TEST EXTRA

APEKS MTX-RC STAGE 3 SET

Mark Evans: Apeks have built a solid global reputation for their high-performing and robust regulator systems over the years, from their TX range, through the ATX, to the current XTX, their lightweight travel-friendly XL4 and XL4+, and their range-topper, the MTX-R.

The MTX-R, which stands out thanks to its whiteand-satin-finish colour scheme, was based on the MTX, a regulator that was developed in accordance with the United States Navy Experimental Dive Unit. Its heritage was immediately apparent – okay, the name gave it away (M in MTX stands for military, and the R for recreational version), but just look at that beautiful first and second stage. With its laser-etched, military-style lettering, which contrasted well with the vivid white plastic/elastomer and satin-finish brass, it was stunning, yet strangely purposeful.

As you’d expect, coming from a military regulator, it was one super-tough, rugged, high-performance, go-anywhere regulator. It was purpose-built to meet all aspects of the NEDU (Navy Experimental Dive Unit) military requirements for diving in very cold water.

It did this in several ways. The forged first stage had a unique over-balanced diaphragm design – as the diver descends, the over-balancing feature allows the medium pressure gas in the hose to increase at a faster rate than ambient. This results in superior performance at depth.

So far, so good, but what made the MTX-R stand out further was the innovative world-first over-moulded first-stage endcap and sealed diaphragm, which helped prevent ice build-up that could cause first stage freeflow in extreme circumstances. This also had the handy ability to protect the first stage from impact damage – well, you know what divers can be like!

The first stage body, which had a ribbed diaphragm clamp for improved heat exchange in cold-water conditions, was equipped with five medium pressure ports (the fifth was covered with a protective bumper when it is not in use) on a rotating turret, and two high-pressure ports angled for optimal hose routing.

The second stage featured a patented heat exchanger which surrounded the valve mechanism, dissipating the cold caused by gas expansion while drawing in the warmth of the ambient water. Large elastomer bumpers on the sides and on the top protected the second stage from impacts and scratches in the most-vulnerable places. The exhaust tee was user-interchangeable, from a wide version to a narrow, smaller shape. A flexible nylon braided hose which has a better cold-water performance than a traditional rubber hose linked the first and second stages.

The MTX-R breathed fantastically well, but Apeks were swift to realise that not everybody needed a regulator that was tuned to perfection to deal with extremely cold water use - and thus the MTX-RC was born. Effectively, the MTX-RC is an MTX-R (without the military-style laser-etching on the front) but with the addition of a venturi lever and a cracking resistance control, which allows the user to fine-tune the performance to the conditions they are diving in, or for their own personal preference. As well as the aforementioned venturi lever and cracking resistance control, the MTX-RC is instantly recognisable from its stablemate thanks to its subtle-but-effective grey-and-satin-finish colour scheme.

In use, the MTX-RC provides a sublime breathe. With the cracking resistance dialled fully open and the venturi set to ‘dive’, inhalation is effortless and silky smooth, regardless of orientation, but in situations where you need to temper this performance – in extreme cold water, for instance, or if you were using a powerful scooter, you can increase the cracking resistance, which in its highest setting is more akin to the original MTX-R. From the fit in your mouth, with the excellent ComfoBite mouthpiece, it is much the same as any other Apeks reg (which is no bad thing), and the large purge is easy to locate and operate.

The routing from the first stage is well thought out, and the primary reg benefits from having a swivel at either end, for greater freedom of movement and comfort.

In short, just like its sibling MTX-R, it looks fantastic, performs like a champion, and doesn’t hammer the bank account too much – what more could you want from a toplevel regulator?

The MTX-RC is available with DIN and Yoke, and is nitrox compatible up to 40 percent out of the box. The ‘Stage 3’ set – Apeks uses this term to describe a regulator system that includes the primary regulator (first and second stage) and an octopus – includes a neat regulator bag. If, like me, you don’t tend to use a regulator bag to store/carry your regulator, you will be pleased to hear that the Apeks bag has been designed so that it is capable of holding a laptop, so you can use it as a more day-to-day accessory. The Velcro pad on the front flap can be personalised, and while it comes with Apeks and MTX-RC badges, any Velcrofastening patch will attach on here.

