|
|
Scubalab First Look: June 2008
June 22, 2008
From the June, 2008 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine. What's new in dive gear
By John Brumm
Photography by Joseph Byrd
Scubapro Bella BC
 |
| Scubapro Bella BC |
The secret to making a woman happy is anticipating her needs, and that's exactly what Scubapro designers did when they created the Bella, a new "beauty" of a BC that is as comfortable as it is stylish.
The most important consideration in building a women's BC is incorporating features that provide a custom fit to the female form. The Bella uses a Scubapro-exclusive wraparound bladder that retains a cradle-like shape to "hug" the diver throughout the full range of inflation, but doesn't squeeze the life out of her at the surface. Other features meticulously designed just for female divers include the new Monprene shoulder padding to spread the load of the tank and integrated-weight system evenly; contoured hip indents and a padded backpack specifically tailored for women; a fully adjustable cummerbund to ensure proper fit; and a soft neoprene neck roll for extra comfort. Two more nice touches this female diver appreciated were the convenient lifting handle built into the backpack and the clever super cinch cylinder strap, which make setup easy.
The Bella's front-adjustable design includes rotating quick-release shoulder buckles, a five-point deflation system, zippered cargo pockets and six accessory D-rings. The integrated-weight system holds up to 20 pounds of ditchable ballast while two trim weight pockets in the back hold an additional 5 pounds each. The quick-release weight system was easy to load even while wearing the BC, thanks to the large zippered openings and the contoured hard plastic backing in the weight pouches. It also ditches easily--just squeeze the buckles and pull forward. At the surface it provided a comfortable, relatively upright swimming position. Scubapro even got the aesthetics right, forgoing pink for neutral colors that go with anything in a woman's dive wardrobe.
Bottom Line: Scubapro knows what women divers want--a comfortable, functional and stylish BC--and the Bella is the proof. We look forward to giving it a full review in our upcoming Women's BC evaluation, scheduled for the August issue. --Jessica Merritt
Price: with Balanced Power Inflator, $617; with AIR2, $738. Contact: scubapro.com. |
Spyderco FB23 Aqua Salt Knife
 |
| Spyderco FB23 Aqua Salt Knife |
Spyderco is known for innovative dive knife designs, but the genius of this new fixed-blade option is its simplicity. The blade, measuring 4.5 inches, has a stiletto point and a wicked plain cutting edge backed by a full-curve "belly" that produces very effective slicing-type cuts. It is made of rust-free H1 stainless, a special composite that offers exceptional corrosion resistance while still enabling the blade to hold a super sharp edge. The FB23 has a full-size contoured handle made of textured, fiberglass-reinforced nylon that lets you get a good grip, and the rigid heavy-duty sheath offers both security and easy, one-handed insertion and removal. The FB23 is also available with a serrated edge, with either a yellow or black handle.
Price: $164.95. Contact: spyderco.com. |
Atomic Aquatics SV1 & SV2 Snorkels
 |
| Atomic Aquatics SV1 & SV2 Snorkels |
New from Atomic, the SV series of snorkels shows there's more engineering than one might think behind the humble breathing tube. SV stands for scupper valve, and inside both the SV1 and SV2 snorkels, just behind the mouthpiece, there's a one-way flap valve in an internal tube that lets water pass through the snorkel and collect in a self-draining lower reservoir without obstructing the breathing passage. For added protection, the SV2 adds a semidry top to limit splashed water from entering the breathing tube in the first place. Atomic also paid close attention to the ergonomics in the SV series. The tube is oblong-shaped for improved hydrodynamics, while a rotating mouthpiece chamber and a sliding snorkel keeper allow you to position the snorkel just so. Both models are available in yellow, red, blue, silver and black/clear.
