Test Extra

Each issue, the Scuba Diver test team bring you the latest product and equipment releases from the dive industry. Cannot wait for the next edition? Keep up-to-date with all the latest gear news and reviews by heading over to the Scuba Diver YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/ScubaDiverMagazine

SEIKO PROSPEX DIVE WATCHES | SRP OF WATCHES REVIEWED: £349-£550

Mark Evans: Seiko has a rich heritage when it comes to dive watches. The company launched its first dive watch way back in 1965, and also devised the expansion strap, to keep it tight on the wrist through pressure changes, and an L-shaped gasket that achieved world-class impermeability. Ever the innovators, the brand released the world’s first computerized dive watch in the form of the Scuba Master in 1990, which was equipped with water and depth sensors so it could show dive time and depth, and this was followed up in 2000 with the Diving Computer Watch, which as the name suggests was a real precursor to many of the wristwatchstyle dive computers on the market today. Over 55 years later, Seiko is still producing dependable and desirable dive watches. Head over to the Seiko website and click on their Prospex range and you will be literally spoilt for choice.

I took a selection for test dive just to whet your appetite. The Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean ‘King Turtle’ SRPF77K1 (SRP: £550) is particularly noteworthy. At first glance it looks like a traditional, old-school dive watch. Water-resistant to 200m, it has a screw-case back and screw-down crown (in the 4pm position, rather than 3pm, which I prefer, both for looks and practicality – it doesn’t snag on things as much), a chunky uni-directional bezel which is easy to adjust

even wearing thick neoprene gloves, a durable sapphire crystal with magnifier for the date, LumiBrite on the hands, indices and bezel to make it easy to see regardless of light conditions, and a comfortable silicone band, which will fit around a wetsuited arm, or the wrist of your glove if you are wearing a drysuit. So far, so good – and with automatic movement with manual winding, you’ll never have to worry about missing the dive boat ‘ropes off’ again!

It is when you take a closer look at the dial that you understand why this is a special edition. Manta rays can be seen gliding across the face. The image is extremely subtle, and you really have to look at the watch closely to see the rays – from a distance, the dial just looks to have a blue-fade colour scheme. I like little details like this – it really makes the watch stand out from the crowd.

Seiko is also the only watch company working with PADI, and is the official partner of the PADI AWARE Foundation’s marine debris programme, helping to fund local oceanprotection initiatives hosted by PADI dive centres. They also offer a range of Prospex watches adorned with the PADI logo and adopting the blue/red PADI colour scheme, and donate a portion of the proceeds from the Save the Ocean collection. One of the most eye-catching is the Prospex PADI Chronograph SSC785P1, with its stainless-steel case, redand-blue uni-directional bezel and durable blue rubber strap. Solar-powered, the PADI Chronograph has a slick black wave-print dial that contrasts strikingly with the LumiBrite hour markers and hands, which are given additional ‘pop’ with vivid red accents at 12, 3, 6 and 9, and on the minute hand. This bright red ties in nicely with the red on the unidirectional bezel, and the red detailing on the screw-down crown. As with the aforementioned King Turtle, it will fit around a wetsuited arm, or the wrist of your glove if you are wearing a drysuit, and the bright colouration certainly stands out against black neoprene. If the vibrant PADI colour scheme is a little in-your-face for your liking, Seiko also offers a solar-powered Prospex Chronograph in more-subtle tones, the SSC759J1 (SRP: £550).

This has a blue dial with a deep blue uni-directional bezel, sapphire crystal, LumiBrite on the hands and indices, and a black silicone strap.

In this modern-era, many divers choose to dive with a computer of some shape or form. Some may opt to wear a dive watch as a secondary timer back-up – and any of the Seiko Prospex series are capable in that respect - but by and large, you’ll find keen divers wearing their dive watches when they are out of the water. A dive watch signifies to others, especially other divers, that is what you are – a diver. And of course, there are those ‘wannabes’ who don’t dive but want to wear a dive watch to look like a diver – and there is nothing wrong with that! www.seikoboutique.co.uk

Each issue, the Scuba Diver test team bring you the latest product and equipment releases from the dive industry. Cannot wait for the next edition? Keep up-to-date with all the latest gear news and reviews by heading over to the Scuba Diver YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/ScubaDiverMagazine

FOURTH ELEMENT SCOUT | SRP: £79.95

Mark Evans: Fourth Element have been a bit of a phenomenon over the last 20 years. From humble beginnings when the company was seen as ‘a dive T-shirt business’, it has steadily expanded its influence through swimwear, rash guards, wetsuits, thermal undergarments and drysuits, plus ancillaries like hoods, gloves, boots, etc. Add in its OceanPositive range of products, and Fourth Element is a true powerhouse in the industry – you can’t go to any UK dive site these days and not see the distinctive Fourth Element logo everywhere.

