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The MP206 Chameleon mask from IST Sports is made from a liquid-injected, hypoallergenic silicone that is soft and supple, resulting in a skirt that offers comfort as well as a watertight fit. Its raked inverted-teardrop dual-lens design delivers a wide field of view. To enhance the underwater view, the mask is fitted with a new type of ultra clear lens that allows for increased light transmission.

Cressi’s R1 jacket-style BC is comfortable and easy to use. It features padding in the back and lumbar areas as well as underneath the shoulders, and the air cell slides on the cummerbund, eliminating body squeeze. The rigid backpack delivers a stable ride, and the Lock Aid integrated weight system loads and ditches easily. Available in five sizes with buoyant lift up to 36 pounds

A load of new gear debuted in 2012, and the ScubaLab team dive-tested just about all of it. After digging deep into both objective and ergonomic test results, on the following pages we celebrate the year’s top-performing fins, BCs, regulators and dive computers, along with some first-rate travel bags, warm-water wetsuits and a couple of our top picks for safety gear.

A well-prepared DIVER is a safe diver: here are our favorites from our recent roundup of smart tools.

Lightweight and capable, our Testers' Choice and Best Buy picks for dive gear roller bags will take the hassle out of world travel.

In 2012, ScubaLab tested new and redesigned fins and these four models were this year's top guns.

Of the 11 data crunchers in ScubaLab’s 2012 shootout, these six models showed they had the right stuff.

In this year’s highly competitive field of 3 mm wetsuits, these four stood head-and-shoulders above the rest.