The Cressi Elettra BCD combines a lightweight, hybrid jacket/back-inflate design with a patented self-pivoting waistband tailored to the female form, and I recently tested it across a week of liveaboard diving in the Red Sea.First Impressions: built for women, built for comfort
I have a smaller torso relative to overall height, which can make unisex BCDs bulky. So from the get go, key features such as narrower shoulder straps and self-pivoting waistband caught my attention. They offered a close, body-hugging fit that felt reassuringly snug.
In the past, I have leaned toward more minimal BCDs, which did not provide much surface lift. Since I was due to take the Elettra BCD on a week long trip with drift dives, I was very much looking forward to being lifted high and dry (in the best way) while waiting for the rib.
Lift and support
Fully inflated at the surface, this BCD provides excellent lift. Compared to donut-style wings I’ve worn before, I felt more stable, higher out of the water, and less exhausted after long waits for a zodiac pickup.
The interior of the BCD has generous padding along the back and sides, which added a noticeable level of comfort throughout the dive and more support at the surface. The lift and the padding gave me a great sense of safety.
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Underwater, the generous padding was perhaps too much for me. I have a large underwater camera, and smaller BCDs allow me a greater sense of movement and flexibility in the water. The shape of the Elettra is all-encompassing, which felt restricting to move in at times.
However, being to fully inflate at the surface with a large camera, without constantly kicking, was a great feeling, and might just outweigh its thicker feel underwater.
Made for a female fit
The Cressi Elettra was clearly designed with the female form in mind, and that really shows in how it fits, above and below the waterline. Together, these small design choices make the Elettra feel more like dive gear built for women, rather than just a smaller version of the men’s model.
- The narrower shoulder straps sit more naturally across the chest, avoiding the bulky or oversized feeling that some unisex BCDs can cause.
- The sternum strap is fully adjustable, which helps tailor the fit without pressing uncomfortably. It is also removable if you prefer that.
- The self-pivoting waistband is a standout-feature. It moves with your body as you gear up or shift during a dive—especially handy when climbing into the BCD on a rocking boat or during surface swims.
Another woman’s win for the Elettra is that it’s quite light. I had the small model, which was only 6.6 lbs. (3 kg). Heavy lifting is unavoidable in scuba diving—and I’m not getting any younger—so anywhere I can shave a few pounds off my gear gets a thumbs up.
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Other features
The Elettra comes with Cressi’s integrated flat-lock weight pocket system. Each pocket can hold a maximum of 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of weight, though the pocket size appears to only be able to hold two larger-size weights or possibly three thin weights.
With a strong click, you hear the pocket engage with the lock system, and it should stay tight. And, with a firm pull, the pockets are quick-release should you need to dump your weight.
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D-rings
The Cressi Elettra has six metal D-rings. These are all sturdily attached and well-placed. Our testers felt they had easy reach and access to everything they attached to their D-rings.
There are two plastic D-rings on the flat-lock integrated weight pockets. These are there to help you get a grip on the pockets when you’re inserting or removing them. Do not attach things to these D-rings, as you could accidentally dislodge the flat-lock pockets trying to access that gear.
Straps
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In addition to the buckle waist strap, there is also the velcro, self-pivoting waistband. These swivel pivot sections are found behind the back padding. The velcro straps are adjustable from the pivot point to make the straps longer or shorter as needed. This waist strap will move up and down from the pivot point to naturally sit on the most comfortable area of your waist or lower torso.
The Cressi Elettra comes with one main tank strap with a curved plastic camband and a safety strap with a squeeze-style buckle. The strap is attached with an integrated fitting on the partial backplate, and all materials are strong and securely attached.
There is a rubber grip pad on the tank strap to help keep your tank in place and enough strap length for a good tail to assist in creating a tight fit with your tank.
Limitations
One drawback I had for the Elettra was the pocket space. The pocket is “sizeable” in the sense that I could, when not wearing it, put a torch, a knife, or slates inside. However, the issue was placing items back inside the pocket.
The pockets are thin and tight—sliding the torch or some trash I found into the pocket was awkward, and I felt this was hindered by Elettra padding. I think that if the pockets were elasticized or expandable it would’ve made accessing them underwater easier.
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Price/Quality Ratio
Cressi generally delivers solid value at a mid-range price point, and the Elettra follows that trend. The comfort and surface performance alone make it a good choice for many female divers. If you do prefer a more open design, like of the Cressi Aquawing, then the Elettra might feel restricting for you.
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Do we recommend the Cressi Elettra BCD?
Yes — especially for women divers who struggle with fit or want extra comfort. I do believe that this BCD would be a great fit for female professionals who spend a lot of time at the surface doing skills, and would appreciate all its female form-fitting features.
The Elettra offers outstanding lift at the surface, dries fast, and feels like a second skin in the water. If you’re okay with limited pocket space and aren’t constantly adjusting your weights, this BCD is a great travel and everyday companion.
Specs & Features
| Inflation | Hybrid jacket/back-inflate |
|---|---|
| Weight | From 6.5 to 6.9 lbs. (2.95 to 3.15 kg) depending on size |
| Lift capacity | 33.7 lbs. (15.3 kg) |
| Clips/D-Rings | Six stainless steel D-rings |
| Adjustment points | Waistband, shoulder straps, and sternum strap |
| Tank attachment | Single tank band |
| Weight capacity | 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) for each pocket |