You’ve successfully completed your Open Water Course, and now you’re ready to start building your personal gear locker.
Awesome sauce!
While some gear should usually be purchased new, like a dive computer—there are smart ways to save money, and one of the best is by purchasing a used BCD.
When it comes to BCDs, here’s the thing: Good used gear is better than junk new gear! (That said, if you want to drop some serious money on a new, high-quality BCD, I certainly will not stop you… come by Adventure Outfitters and check out some options!)
So, how do you buy a used bcd?
The Only Used BCD Style to Buy: Plate and Wing
If you’re trying to save a little money by purchasing a used BCD, I would not recommend buying any style other than a plate and wing system (or its cousin, the harness and wing system). This is the style many instructors and advanced divers use, and it is the BCD you will likely want to dive anyway.
Why the Wing System is the Smart Investment
It’s Modular (The Secret Sauce)
The biggest advantage is that the BCD is modular. It consists of a backplate (steel, aluminum, or soft), a harness, and the inflatable wing/bladder.
- The bladder is usually the first “big thing” to go on a BCD.
- With a plate and wing design, you can replace the bladder alone. (With a regular BCD, that is not always an option.)
- You can customize it to fit you, and then change components as you grow without replacing the entire system.
Built to Last
Quality gear lasts much longer, making it less expensive per dive than cheap gear. For example, the I purchased that Apeks WTX harness used 13 years ago, and put over 1,700 more dives on it. I only replaced the wing six years ago.
Universal-ish Compatibility
Since the system is mostly standardized, you can often use different wings, harnesses, or backplates from different vendors—meaning your BCD will grow with you without forcing you into one brand.
Superior Underwater Performance ?
These BCDs are much better underwater. The design fits a much wider range of divers and helps you trim out better, especially with a steel backplate.
What to Check Before You Buy (Inspection Tips) ?
Since you are looking at used gear, here are the top things to check on a modular system:
The Wing/Bladder
- Inflate the wing fully and check for leaks, spray-testing with a bottle of suds.
- Focus on the dump valve seals and hose attachment points.
- While the wing is a replaceable component, you want a functional one to start.
The Harness Webbing
- Inspect all the webbing, especially near the buckles and D-rings.
- Look for cuts, fraying, or heavy sun damage.
- While frayed webbing can be a deal-breaker on a jacket BCD (if the webbing is permanent), it is not a deal-breaker on a plate and wing, since the webbing can be replaced.
The Backplate
- Check the plate (steel, aluminum, or soft-plate) for cracks or stress points, especially around the cam band slots.
- If it’s metal, look for heavy pitting or corrosion.
Modularity Check
- Ensure the components can separate, and that they look interchangeable with other brands.
- The harness will separate from some back-inflation BCDs without being able to change to a different brand.
Where to Look for Your New (Used) BCD
Finding the right piece takes time, but it’s worth the wait!
1. Check Your Local Dive Shop
Always check with your local dive shop first! They may have used BCDs.
- Inspected Gear: The gear is usually inspected by the shop before it is sold.
- Experts that can Help: The owners can point you to accessories you might want to change to make the BCD better suit your needs.
- They May have a Return Policy: So if something is wrong, it may be easier to return the BCD.
- (Also, if you are going to consider other types of BCDs, this is the only way to buy one.)
2. Lay Online Siege
When looking online, set yourself up for success, but BE PATIENT!
- Set Alerts: Set up alerts on platforms like Facebook Marketplace for “scuba backplate and wing” or “scuba harness”.
- Check Boards: Regularly check online diving boards like Scubaboard.com where reputable divers sell their gently used equipment.
- Local Dive Club: People upgrade gear or leave scuba, and sometimes have used gear sitting at home. Ask around your local scuba club to see if anyone has anything.
- General Buying Practices: Always use good, general online buying practices. (Public meeting place; use secure payment methods; inspect the item before paying, check the seller’s profile for red flags; etc.
Buying a used BCD is a smart, sustainable way to build your kit, and a good used BCD will last you for many dive adventures!
The Advanced Buoyancy Class
If you want to try some different BCDs to see what you like, I highly recommend taking an Advanced Buoyancy Course with someone who knows what they are doing!
- Ask your local dive shop if they have a similar class.
- If you take the class with me, U bring a bunch of BCDs to the pool, and spend three to four hours playing around with different options, working on your buoyancy and trim.
- If you want to take the class with me, contact Adventure Outfitters.
