of lift capacities. Generally speaking, more lift means more drag. We suggest that you select a BC that minimizes the drag and has the minimum lift. Most divers tend to use BCs with bladders that are too big. After ditching your weight belt or some weights, you should already be significantly positively buoyant, and about 25 pounds of lift from a BC is more than sufficient for most divers, even with full cold-water gear. A suggestion is to have you BC have at least as much lift as your weight belt. If you get in trouble always remember and be ready to dump your weight belt.

Goals of a BC

BCs are used by divers to establish and adjust buoyancy and trim. When properly adjusted at depth, a diver should typically be neutrally buoyant and should naturally float with shoulder and fins lined up for maximum propulsion efficiency. If you tend to float head-up or head-down, you should adjust your trim by moving some of your weight around. This is usually a matter of moving a pound or two of your total weight to your shoulder harnesses and/or tank (see our weights page for more information). Once proper trim is established, you will be able to glide thought the water with much greater ease. That’s the great feeling you want to have underwater!

Inflation/Deflation

All BCs should be equipped with a power inflator connected to your regulator plus a backup oral inflator and pull-dump valves. Low-end BCs may have only a single dump valve, and you may have to change your orientation in the water to allow the air to be dumped. Others have multiple dump valves with separate or combined controls so that air can be dumped in any orientation. All of our Mares BCs feature two or more dump valves; the Sherwood BCs have only one.

Weight Integration

Many BCs now incorporate some form of “weight integration.” Carrying some or all of your weight in your BC can reduce or eliminate the discomforts of a weight belt. One needs to be careful not to overdo it. A complete rig including tank(s), regulators, BC and weights can be too much for some people to lift and put on all at once. Especially for cold water diving, where more weight is needed to compensate for the diver’s thermal protection, dividing the weight between the BC and a separate weight belt can be a better choice. While some weight-intergrated BCs can accommodate over 40 lbs., anything more than 10 lbs can be heavy for smaller divers. Remember that about 80% of your weight should be easily releasable in an emergency! Don’t put weight in a zipper pocket. A Weight-Integrated BC should have special pockets for weights with some means of quick release. Always remember, if you are in trouble at the surface, dump the weight; it’s easy and could save your life!

Air Integration

You can also combine the function of a power inflator and octopus regulator into a single integrated device, the “air-integrated power inflator.” This has the advantage of putting your alternate air source in a convenient and familiar location attached to your BC where it can more easily be found in an emergency. Note that this device is used differently from a normal octopus regulator: you give your primary regulator to the person you are helping and breathe from the air-integrated power inflator yourself. This device can be installed on any BC (see our BC Accessories page). The cost of an air-integrated power inflator is about $80–100 more than an octopus regulator. The air integration option also eliminated a hose from your regulator simplifying the system, making it smaller for travel, and more streamlined in the water.

Complete System Integration

We also offer the Mares HUB Century, which integrates the BC, regulator, octopus and gauges into one simple-to-use package with no dangling hoses. (Note that gauges and computer are not included and must be purchased separately.) The HUB is exceptionally easy to assemble and put on, and features two simple button controls on the BC for inflation and deflation (via multiple dump ports).

Other Features

All of our BCs feature thick, durable material, front adjustability, power inflators and pull dumps. All jacket-style BCs are available in a range of sizes to fit most divers. The Mares Ariel is especially designed for women divers with narrower shoulder spacing and a shorter torso design for improved fit. In addition, you will find that more expensive models include weight integration, multiple dump valves and more pockets and extra attachment points. Some also include extra padding, important to warm water divers who may not have much padding from their wetsuit. You should give careful thought to your system configuration. Dangling hoses can hit and damage delicate reef structures. You should use some sort of clip or retractor (see our BC Accessories page) to secure your console, octopus and other loose gear. We recommend that all of your life support equipment be mounted inside the “golden triangle” between your neck and waist. A small dive knife such as the Remora or Shorty listed on our Knives page can and should be mounted to your BC.

Still Confused?

Feel free to call or e-mail with further questions, or tell us your body type and the type of diving you will be doing, and your budget and we will help you identify the right BC for you!

Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended solely to help in product selection for trained and certified divers and is in no way intended to substitute for formal training and certification.

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