Price: SV1, $54.99; SV2, $65. Contact: atomicaquatics.com. |
Scubapro Spectra Mask
 |
| Scubapro Spectra Mask |
Offered in a broad spectrum of frame colors, hence the name, the Spectra features a durable metallic paint process exclusive to Scubapro that produces a unique finish. Color choices include silver/black, bronze/black and silver/blue duotones, plus a solid blue and red. Stylish colors aside, the Spectra is a comfortable, two-window, low-volume mask that provides a generous 75 degrees of horizontal field of vision, and 70 degrees of vertical vision, most of that devoted to the downward view due to the deep-dip lens shape. The large, double-seal silicone skirt, available in either clear or black depending on the frame color, is soft and molds to your face for an efficient seal, even over facial hair. The strap has a large double-wide headband and effective buckle system. Bonus: The buckles attach to the frame with flexible tabs, so you can fold the buckle/strap assembly into the skirt, creating a compact package for traveling.
Price: $93. Contact: scubapro.com. |
Tusa TUL-300 LED Light
 |
| Tusa TUL-300 LED Light |
Measuring just under 6 inches in length, 1.25 inches in diameter and weighing only 8 ounces, this compact light stows in virtually any BC pocket, but thanks to a rugged anodized aluminum case and a brilliant beam, you'll find plenty of reasons to have it out and on. The TUL-300's 4.8-watt LED bulb generates a crisp-edged, blue/white beam with virtually no diffusion. Our light meter readings show the edge of the beam to be nearly as bright as the center (5.9 EV at center, 5.2 EV at periphery), making it useful for poking around in lobster holes and as a backup night light. Nice touches include a smooth, magnetic on/off switch, which allows for one-handed activation, and a triple O-ring-protected screw-down battery compartment rated to 400 feet. Tusa claims continuous-use burn time on a pair of CR123A lithium batteries (included) is three-plus hours.
Price: $89. Contact: tusa.com. |
Ocean Reef Alpha UWCP
 |
| Ocean Reef Alpha UWCP |
Thanks to cell phones, there are few times and places left in this world where you can escape the curse of being continually connected. Cruising a reef at 60 feet in glorious quietude used to be one of them, but no more. Ocean Reef, a leader in the field of full-face masks and underwater communications, has just released the Alpha UWCP (Under Water Cellular Phone) system. Now anyone with your cell number can chat you up, even when you're diving.
The Alpha UWCP consists of a speaker/microphone that plugs into a 130-foot cable that plugs into a water-resistant box that floats on a surface buoy. The box contains an electronic interface that connects via Bluetooth to your phone. Any cell phone with voice dialing and Bluetooth capabilities small enough to fit into the box's phone slot will work (max size: 2.5 inches wide by 1 inch thick by 4.5 inches high).
We tried out the Alpha UWCP on an Ocean Reef Neptune Space full-face mask, a very cool unit in its own right. Setting up the Alpha UWCP is quite simple. The speaker portion of the module screws into the faceplate, the earphone clips onto a special bracket. The cable connectors on both the mask and surface ends attach easily. The mask-end connector also detaches easily, allowing you to quickly separate yourself from the cable if it becomes necessary. The surface buoy takes just seconds to inflate. Attach the dive flag, put your cell phone in the box, hook up the nine-volt battery and you're good to go.
Initializing the phone system, which includes turning on the Bluetooth search option, keying in a code and recording names you're going to want to call, is a one-time process. After that, all you have to do is place the cell phone in the box and turn it on. An incoming call is indicated by a typical ring tone. The conversation begins when you press the mask's push-to-talk (PTT) button, at which time the conversation goes into full duplex mode, meaning you don't need to press any buttons to talk or listen--in other words, hands-free communication. To dial out, press the PTT and pronounce the name of the person you're calling. Once the phone is answered, you go into duplex mode.
Bottom line: Since we go diving to escape the chatter of surface life, we don't see the point. But if you're one who likes/wants/needs to stay connected 24/7, well, now you can.
Price: $1,119 (doesn't include cell phone, mask or nine-volt battery). Contact: oceanreefgroup.com. |
|