Perfect for RAID recreational divers, the MTX-RC can also be purchased in a complete set-up for a single-cylinder, long-hose configuration, which comprises the first stage, second stages, long hose, bolt snaps, SPG, etc. www.apeksdiving.com

XDEEP NX ZEN

Mark Evans: xDeep is a Polish brand which has cemented a reputation in the diving world - especially among technical divers - for producing some of the most-robust, well-built diving equipment out there. The company’s range of wings - for single cylinder, doubles and sidemount - have constantly garnered rave reviews. The NX Zen backplateand-wing has some design details that sets it apart from the competition, not to mention the undoubtedly solid build quality and superior materials.

For instance, that eye-catching backplate is not just a work of art in itself, it is that shape and design for a reason - xDeep have sought to achieve better weight distribution, removing some of the load from the lumbar region. A 3D-mesh pad on the upper part of the backplate ensures it is comfy even if you are just wearing a rash guard.

That backplate design also comes into play when you are putting the rig on and off. xDeep reckon that when the harness is unfastened, the shoulder straps are some 20 per cent longer than they would be on a classic harness. When you tighten up the waist strap, it pulls the shoulder straps snugly down, bringing the whole BCD close to your body. Another advantage of this is that there is no need to faff with your harness when swapping from wetsuit to drysuit. The NX series is also equipped with a doubleshell Cordura wing which has been designed with a narrow shape, so it nestles either side of your cylinder. This not only reduces drag, but aids the user’s buoyancy control. Despite its compact dimensions, it still generates nearly 42lb of lift.

Then there is the location of the power inflator hose. Instead of being mounted over the left shoulder as is the norm, this one comes out from the top centre of the bladder. This means it is ultra-streamlined to reduce resistance as you glide through the water. This central location also aids with trim position, as when gas is injected, it is distributed evenly to both side of the wing.

It is very comfortable and performs well, but perhaps most importantly, it looks the business. Look at the construction of that backplate, for instance - it is like a piece of modern art. You could hang that on your wall as a discussion piece. The workmanship is second to none.

The xDeep NX Zen has some nice accessories that can be fitted if you so desire. We got the integrated weight system, which neatly attaches to the back-plate for security and slots over the waist webbing strap. I hate wearing weightbelts, and only need a couple of pounds when in warmer waters anyway, so compact pockets like these are perfect. They come in various sizes, and you can get non-dumpable trim pockets too, so this would cover you for temperate water diving in a drysuit as well.

If down the line you venture into the world of technical diving, just swap out the wing for a larger unit and you can use your NX Zen backplate and harness with doubles.

You will see the ‘European made’ slogan several times on the NX Zen, and the team at xDeep are justifiably proud that their robust and well-constructed products are made in their native Poland and not farmed out to some cheap factory in the Far East. The feeling of high quality is hard to ignore or mistake. www.xdeep.eu

SANTI DIVING E.MOTION+ LADIES FIRST

Samara Ironside: Polish brand Santi Diving is becoming worldrenowned for producing some of the most-durable, stylish and best-fitting drysuits on the market. The E.Lite and E.Motion – and the ‘+’ variants – have all benefitted from the optimal combination of lightness, flexibility and durability, and now, with the E.Motion+ Ladies First, women can get in on the act with a bespoke, fitted suit designed from the outset for the female form. Available in unique and elegant colours, with black, steel grey and silver with fuchsia, lime or grey detailing, it certainly is very eye-catching, but it is not all looks.

The special cut of the suit, which is made from Ripstop nylon, butylene and Polyester, was designed to emphasize the diver’s figure, while also ensuring the highest degree of flexibility and comfort. It comes as standard with the innovative Santi Smart Seals – soft rings which allow you to easily and quickly replace your wrist seal- and yet it still only tips the scales at 3.2kg. The latex neck seal is insulated by a 3mm neoprene collar, and it features a tried-and-tested Apeks inlet valve and high-profile Apeks outlet valve, as well as durable Kevlar kneepads. The twin cargo pockets on the thighs are spacious, and equipped with bungee strings, while the right pocket also has a partition for wet notes, and a useful additional zippered pocket.

Inside, it is equipped with internal braces, and on the front there is a handy pocket which lines up perfectly with the main Aquaseal flexible plastic zipper – if you need to get your car keys, you don’t have to complete de-kit, you can just pull up the outer protective zipper and the main zipper 30-40cm and you can easily reach into this internal zippered pocket. Very well designed, and definitely thought of by a diver!

