SeaQuest Balance BCD Review

October 20th, 2005

I’ve spent quite a while with my Balance BCD. We’ve had over a hundred dives in many different waters together and I have to say that parting with it is like saying goodbye to an old friend. For those of you who are new to SCUBA, I’ll start by saying that there are two distinct types of Buoyancy Control Devices, or BCDs: Jacket style (traditional) and Back Inflate (newer). In short, jacket style has been the choice of divers since the sport’s inception and fits like a vest, with the air going around your torso. Back inflate is a newer style that has recently gained popularity as it supposedly allows the diver to feel more free from the squeeze encountered when inflating to control buoyancy, it also is supposed to give you better body positioning in the water (horizontal) as a result of the air in relation to your body. One common complaint about back buoyancy style BCDs is that the diver tends to do a faceplant while on the surface, as the air is all behind you. I’m not here to take sides on which style is better, only to tell you about one back buoyancy BCD in particular, the SeaQuest Balance. Lets start with the main features of this mean little device:

• Back buoyancy style bladder
• Swivel buckles at shoulder strap
• Sure Lock™ mechanical weight release system
• Three bent stainless steel D-rings
• Large contour backpack
• Rolled neoprene around the collar
• Multiple pull dumps

The swivel buckles are seriously one of the most overlooked features of SeaQuest BCDs, these things really give you an extra range of motion not available with traditional shoulder buckles, they’re just as secure and unclip much easier. The Balance also has integrated weights using their patented Sure Lock system, which is very user friendly. Their weight system is not revolutionary, but it is no-nonsense, simple and works. Some other manufacturers try to make solutions to problems that don’t exist, and in doing so make unnecessary complications. The contour backpack sounds like nothing special, but it provides just enough of a frame for the tank to attach to and also for the BC to keep its shape when you’re trying to wiggle into it wearing a thicker exposure suit. Pull dumps are in abundance on this model and I think out of all the manufacturers, SeaQuest does the power-inflator pull dump just right.

Once you’ve got your rig all set up and actually take the plunge, the Balance lives up to its name. Stability is the name of the game with this puppy. With trim weights and properly positioned primary weight pouches, the Balance keeps its poise at any angle, which is great for photography. It has only three D-rings, but they’re in the right places, and there are a few plastic rings on the ends of straps that can be used to attach smaller accessories. The low profile design of the Balance allows it to cut through the water with minimal drag, and also makes it a splendid piece of gear for travel, packing nice and flat into your suitcase or dive bag. The Balance also has a suede-ish type of nylon material that clings nicely to your back/exposure suit, keeping the BCD from riding up on you, a feature that exists only because avid divers are involved in the design process and know the quirks of equipment. SeaQuest, which is in the Aqua Lung family of products, is known for having a terrific limited lifetime warranty on its products, provided you have it looked over once a year by an authorized dealer (though I don’t know how strict they are on this).

On the downside, there are just a few improvements to be made on this BCD. My foremost complaint is that the Balance sports what is probably the least user-friendly (single!) pocket of any other BCD I’ve ever used. I’ve heard that they redesigned this for the new model, lets hope that it was drastic. Also, when you fold the shoulder straps flat while packing the unit the hard plastic backplate edges can rub against the bladder, potentially even leading to a tear. This was easily remedied by packing a wetsuit under the shoulder straps, but not until I had a couple of moderately damaged rub points. Next, I wish that the SeaQuest power inflator hose were more acommodating to the Atomic SS1. Lastly, I believe this versatile unit would benefit from a few more bent d-rings and anchor points. To their credit though, SeaQuest has apparently added some attachment points for installation of a Wenoka Squeezelock knife (another highly recommended product). Even though I had a few gripes, ScubaLab agrees with me that the Balance is top rated among all other lightweight travel BCDs.

In my opinion, SeaQuest still makes the best all around BCDs of any type for recreational diving, and that assertion is evidenced by the long 60 year history of Aqua Lung, Inc. and all the dive operators that choose their products based on user-friendliness and durability.

Entry Filed under: SCUBA