Sure, there might be other dive gear deemed more important to basic survival (a reg) or your general well-being (a dive computer) than a BC. But when it comes to being able to comfortably acclimate to being underwater — to the point where you feel like a resident rather than a clumsy topside tourist — the BC is the most important component of your kit.

This year’s undisputed favorite among test divers, the Aquaride Elite is well built with virtually no inherent buoyancy.

15 kickers vie for the top spot in this year's ScubaLab fin tests. ScubaLab’s test team headed to Alexander Springs, Florida, a freshwater site that offers an easy entry, enough space and depth to do some serious kicking, and rock structures and crevices for performing tight turning maneuvers.

Features: 3.5 mm Ultraspan highflex neoprene; glued and blind-stitched seams; smoothskin seals at wrists and ankles; smoothskin spinal flap; adjustable collar with smoothskin sealing surface; embossed rubber kneepads.

Features - 3 mm neoprene with high-stretch nylon- and polyester-based exterior and interior laminate; glued and blindstitched seams with full interior taping; glideskin neoprene seals on wrist and ankles; olled-edge smoothskin neck; full-length back zipper; pull-over secondary glideskin neck seal; high-fl ex embossed rubber patterning on knees, shoulders and waist; 1.5 mm Hydrolock neck dam.

ScubaLab Reviews the Latest Dive-Travel Luggage for weight, form and function

Eight new dive computers are put to the test. Here we review the Tusa IQ-850 Sapience

ScubaLab puts eight new dive computers to the test. Here we review the Tusa IQ-950 Zen Air