Now the company is moving into diving hardware, and its first release is the Scout mask, soon to be followed up by recreational and technical diving fins. Being Fourth Element, you know that this isn’t just going to be a run-of-the-mill dive mask – oh no, it is going to have some innovative elements that fit with the company’s ethos and style. Thus, the Scout comes in myriad variants. First, the basics. It is a single-lens frameless mask, available in black or white, with a steeply angled profile to maximise its field of view, and a super-soft silicon skirt for optimal comfort and fit. I was a devotee of my Hollis M3 mask until it had an unfortunate encounter with a cylinder, and found a great replacement in the Apeks VX1. This was the only single-lens mask that fit my face – others I found pressed on to my forehead. The VX1 is a fantastic mask, and extremely comfortable. However, I have to say, now I have dived the Scout, I think it just edges the VX1 on the comfort front thanks to its soft skirt, and it is definitely more low-profile, which means it offers a wider field of view, but is also easier to clear. So far, so normal. However, it all changes when it comes to the lens. The Scout can be fitted with a choice of four different lens types, so when the buyer is purchasing it, they can opt for the lens that will work best for their diving style and conditions. Shield is classed as Anti-UV and Anti-Glare, and was inspired by the gold visors of NASA astronauts. The Shield lens provides UV protection and reduces glare, making it fully suited to tropical and warmer water environments for shallower diving and snorkelling in bright conditions. UVA and UVB radiation is reflected by the lens, reducing the exposure of the eye to potentially harmful rays. Luke opted for a black mask with this lens, as he thought the gold ‘looked cool’, however, as you can see from the photographs, at the right angle, it appears blue.

Clarity is a pure clear lens, and the one I opted for after trialling all four options. It is designed to maximise the amount of transmitted light, without any tint from impurities in the glass, and thus is described as the ideal lens for night divers and photographers. It is also the perfect lens for teaching, allowing students and instructors to clearly see each other’s eyes. The Clarity lens is manufactured with the highest level of purity to deliver maximum visual acuity during a dive.

Contrast is Anti-UV, and as it filters out some of the mid-range wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum, has a green appearance. When diving in temperate (green) waters, images seen through this lens show an increase in contrast, accentuating brighter and darker areas, increasing the perception of visual acuity. The Contrast lens provides full UVA and UVB protection from harmful ultraviolet.

Finally, there is Enhance, which is Anti-UV and Anti-HEV. Filtering ultraviolet and HEV (High Energy Visible) radiation, the Enhance lens is designed to protect the eye and enhance the visual experience. It is well known that UV has a damaging effect on the eye, but it has also been shown

Each issue, the Scuba Diver test team bring you the latest product and equipment releases from the dive industry. Cannot wait for the next edition? Keep up-to-date with all the latest gear news and reviews by heading over to the Scuba Diver YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/ScubaDiverMagazine

FOURTH ELEMENT SCOUT | SRP: £79.95

that HEV light can interfere with the lutein proteins in the eye and alter them, so filtering out this high energy radiation can help to preserve optical health. Once you have selected your lens type, you then need to choose your mask strap colour (four options are available – white, grey, black and teal). The Scout comes with an elasticated strap that is made using rubber and recycled nylon, with clips made using recycled waste ABS plastic from the automotive industry. The clips have also been designed so that they will fit most mask buckles, so you could retro-fit one of these straps to most other brands. This elastic strap is so comfortable and easy to use - even wearing thick neoprene gloves, I had no problems putting my mask on and off.

Last but not least, there is the box. The Scout comes in a mask ‘box’ that is designed to replace the plastic boxes that are supplied with so many masks. Low profile and protective, this case will protect the lens thanks to its cushioned half shell, without creating bulk, meaning it can fit in the foot pocket of most fins for convenient transport. I really like this innovation – it is actually a mask-protecting solution that you can really use, both in storage and when you are out diving.

