It is a wonder how technical science produces an overwhelming result that is once seemed impossible to happen. Staying underwater for a long time and remain neutrally buoyant was thought to be difficult to do as humans have capacity limitations. However with the help of science and technical inventions, staying underwater for a longer period and controlling the buoyancy are possible to humans with the help of scuba diving equipment.

The adjustment and alteration of body mass or buoyancy of a diver when staying underwater is made possible when a buoyancy compensator device is worn.

Buoyancy compensator device or BCD is a scuba diving gear that is shaped like a life jacket. Worn by scuba divers, this control device is considered a life-saving equipment that helps the diver in controlling the buoyancy underwater. BCD’s have the ability to inflate and deflate that can be controlled by the diver. This equips the diver from controlling and adjusting his buoyancy and of his heavy diving equipment. This also helps in the ability of the diver to controllably ascend or descend underwater and to the water surface.

BCD is a vital diving equipment to a scuba diver. Scuba BCD can be thought of as a typical lifejacket. However, its many features and complicated design have qualified it to be more than just a typical life-saving jacket. Inflation valve, vent valve and over pressurization valve are some of the features found on BCD’s. These features have the characteristics that function in the inflation, deflation and the provision of gas into the scuba BCD’s. Other scuba BCD parts unique to the device are the direct feed, which acts as a medium of gas transport from the scuba tank and regulators to the buoyancy compensator; metal backplate that supports the scuba cylinders and convenient pockets for carrying weight belts, decompression tables and other necessary gadgets of scuba divers. It is possible to carry underwater cameras inside the pockets of the buoyancy compensator.

Inflation cylinders are integrated in the buoyancy compensator that functions as an emergency inflator. However, the integration of this feature into the BC may be prone to a more risk. Accidental handling of the cylinder results to the quick ascent of the diver. Barotrauma and decompression sickness may also result to the quick ascent. The possible inhalation of harmful carbon dioxide by the diver is a factor inflation cylinders are not very practicable in a BC.

Harness is always a part of the BCD’s. Fastened around the body of the diver, this part is very typical in life saving jackets and other life saving equipment.

The different features of the buoyancy compensator are clearly dependent on the design of the buoyancy compensator. Some features may be absent to other types of the scuba control device. Nevertheless, the inflation valves are conventional part to every type of the buoyancy compensator.

The recent innovation of buoyancy compensator is the wing type. It consists of bladders that are inflatable and are secured at the back and the sides of the diver. This part helps in the buoyancy of the diver. It is possible to carry more than one scuba cylinder in a wing-type buoyancy compensator.

Scuba divers have different body mass. The ability of the buoyancy compensator to function relies on the body structure of the scuba diver. The lift capacity of BCD’s is a consideration when acquiring one. Consultation to the dive shop is advisable before purchasing one BCD.

Buoyancy compensator device has provided the diver a control to his floating capability. Descending and ascending the waters can be done in a controllable manner. BCD has the adjustment ability to the according to the weight, body size and density and compression level of the diver.