BCD Inflate Deflate skill at the surface

The PADI BCD Inflate Deflate skill in the PADI Open Water Diver Course is really important dive skill to master as many new divers have problems with properly deflating the BCD underwater and inflating on the surface.

Every time we reach the surface after entry or in the end of a dive we should inflate the BCD fully as soon as possible to become neutrally buoyant. From the few accidents that occurs on the surface, most are caused by not being fully buoyant. Water is very dense and trying to swim to stay above the surface can exhaust you very quick. If you are fully inflated you can rest and easily stay on the surface to prevent most accidents. 

BCD Inflate & Deflate at the Surface

Underwater we see a lot of new scuba divers having issues with deflating their BCD properly. A lot of times new scuba divers are in the wrong position/angle or have the deflator hose in a wrong position that prevents them from releasing air from the BCD. Therefore it is really important that if you want to release air from the BCD, is that you are in the upright position (vertical, head up, legs down) and that you stretch the BCD deflator as high as possible and the start deflating the BCD.

Learn more about tips for perfect buoyancy underwater

How to perform the PADI BCD Inflate Deflate skill

How to perform the PADI BCD Inflate Deflate skill

1. Make sure you have your mask on and your snorkel in your mouth
2. Fully inflate your BCD by pushing the inflator button until air releases from your BCD
3. Lean Backwards
4. Make sure that you are completely positively buoyant
5. Float a bit
6. Stand back up make sure you are completely vertical
7. Stretch that deflator hose as high as you can
8. Fully deflate your BCD
9. Use your right hand to squeeze the last remaining air out of your BCD
10. Simulate that you are going down

Please check out the video below on How to do the BCD Inflate Deflate Skill at the surface:

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How easy it is to Inflate or Deflate the BCD usually depends on the inflator button of your low pressure inflator hose on the BCD. On some brand BCD's the inflator is a bit slow resulting in a longer time to inflate or deflate. We found that the Scuba Pro BCD's have some of the best and fastest power inflators from all other brands. Have a look at these BCD's:

Hydros BCD - Scuba Pro

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Equator BCD - Scuba Pro

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Bella BCD - Scuba Pro

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Next Skill: No Mask Breathing at the Surface