There are many models for both men and women to suit different preferences (eg front versus rear inflation), different needs (eg technical versus sport divers) and different budgets. 

The main features to look for in a BCD are:

• Safety
• Comfort
• durability

Over the last ten years divers have opted for rear inflated BCD's. This is the most significant trend in BC design. Even jacket-style BC designs have continued to move more of their buoyancy to the rear. It's hard to deny the advantages.

The advantages of Rear Inflation are:

• Tends to place you in the optimum underwater swimming position- Head slightly higher than feet when diving
• Rear Shoulder Adjustment- This new feature allows the position of the shoulder belt behind the neck to be adjusted, makes the load even easier to bear.
• Floats you higher out of the water when swimming on your back with your feet lower than your shoulders- The best surface position
• Produces little or no squeeze when fully inflated, whilst accommodating a greater size range variation resulting in a correct fit

This in no way means you should not consider jacket style BCD's. This style of BCD has a small amount of inflation under your arms, whereas you will find the majority of inflation is still mounted towards the rear of the jacket.