February 2008

By Michael Ange

Bare Elastek Wetsuits

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| Bare Elastek Wetsuits|
Bare's new Elastek line of wetsuits is all about flexibility. Full-stretch neoprene laminates allow for total range of motion while maintaining a soft, supple feel against your skin. The use of anatomically correct patterning also helps in the comfort department by creating a 3D shape (indicated by the full-bodied rather than flat shape of an empty suit). According to Bare, this shaping not only ratchets up comfort but also reduces the stress loads on the seams to extend the life of the suit. Speaking of seams, 7mm and 5mm Elastek suits are glued and "Secure-Locked," which is a form of blind-stitching that uses a proprietary method of locking the thread at the end to reduce unraveling (3mm suits are flat-seam stitched). All suits are fitted with G-lock splash-proof zippers that use a unique combination of offset teeth and tape to eliminate seepage. The adjustable neck collar is Glideseal, and the pre-bent arms and contoured lower legs use mid-forearm and mid-calf internal flip seals to keep the water out. Elastek suits are indigo blue, available in 7mm, 5mm and 3mm full-suit designs and 15 men's and 13 women's sizes. There's also a 7mm over-vest with attached hood in both men's and women's sizes that's designed to layer with the 5mm and 7mm suits. Prices: $367.95 (7mm); $335.95 (5mm); $261.95 (3mm); $209.95 (over-vest). Contact: www.baresportswear.com.

XS Scuba Fusion 2 Gauge-Reading Mask

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| XS Scuba Fusion 2 Gauge-Reading Mask|
This dual-window looker takes a different approach to underwater viewing. While the top 75 percent of each lens is standard tempered glass, the bottom teardrop portions are angled inward and slightly magnified (1.75 positive diopter magnification, XS Scuba says. This makes it easier to see your gear when you look down and easier to read the fine print on your gauges. The mask itself is comfortable to wear; it has a wide, soft, silicone skirt, and its feather-edged double seal provides a leak-free fit, even on faces sporting facial hair. A good-sized nose pocket lets you clear easily, and strap adjustment is efficient. The mask comes in five colors so you can coordinate the mask to your other gear. Price: $68. Contact: www.xsscuba.com.

Sea Quest Pearl i3

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| Sea Quest Pearl i3|
Aqua Lung's Sea Quest-brand i3 inflator system is now available on a BC designed specifically for women. In place of a corrugated inflator hose, the Pearl i3 has a very intuitive lever control. Lift the lever to inflate; press down to deflate. Push-rod technology activates low-profile exhaust valves to provide pinpoint buoyancy control regardless of your position in the water. The BC itself is a hybrid design that looks similar to Sea Quest's top-shelf Diva LX, only more streamlined. Made with the female form in mind, it comes with high-cut sides to allow for hip flair, plush back and lumbar padding and sports bra-styled neoprene panels in front. But the Pearl i3 is no sissy BC. It's equipped with Sea Quest's first-rate SureLock integrated-weight system and delivers up to 43 pounds of lift. There are three easy-to-use pockets--the right-side pocket has bellows to increase volume, the pull-down left-side pocket is even roomier, and unlike most cummerbund pouches, the Pearl i3's is actually big enough to stow something in. Throw in a place to attach a knife, octo pockets on both sides and four stainless D-rings, and you've got a fully loaded BC ready to get down to some serious diving. The Pearl i3 comes in five sizes and three color combos. Bonus: buy one and Aqua Lung will donate a portion of the purchase price to breast cancer research. Price: $675. Contact: www.aqualung.com.

SoftQual Air Consumption Software

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| SoftQual Air Consumption Software|
Tech divers don't enter the water without first calculating exactly how much breathing gas they'll need. The principles of careful air consumption planning also apply to recreational diving, and this easy-to-use program from SoftQual walks you through it step by step. The program allows you to adjust variables including your breathing rate, tank capacity and pressure, planned depth and bottom time to calculate air needs in any situation. Visit the company's web site for a demo or to download the software (PC-compatible only). Price: $37. Contact: www.softqual.net.

Uwatec PDIS Algorithm for the Galileo Sol

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| Uwatec PDIS Algorithm for the Galileo Sol|
A few months ago when we tried out Uwatec's show-stopping new Galileo Sol dive computer, one of the features that impressed us was the computer's reprogrammable processor that allows users to update the computer as new innovations come along. Now the company has just released its first upgrade. Called PDIS, for Profile Dependent Intermediate Stop, it's a new algorithm that calculates an intermediate stop based on the nitrogen accumulated from your ongoing dive, the nitrogen accumulated from your previous dives, and the type of gas mixes you're using. PDIS is an added safety feature you can use on no-stop dives as well as decompression dives; however, it is an option so there's no arm-twisting to use it. If preferred, you can turn the PDIS function off and use the Galileo's core adaptive algorithm, which calls for traditional safety stops. Owners of Galileo Sol computers produced before December 2007 can download PDIS free of charge on the Scubapro/Uwatec web site (www.scubapro.com). Galileo Sol computers produced after December 2007 have the PDIS option already installed, as does the newly available Galileo Terra computer, which offers all the goodies of the Galileo Sol except for wireless air integration. Also, the heart rate monitor and PMG (predictive multi-gas) features, standard on the Sol, are upgrade options on the Terra, which costs $1,058 for the base model. We look forward to putting both models to the test in the next Scuba Lab computer review. Contact: www.scubapro.com.

The Diver's Platform

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| The Diver's Platform|
Shore diving can be a real bear, so anything that reduces the hassle is music to our swimmers' ears. Like the Diver's Platform. Providing what's in essence a floating workbench, this ruggedly built surface support system consists of a truck-size inner tube covered with diver-red fabric. This is lashed to an aluminum frame with a center storage tub and a circular handrail. There's a stainless ring underneath for attaching an anchor line, and a diver down flag is included. The basic Diver's Platform gives recreational divers a place to take surface breaks and stow their extra gear while also letting passing boats know they're in the water. For instructors, it offers a secure place to stack slates, extra weights, water bottles and other teaching essentials. Plus it provides up to six students with a comfortable hand-hold during class briefings. For tech-oriented divers, there's the Diver Tec Platform, which adds a beefed-up bottom plate with a series of welded half loops for hanging tanks or attaching tool bags. Platforms come in three sizes, measured by the diameter of the center tub: 12-, 14- and 15-inch. Prices: $295 to $599. Contact: www.thediversplatform.com.