AKUANA

AKUANA Hummingbird 2 Extreme Sidemount BCD (35 lb)

A 35 lb sidemount BCD with a Dyneema-fiber bladder and a diamond-shaped wing; built as a dedicated sidemount rig rather than a convertible backmount/sidemount system.

Wing / backplate

Modular harness and wing, the standard technical-diving setup. Expect to configure backplate, wing, and harness separately rather than buying a fixed jacket.

AKUANA Hummingbird 2 Extreme Sidemount BCD (35 lb)
4.0Comparison Score
$699
Released—
Stylewing backplate
Weight-integratedYes
Lift capacity35 lbs
Backplatenone
D-rings8
Trim pocketsYes
MaterialDyneema high-tech fiber bladder, nylon upper harness plate
Travel-friendlyYes
Dry weight3600g
Fitunisex
SizesOne size (adjustable dorsal length)

"Lift capacity" is the manufacturer-rated buoyancy the wing/bladder can provide at the surface. Match it to your exposure suit, tank, and weighting, not the biggest number available.

Pros
  • Dyneema bladder is a cut- and abrasion-resistant fiber that should hold up well against cave and wreck restrictions compared to plain nylon bladders
  • 8 low-profile stainless D-rings plus a Molle-style weight system (up to 8 pockets) give sidemount divers a lot of rigging flexibility out of the box
  • Comes with a tank rigging package included, rather than needing separately purchased tank bungees/bolt snaps
Cons
  • Dedicated sidemount design, not a convertible backmount/sidemount system, so it can't double as a single-tank backmount wing
  • Marketing language comparing Dyneema to body armor ("15x stronger than steel") is a manufacturer claim about the raw fiber, not an independently verified rating for this bladder in this application
  • AKUANA is a small direct-to-consumer brand; no Amazon or third-party retailer listing was found, and the manufacturer's own site frequently shows it sold out

The Hummingbird 2 Extreme is AKUANA’s higher-end sidemount BCD, built around a 35 lb Dyneema-fiber bladder in a diamond-shaped wing rather than the nylon or Cordura bladders used on most sidemount and backmount wings. It’s a one-size, dorsal-adjustable harness with 8 stainless D-rings and a Molle-style weight system, sold direct from akuanagear.com to divers already committed to sidemount configuration for cave, wreck, or technical diving. Unlike some sidemount systems, it isn’t a convertible rig that also works backmount, so it’s a second BCD for divers who already own a backmount setup rather than a single do-everything system.