Cressi

Cressi Start Pro 2.0 BCD

Cressi's durable entry-level jacket BCD, designed in Italy for dive centers and rental fleets, with integrated gravity weight pockets across 7 sizes.

Cressi Start Pro 2.0 BCD
3.1Comparison Score
$399.95
Buy on AmazonBuy on Scuba.com
Released—
Stylejacket
Weight-integratedYes
Lift capacity45 lbs
Backplatenone
D-rings6
Trim pocketsNo
Material1000D Cordura (outer panel) / 500D Cordura (inner layer)
Travel-friendlyNo
Dry weight2600g
Fitunisex
Sizes2XS-2XL

"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
  • Rugged 1000D Cordura outer construction is built for the wear and tear of rental and dive-center use
  • Integrated gravity/quick-release weight pockets hold up to 20 lb, avoiding a separate weight belt
  • Available across 7 sizes (2XS-2XL) with a 2-year limited warranty
Cons
  • Jacket-style design gives less precise in-water trim than a back-inflation or wing BCD
  • Heavier and bulkier than Cressi's travel-focused models, so it's not built for packing light
  • Hardware is technopolymer plastic rather than stainless steel
Diver community sentiment
Mixed opinions

Real diver discussion is thin and concentrated in one substantive Scubaboard thread about the Start Pro line. Divers describe it as an acceptable low-cost option for occasional warm-water diving, with no major complaints about day-to-day use. The recurring criticism is that it runs noticeably positively buoyant in fresh water, forcing divers to carry extra lead, and that the integrated weight pockets are poorly regarded. Several experienced posters argue the jacket-style design is a poor long-term fit for anyone progressing beyond warm-water vacation diving and recommend a backplate-and-wing setup instead as they advance.

Scubaboard: Cressi Start Pro discussionScubaboard: Cressi Start BCD general quality thread

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

The Start Pro 2.0 is Cressi’s entry-level jacket-style BCD, designed in Italy and built in durable Cordura for beginners, rental fleets, and dive centers. It uses integrated gravity/quick-release weight pockets, three dump valves, and Cressi’s Commando power inflator, and is offered across seven sizes from 2XS to 2XL. It’s a straightforward, hard-wearing option for new divers rather than a lightweight travel or technical piece.