Buying a Used BCD: Bladder, Inflator and Dump Valve Checks
BCDs are the most under-inspected piece of used dive gear, and the one where a five-minute test tells you almost everything.
The five-minute test
Inflate it fully and leave it overnight. If it is still hard in the morning, the bladder, the inflator and every dump valve are holding. If it is soft, submerge it inflated and watch for bubbles: a stream from a dump valve or the inflator is a cheap service, a stream from a seam in the bladder is usually the end of the BCD.
Inflator
Press the inflate button with a tank connected. It should open crisply and stop instantly when released. A slow leak into the bladder with the button released is the number one BCD fault and the number one cause of uncontrolled ascents from worn gear. It is a service item, not a reason to walk away, but it must be done before the BCD is dived. The oral inflate mouthpiece should also seal when the button is released.
Dump valves and harness
Pull every dump. Each should open freely and reseat with a click. Check the cables for fraying where they enter the valve. Then look at the harness: cam band buckles for cracks, shoulder buckles for chalky plastic, the stitching at every load-bearing point, and the integrated weight pockets and their release handles, which are the part most likely to have been abused.
Bladder and fabric
Look inside the bladder if the design allows it. A musty smell or black spots mean it was stored wet and the inner urethane may be delaminating. Fabric fading is cosmetic; stiff, cracking fabric on an older nylon BCD means the coating is failing and it will start to weep.
Fit before price
A BCD that does not fit is not a bargain at any price. Sizes vary by brand, so try the model on if you can, with a tank, and check that the shoulder straps adjust over your exposure suit. Then compare against the certified used BCDs in stock, every one of which has been leak-tested, had its inflator and dumps serviced, and carries a warranty. For the wider picture, see used vs new dive gear.
See all used scuba gear in stock, or the service intervals and bench specs we work to.
