Diving jacket guide

On divers Jacket Also known as BCD and is part of the diving equipment. With the divers Jacket air is blown into the vest or drained. Thus, the diver is able to equalize his buoyancy in every water depth or to regulate exactly. At the divers Jacket In addition, the compressed air cylinder is attached. If the diver is on the surface of the water, the BCD allows effortless overwater keeping.

How is one divers Jacket built up?

On divers Jacket consists of several components. The main function is carried out by the buoyant body, which allows the diver to stay at a certain depth and to rise or fall. With the Begurtung the jacket is adapted to the body of the diver and fixed. The jacket also forms the carrying unit. On the backpack, the breathing system is attached, which consists of diving tank and regulator. Some diver jacket models have special weight pockets. On an additional lead belt can be dispensed with.

The buoyancy body of a diving jacket is constructed in two layers. As a rule, the exterior of the vest is made of strong nylon fabric. The air bubble inside the jacket can be filled or emptied. Depending on the model, a buoyancy compensator has a volume of 15 to 45 liters. The buoyant body is put on like a vest. It covers the upper body and is closed in the front area. All diver jackets are fixed on the body by abdominal or hip restraints, usually twice. In addition, a cummerbund, which consists of two wide, flexible textile pockets, secures the vest. The connection is also secured with an adjustable strap that has a quick-release buckle.

The back part of the diving jacket contains the carrying shell, which consists of either rigid metal or plastic. However, there are also lighter vests that are made from a flexible padded fabric. The scuba tank is attached to the backpack with a bottle strap. Some models even have two bottle straps. The support surface of the compressed air cylinder is sometimes padded so that the heavy equipment can be carried more comfortably by the diver.

In the usual systems, the connection of the bubble with the inflator tube is in the left shoulder area of ​​the diver. At the outer end of this corrugated hose, an inlet valve is attached next to the regulator port to control the air supply. A drain valve allows venting the BCD. In addition, the hose has a mouthpiece, with which the vest can be inflated. With the corrugated hose, the diver is able to hold the drain valve over him when venting the vest. Thus, the always rising air can escape easily.

There are several drain valves on the diving jacket. The air always escapes upwards. Therefore, the highest valve must always allow the air outlet. Also, the diver’s position under water must fulfill this physical rule. The foldable tube of some BCD has an integrated quick release.

Various types of diving jackets

In the BCD, four types are distinguished. The most commonly used form is the ADV jacket. One speaks also of the adjustable diving vest. On the back, these models have a solid, usually made of plastic back carrier. Here the bottle is fastened with straps. The buoyancy of the ADV jacket is lower than with a stabilizing vest. Stabilizing Jackets work as well as ADV jackets, but they have special security requirements. Some models are even „faint-hearted“. This type of vests are rarely used in recreational and recreational diving because they are more voluminous and restrict the freedom of movement. In addition, these diving jackets can be bad on and off. Wing Jackets have a buoyancy body and facilitate diving in a horizontal position. Since the upper body remains free on these vests, wing jackets are often used by divers who need to carry a lot of equipment. The volume of the Hybrid Jacket is larger than that of the ADV jacket, but it does not achieve the high buoyancy of the wing jacket.