Aqualung

Aqualung Lotus Women's BCD

Women's-specific back-inflation BCD using the Wrapture harness and curved shoulder straps and side lobes, with a bladder retraction system for a low-drag profile.

Aqualung Lotus Women's BCD
3.5Comparison Score
$699
Buy on Scuba.com
Released2015
Styleback inflation
Weight-integratedYes
Lift capacity33 lbs
Backplatenone
D-rings—
Trim pocketsYes
Material—
Travel-friendlyNo
Dry weight3175g
Fitwomens
SizesXS/S–M/L

"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
  • Wrapture harness's swivel shoulder buckles and thin back plate are shared with Aqualung's men's back-inflation and jacket lines
  • Bladder retraction system pulls the sides of the air cell in on deflation to reduce drag, unlike simpler back-inflation designs
  • Sliding chest strap on a rail system adjusts height and helps clear drysuit inflator valves
Cons
  • Only 3 sizes (XS/S, M, M/L) versus the wider range offered on Aqualung's jacket-style women's BCDs
  • Non-ditchable weight capacity (10 lb) is on the low side if a diver needs to carry a lot of trim weight
  • No Amazon or major third-party US retailer listing was found; it's sold mainly through Aqualung's authorized dive shop network
Diver community sentiment
Mostly positive

Across multiple Scubaboard threads and an independent review, divers consistently praise the Lotus for its female-specific fit, close-to-body tank carry with minimal wobble, and comfortable Wrapture harness that shifts weight off the shoulders. The i3 inflator (on the i3 variant) gets mixed reactions: fans like the one-handed, position-independent deflation, but critics note it needs annual servicing and can snag. Recurring complaints include integrated weight pockets some divers found released too easily, and a back-inflate design that pushes the diver forward on the surface until they get used to it.

Scubaboard: Lotus i3 BCD opinionsScubaboard: Lotus vs Scubapro Hydros ProScuba Diver Life: Aqualung Lotus i3 review

Summarized from public forum discussion (Scubaboard, Reddit, and similar), not a survey we ran ourselves. See the linked threads for the original conversations.

The Aqualung Lotus is a women’s-specific back-inflation BCD that shares the Wrapture harness system with Aqualung’s other current-generation BCDs, adapted with curved shoulder straps and side lobes for a women’s fit. It adds a bladder retraction system to keep the air cell streamlined on deflation and a sliding chest strap that can be repositioned to avoid drysuit valves. It comes in three sizes (XS/S, M, M/L) with lift capacity around 29-33 lb and a 30 lb total lead-weight capacity across sizes.