Top Tips for looking after your BCD

How to Maintain Your BCD and Extend Its Lifespan

Your Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) is critical gear, neglect it, and it’ll fail you when you need it most. Proper BCD maintenance is simple but essential.

After every dive, thoroughly rinse your BCD inside and out with fresh water. Salt and sand wreak havoc on the inflator, dump valves, and bladder. To clean the inside, add a bit of fresh water through the inflator hose, swish it around, then drain it completely.

Occasionally, inflate the BCD fully and leave it overnight to check for leaks. Inspect the inflator and dump valves for wear or sticking. A sticky inflator can quickly become a runaway ascent.

Store your BCD partially inflated, away from direct sunlight, and never folded tight. UV damage and creases reduce the life of the material.

Annually, have a qualified technician service the inflator assembly and valves, even if everything “seems fine.”

In short: rinse, dry, inspect, and service. Look after your BCD, and it’ll look after you.