looking for a great BCD

[Splitlip]

Try out as many as you can borrow, rent etc and pick the one that fits you and your diving style best. I bought a back inflate right after I did open waters however for the type of diving I do (cold water, year around, drysuit etc) A BP/W was a better choice. Yes got weird looks when I went to caribean with a stainless backplace and my long hose with a bungie backup up here though I have been on dive charters where everyone had a BP/W. What is most important is that you are comfortable in whatever diving you do in the future. My advice is to finish your open water and look at all foreseeable diving you might do borrow or rent as many types and brands as you can (they fit a little differently) and decide which BP/W you like the best.

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yup.