So, you want to buy a BCD but with so many out there it’s hard to know which to choose. 

We often get asked which is the best and honestly everyone has a different opinion. But here at Global Dive we will all recommend a backplate and wing setup every time!

New divers can often assume this set up is only for tech divers or instructors, but they are becoming more and more popular with all levels of recreational divers too and here is why.

By having the bladder on the back, it makes you, as the diver, more stable and makes it easier to stay nice and horizontal. Also, it keeps the front of the system clear and streamlined which makes for a more enjoyable dive. It is these reasons that more and more traditional BCDs are moving towards the rear-inflate style.

Another benefit to the backplate/wing set up is that it fits just about anybody, from a 12-year-old girl right through to the biggest burly rugby player. By simply adjusting the harness and moving D-rings the backplate/wing will fit like a glove and help the tank feel stable and secure when diving. With traditional jacket style BCDs they often have to have additional straps/clips across the chest to help keep them in place due to them not always fitting well – with a BP/W these become unnecessary.

Again, the comfort of the BP/W setup comes from it being uncluttered; with a few D-rings and bungees, everything you need to carry can be clipped on and secured straight to the harness making it easily accessible when you need it. No more fussing around trying to unzip and dig things out of pockets!

Same with weight pockets — these are mounted straight onto the harness or tank band, saving your poor lower back!

The next benefit is that it’s made up of individual components so if one gets damaged you don’t have to replace the whole system. If you burst your bladder on a sharp rock during a dive you can replace just the bladder, same for the harness/webbing. With traditional style BCDs this really isn’t an option. Traditional style BCDs also have a lot more plastic components that can become brittle over time that are again not easily replaced.

Without doubt, the best reason to get a backplate and wing set up is its flexibility. 

You might only need an aluminium backplate for travelling with and diving in warmer waters, but this can be switched out for a steel backplate if you want to dive colder waters or with a drysuit. If you want to try diving a twinset you just need to change the bladder to a larger size wing — the backplate and harness stay the same! It will grow and adapt with you as a diver and last you many, many years.

While backplate and wings may have started off as a tech diver staple, you can see why they are becoming more and more popular with all kinds of divers. And it’s why we use them with all our open water students! 

(We also use them in our rental fleet, so why not try one out before you buy?!)

Our backplate and wing of choice is the OMS Smartstream System with its quick release mechanism making it easy to get in and out of.