As a professional dive instructor who’s been teaching for years—and now helping others become instructors themselves—I’ve spent countless hours underwater. One piece of gear I rely on every single day is my BCD. Whether I’m teaching Open Water courses or guiding instructor candidates through their PADI IDC, my BCD has to be comfortable, durable, and practical.
Recently, it was time to choose a new BCD. My old trusty jacket – Aqualung Pro HD, has been in use for over 7 years and lasted thousands of dives. Although I am a cheapskate when it comes to buying diving equipment, this was only my 3rd BCD in 20+ years of diving and teaching.
Turns out that sticking to simple, no-nonsense dive gear saves both cash and headaches.
In this blog post, I’ll show which BCD I chose for (hopefully) the next 7 years and a few other models I considered.
What Instructors Need in a BCD
Before diving into my top picks, let’s talk about what I think makes a BCD the best BCD for diving instructors.
As instructors, we use our gear harder and more often than recreational divers. We’re not just diving for fun—we’re in the water every day, demonstrating skills, teaching students, and managing groups in all kinds of conditions.
That means our BCDs are getting hauled in and out of boats, dragged through sand, rinsed (sometimes), and worn dive after dive. We rely on our gear to perform consistently, even after hundreds of hours underwater. Comfort becomes essential because what feels okay on a 45-minute fun dive might turn into a literal pain during a long day of back-to-back courses. And let’s be honest—when something breaks, it’s usually us who have to fix it on the fly. That’s why instructors don’t just want good gear—we need gear that’s built to last.
That means our BCD must:
Be durable enough for daily use and saltwater exposure.
Have enough D-rings and big pockets to carry slates, spare weights, and other stuff.
Be comfortable during long pool sessions and dives.
Offer good lift capacity for control at the surface
Be easy to maintain and repair
Fit well and feel stable underwater
Of course, this article is based on my personal experience and preferences as a working dive instructor. What works best for me might not be the perfect fit for someone else—and that’s totally fine. We all have different body types, diving styles, and gear priorities. This post is meant to share what I’ve found useful and reliable after years of teaching, but if you prefer something different, go with what makes you feel comfortable and confident underwater. At the end of the day, the best BCD for diving instructors is the one that suits you and helps you do your job safely and effectively.
Why I Prefer a Jacket-Style BCD Over a Wing and Backplate
Over the years, I’ve tried wings and backplate setups, and while I can appreciate why some instructors love them—especially for tech diving or travel—I keep coming back to the classic jacket-style BCD. For me, it offers better comfort during long pool sessions and when teaching surface skills.
Jacket BCDs tend to have more accessible pockets, which is super handy when I’m juggling slates, spare weights, and SMBs. Plus, I like to wear similar equipment as my students who are using rental gear, so I can demonstrate skills using the same type of gear they are wearing. For this reason, I also prefer to use a simple weight belt instead of integrated weights. It just makes sense when you are teaching many courses.
However, when working with student divers, as well as when I’m guiding, I always carry spare weights in my pockets.
My Top Choice: Cressi Aquaride BCD
Over the years, I’ve used a variety of Cressi dive gear (fins, masks, wetsuit) but I’ve never owned a Cressi BCD. I have always appreciated their simple, well-thought-out designs. So, for my new BCD I chose the Cressi Aquaride.
✅ What I Like:
Big pockets – Zipped Pockets expand so you can still use them when the BCD is inflated.
Comfort – Nice padding on the backplate and shoulder straps.
Weight system – The integrated weight pockets can be ditched (I don’t use them when teaching) and do not leave a bulky, plastic attachment point.
Plenty of D-rings – Metal D-rings for my slates, reels, and surface marker.
Durability – Feels solid and well-built; perfect for everyday diving in tropical waters.
❌ What I Don’t Like:
It has pockets for trim weights but no place to store spare weights, except in the zippered pockets.
Bulky attachment for Low-Pressure Inflator and dump valves.
Other Great BCDs for Dive Instructors
Aqua Lung Pro HD
As I said, this has been my trusted BCD for many years, so why not stick with this one (the new model)? Many dive centers use Aqualung rental gear so you would have a similar BCD as your students.
✅ What I Like:
Durability – It’s solid and well-built with durable materials, apart from the zippers.
Comfort – Nice padding on the backplate and shoulder straps.
Inflator – The LPI works like a charm. Never had any problems.
Metal D-rings – Metal D-rings on the shoulder straps, above the pockets, and on the lower edge.
Lightweight – Although the BCD feels solid and well-built, it’s fairly lightweight. Not much heavier than travel BCDs and a lot lighter than most ‘pro’ BCDs.
❌ What I Don’t Like:
Zippers do not run in a straight line and both sides broke after a few months of use (admittedly ‘abuse’).
Difficult to access the pockets when the jacket is inflated.
I lost one of the integrated weight pockets pretty quick.
Scubapro Glide BCD
This was a serious contender, although a bit more expensive than the others.
✅ What I Like:
Comfort – With rotating shoulder buckles and padded backpack.
Huge pockets – with durable zippers.
High-quality materials – It feels premium and tough.
Big D-rings – Great for Christmas tree divers.
Quick-release weight pockets – On the outside of the jacket and with a simple clip attachement that assures you won’t lose them easily.
❌ What I Don’t Like:
Higher price point.
Slightly heavier than others.
Cressi Start Pro BCD
Since I was looking at the Cressi Aquaride, I also considered Cressi’s other models. This simple, no-nonsense BCD is similar to Cressi’s ‘school model’ used for rental gear.
✅ What I Like:
Durable – Designed for daily use in busy dive centers.
Affordable – a bit cheaper than the other options in this list.
Lightweight – Good when traveling.
Weight pockets – Interesting way to have integrated weights, without clips so less chance of losing them.
❌ What I Don’t Like:
Not sure if this weight system is ‘handy’ for carrying spare weights.
Less padding
Plastic D-rings
The Start Pro is ideal for instructors who value simplicity and are on a budget.
SEAC Smart BCD
My very first BCD was a SEAC (SeacSub) It was the simplest and lightest BCD I ever used, and it fit like a glove! They don’t make ’em like that anymore! (Aah … I’m getting old :-)) The SEAC Smart looks like a sleek and compact BCD at a mid-range price.
✅ What I Like:
Compact design – Great for traveling instructors.
Integrated weights – also with simple clips.
Inflator – LPI looks simple and durable
Stylish look and lightweight feel
❌ What I Don’t Like:
Looks slightly less rugged than models like the Aquaride or Pro HD
Pockets are a bit small and less accessible.
Again, not sure about carrying spare weights in the integrated weight pockets.
There is no store selling Seac BCDs in my area. I really want to try it on first, and I would not buy a BCD online.
The SEAC Smart is a good option if you’re traveling a lot or prefer something a bit lighter without losing the key instructor features.
Final Thoughts: What’s the Best BCD for Diving Instructors?
Choosing the best BCD for diving instructors depends on your diving style, the place where you work, and the type of courses you teach. For me, the Cressi Aquaride struck the perfect balance between comfort, features, and durability.
If you’re a new instructor just starting your career, you might go for something like the Aqua Lung Pro HD or Cressi Start Pro. More experienced instructors who want maximum performance may prefer the Scubapro Glide.
My Personal Ranking:
- Cressi Aquaride – Best balance for daily professional use
- Scubapro Glide – Best comfort and quality (if budget allows)
- Aqua Lung Pro HD – Best value for money
- SEAC Smart – Best for travel-focused instructors
- Cressi Start Pro – Best for dive center workhorses