The flexisole boots have a neat webbing strap that tightens around the ankles, helping to reduce any unnecessary air migration into the feet, but to be honest, the soft and supple booties fit my feet like a glove, and with a thick, warm pair of socks on underneath, there was not a lot of room for any air in the first place.

The Santi Diving E.Motion+ Ladies First drysuit fit me absolutely beautifully – it was obviously very worthwhile sending the extensive list of measurements to Santi, as it couldn’t have been a better fit if they had measured me up in their factory. The cut and layout is perfect for the typical female body, and completely destroyed my pre-conceived ideas that drysuits were big, loose-fitting ‘bags’. Mobility is a given, with the stretchy materials used in its construction, and this suit screams quality down to its seams.

In the water, it maintains its comfort and flexibility. The shoulder-mounted release valve is easy to open and close, as well as having push-release in case of emergencies, which was very welcome for a new drysuit diver like myself.

The thigh pockets are very large and easy to access, with large Velcro and zipper sections. Getting in and out of the suit is easy as can be with the telescopic torso and front-entry zipper – even for a drysuit newbie like me, I was getting in and out with ease after a couple of dives. All in all, this drysuit is a great option for any lady looking for a high-end suit that is comfortable, stylish, durable, and will last. It also comes with a water-repellent Ladies First travel bag, a 75cm hose, and a Ladies First after-dive beanie for warming up your head after a long, cold-water dive. www.santidiving.com

AQUA LUNG i200C

Mark Evans: Dive computers from Aqua Lung just keep on coming, and the i200C represents fantastic value for money for a well-equipped and durable wristwatch-style unit. It uses the tried-and-tested Z+ algorithm, and has a segmented LCD display, which is easy to read – for low-light conditions, it has a push-button-activated back light, which is handy on night dives.

It has got four operating modes – Air, Nitrox, Gauge (with run timer) and Free Dive. Handily, the latter tracks calculations to allow unrestricted switching between free and dive modes. In Nitrox mode, it can handle two gas mixes, up to 100 percent oxygen, so will cover the vast majority of divers for all of the diving they will ever want to do. It has a user-replaceable battery, so no sending it off to the manufacturer when it runs low, which is a bonus with a wristwatch unit, as many people will use this as a day-to-day watch.

It comes in six funky colours, from the more-subtle Grey and Dark Grey to in-your-face Bright Pink, Aqua, Blue, and Hot Lime, and in the box you get the unit itself, plus a lens protector and a battery compartment opening tool.

We tried out the Hot Lime, and it certainly stands out as a daily wear watch, often eliciting comments from even non-divers. It feels solid on your wrist, but is not what I’d call heavy. The best thing about the i200C is how easy it is to use – it literally takes a couple of minutes to get your head around the menu and navigation and then you are away. I let several of the Depthera-py divers have a trial dive with it in Egypt a couple of months ago, and they were all happily using it within a short time. It was also brought out for Ryan Arnold to use when he was doing his entrylevel RAID course.

However, one of the i200C’s greatest attributes is down to how well it works with the Diver-Log+ app (which is available for iOS and Android). The i200C seamlessly interacts wirelessly via Bluetooth Smart technology, and you can control all aspects of the computer from your phone or computer. I found it easy to jump into DiverLog+ and adjust all the settings – gas mix, salt or fresh water, alarms, etc – and then it is a simple matter to just fire that over to the i200C and, you are ready to dive. Far quicker and easier than doing it all manually on the com-puter itself, to be honest.

On completing your dive, you can then throw over all your dive data from the i200C into your DiverLog+ app logbook. Your dive profile, time and date, water temperature, etc, are all brought over from the i200C, and you can then add additional information, such as what gear you were using, your location, buddy’s name, any photographs or videos you took, and so on. You can even get your buddy to digital ‘sign’ your logbook. Once complete, you just hit the ‘share’ but-ton and can send it out via all the usual channels – email, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, etc. The DiverLog+ app has many features beyond those described above – you can build up a file of buddies, locations, ‘gear bags’ for different conditions, and much more. Like the i200C it-self, it is very intuitive and easy to use. With a decent range of capabilities, and coming in at a very competitive price, it represents excellent value for money and is a nice user-friendly piece of kit, especially as it works so well with the DiverLog+ app. www.aqualung.com