Types of Scuba Diving BCD

There five basic types of Scuba Buoyancy Compensators.

Vest or Jacket

Rear or Back

Wing

Sidemount

Horse Collar

Only the first four of these are really used in scuba diving today.

We prefer back/rear inflation and wing style BCDs. Experienced divers have learned the rear inflation bladder BCDs are better than a wrap-around bladder jacket/vest BCDs. Rear wings offer very precise control of buoyancy and trim as well as offering a more streamlined profile. A properly fitting back/rear inflation BCD, worn with a crotch strap, will allow you to assume and hold any position under the water, or on the surface.

Putting It All Together

There is a lot to consider before buying a BCD.

On the surface a scuba BCD should fit like a snug jacket. Not too tight under the arms, or across the torso. Women should choose a model designed for them.

But like everything else when it comes to diving, it's about more than just fit and style

You need to consider what type of diving you are doing, and what gear you'll need to carry with you to do it. A BCD is not just an airbag. A good one is like Batman's utility belt.

Consider what features are essential to you, and find the one that most closely fits that profile.

Start reading reviews and manufacturers materials, read forums and ask other divers for their opinions. Or just call and ask us.

Be honest with yourself about the type of diving you'll be doing. Make a checklist of everything you need in a scuba BCD,do your homework, and you should end up with the right scuba BCD for you.

Pyramid Rock

Wall Dive | Shore access

Pyramid Rock | © Unknown

Depth: 2 m (6.56 ft) to 15 m (49 ft)

Pyramid Rock is an epic shore dive on the south coast of Phillip Island, looking out into Bass Strait. While a boat here is easier and safer, it can also be a great shore dive if you have the skills, endurance and sea sense required.

There are entry points to the western and eastern sides of the promontory. There's not much of interest to see in Storm Bay on the western side, so it's best to enter from the eastern side. There is a shallow cobble beach protected from most winds, except strong easterlies.

It's a long way out to Pyramid Rock itself. There are steep kelp-covered walls, boulders, and ledges covered in sponges, sea stars, molluscs, zoanthids and gorgonians. Port Jackson sharks, kingfish, morwong, pike, wrasse, boarfish, old wives, catsharks, bullseyes and leather jackets can be seen.

Pyramid Rock | © Unknown

Location: Ventnor, Phillip Island, Victoria 3922
MELWAY Ref: Page 731 J9
Emergency Beach Location: A9

Parking: At the southern end of Pyramid Rock Road, Phillip Island you will find a car parking area. It's a long walk from the car park along the wooden pathway to the lookout.

Entry/Exit: Best dived from a boat, but it makes for an epic shore dive with strengh, endurance, patience and good sea sence required. From the lookout you make your way down to the eastern cobble beach to enter.

Ideal Conditions: Best to head out early in the morning on a day with calm seas and no wind, or steady offshore notherly winds. Best at high tide. WillyWeather (Pyramid Rock) as a guide for the tide times and the height of the tide.

See also, Pyramid Rock in "Shore Dives of Victoria" by Ian Lewis, 3rd edition page 148–149.

Bass Strait Warning: Always keep an eye on sea conditions throughout any shore or boat dive in Bass Strait on Victoria's coastline. Please read the warnings on the web page diving-in-bass-strait before diving or snorkelling this site.

Boon Wurrung / Bunurong country

Traditional Owners — This dive site is in the traditional Country of the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. This truly ancient Country includes parts of Port Phillip, from the Werribee River in the north-west, down to Wilson's Promontory in the south-east, including the Mornington Peninsula, French Island and Phillip Island, plus Western Port. We wish to acknowledge the Boon Wurrung as Traditional Owners. We pay respect to their Ancestors and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Bunjil the Creator Spirit of this beautiful land, who travels as an eagle, and Waarn, who protects the waterways and travels as a crow, and thank them for continuing to watch over this Country today and beyond.

Pyramid Rock Location Map

Latitude: 38° 31.692′ S (38.5282° S / 38° 31′ 41.52″ S)
Longitude: 145° 13.338′ E (145.2223° E / 145° 13′ 20.28″ E)
Datum: WGS84 | Google Map | Get directions
Added: 2019-06-09 14:52:31 GMT, Last updated: 2022-03-14 14:59:27 GMT
Source: Google earth
Nearest Neighbour: George Kermode, 2,135 m, bearing 66°, ENE
Phillip Island.
Depth: 2 to 15 m.

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DISCLAIMER: No claim is made by The Scuba Doctor as to the accuracy of the dive site coordinates listed here. Should anyone decide to use these GPS marks to locate and dive on a site, they do so entirely at their own risk. Always verify against other sources.

The marks come from numerous sources including commercial operators, independent dive clubs, reference works, and active divers. Some are known to be accurate, while others may not be. Some GPS marks may even have come from maps using the AGD66 datum, and thus may need be converted to the WGS84 datum. To distinguish between the possible accuracy of the dive site marks, we've tried to give each mark a source of GPS, Google Earth, or unknown.