Aqualung

Aqualung Wave BCD

Entry-level wraparound jacket BCD in durable ResisteK fabric, Aqualung's lowest-priced current BCD and its only one without integrated weight pockets.

Aqualung Wave BCD
2.7Comparison Score
$429
Buy on Amazon
Released—
Stylejacket
Weight-integratedNo
Lift capacity—
Backplatenone
D-rings2
Trim pocketsNo
MaterialResisteK fabric
Travel-friendlyNo
Dry weight—
Fitunisex
Sizes3XS–XL
Pros
  • ResisteK fabric brings the fade/abrasion resistance of Aqualung's pricier lines down to its cheapest BCD
  • Three octo-pocket locations and two dump valves (shoulder pull and lower rear) give more configuration options than a typical entry-level jacket BCD
  • 3XS size adds a detachable, neoprene-center crotch strap aimed at smaller-framed divers, a fit option most entry-level BCDs skip
Cons
  • No integrated weight system (no SureLock II or equivalent), so divers need a separate weight belt or harness
  • Aqualung doesn't publish a lift-capacity or D-ring spec for the Wave the way it does for the Axiom and Pro HD lines
  • Jacket-style bladder is bulkier than Aqualung's back-inflation options, and this is positioned purely as a budget/rental-tier BCD
Diver community sentiment
Mostly positive

Divers on Scubaboard generally describe the Wave as a solid, no-frills entry-level BCD, praised as "a classic hard wearing unit" by an instructor with 5,000+ dives, and consistently characterized as reliable, easy to maintain, and good value, which is why it's widely used in training and rental fleets. Minor cosmetic manufacturing quirks came up in one new-purchase thread, but experienced posters reassured the buyer these were normal, not functional defects. The main caveat is limited lift compared to higher-end Aqualung models, positioning it for warm-water, lighter-exposure-suit diving rather than cold water or heavy gear.

Scubaboard: new Wave purchase quality checkScubaboard: Wave Jr variant discussionPurple Turtle Diving: Aqualung Wave 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 Wave is the brand’s entry-level, unisex, wraparound jacket-style BCD, built with the same fade- and abrasion-resistant ResisteK fabric used on its pricier Pro HD line but without an integrated weight system. It’s aimed at new divers, rental fleets, and dive schools rather than experienced divers wanting SureLock-style weight integration, with three octo-pocket positions and dual dump valves for basic configurability. Sizing runs from 3XS, which adds a detachable crotch strap for smaller divers, up to XL.