At £79.95, the Fourth Element Scout is keenly priced against its rivals, and I think it has put the company on the diving hardware map in a big way. www.fourthelement.com

DORSET

DORSET DIVING SERVICES

t: 01202 122006 e: info@dorsetdiving.co.uk a: 25A Ringwood Road, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0RF 5 Star PADI Dive Centre offering PADI Courses, Kit Sales, Servicing, Air Nitrox and Trimix Fills. In house IDEST test station and workshop for on site repairs. www.dorsetdiving.co.uk

UNDERWATER EXPLORERS

t: 01305 824555 e: info@underwaterexplorers.co.uk a: Unit 1, Maritime Business Centre, Mereside, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1FD Leading Dorset dive centre stocking all major brands, air, nitrox, trimix fills, rentals and servicing beside Portland Marina and across from Chesil Beach. www.underwaterexplorers.co.uk

ESSEX

BESPOKE SCUBA DIVING LIMITED

t: 01708 837032 e: contact@bespokescubadiving.co.uk a: Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, Althorne Way, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7FH Our mission is to provide quality & professional scuba training in a relaxed friendly environment. www.bespokescubadiving.co.uk

BLACK WATER DIVING

t: 07841 561680 e: info@blackwaterdiving.co.uk a: 18 Lower Park Road, Loughton, Essex, IG10 4NA PADI Dive training focussed on beginners. Try Scuba Diving for £20. Private swimming pools. Learn to scuba dive with 1:1 instruction at Blackwater Diving. www.blackwaterdiving.co.uk

DIVERSE SCUBA

t: 01375 892444 e: info@diverse-scuba.co.uk a: Ye Old Plough House Motel, Brentwood Road, Bulphan, Essex, RM14 3SR Diverse Scuba are one of the leading 5 STAR PADI IDC dive centres in the UK providing scuba diving courses and services to the Essex region. www.diverse-scuba.co.uk

ORCA SCUBA DIVING ACADEMY

t: 01268 520111 e: info@orcascubadivingacademy.co.uk a: 17 Repton Close, Burnt Mills Estate, Basildon, Essex, SS13 1LN Established in 2007 the Academy a vision of Gary to deliver the very best Scuba Diving School in Essex. www.orcascubadivingacademy.co.uk

KENT

BLUE OCEAN DIVING

t: 01622 212022 e: scuba@blueoceandiving.co.uk a: West Park Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 7AF 5* PADI scuba diving courses and training, organised diving trips and events, scuba equipment and friendly advice based in Maidstone. www.blueoceandiving.co.uk

KENT

KENT TOOLING DIVING PRODUCTS

t: 01227 700374 e: sales@divingproducts.co.uk a: Windgates, Church Lane, Waltham, Near Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5SS Kent Tooling Diving Products produce the widest range of rebreather and diving supplies and accessories in Kent and the UK. www.divingproducts.co.uk

HARROGATE

DIVESHACK UK

t: 07779 605863 | e: tim@diveshack.uk.com a: 17 Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1UF Harrogates number 1 dive store. www.diveshack.uk.com

LANCASHIRE

CAPERNWRAY DIVING AND LEISURE LTD

e: info@dive-site.co.uk a: Jackdaw Quarry, Capernwray Road, Over Kellet, Lancashire, LA6 1AD The UK’s finest inland dive site... Welcome to Capernwray, the beautiful diving venue on the edge of the Lake District. www.dive-site.co.uk

EAST LANCS DIVING

e: info@eastlancsdiving.co.uk a: Daisyfield Pool, Daisy Ln, Blackburn, BB1 5HB East Lancashire’s only PADI approved Dive Centre - Undertaking all PADI courses and Specialities from Try Dive to Professional. www.eastlancsdiving.co.uk

LEICESTERSHIRE

SCUBA 2000 (LEICESTER)

t: 07724 412161 | e: info@scuba2000.org.uk a: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre, 50 Duns Lane, Leicester, LE3 5LX Learn to dive or build confidence, experience and skills. Family-friendly, small groups (2:1) and a ‘no-rush’ approach. 1:1 coaching available. www.scuba2000.co.uk

MILTON KEYNES

MK SCUBA DIVING

t: 07957 710334 e: contact@mkscubadiving.co.uk a: Unit 50A, I-Centre, Howard Way, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, MK16 9PY Friendly, professional and patient PADI, SDI and TDI scuba instructors, we proudly offer you high quality service, equipment and facilities. www.mkscubadiving.co.uk

NORWICH

CHRISTAL SEAS SCUBA LTD

t: 01603 485000 e: info@scuba4me.co.uk a: 62 Whiffler Road, Norwich, NR3 2AY We are Norfolk’s Premier dive centre with our own on-site swimming pool and well stocked shop with the latest equipment. www.scuba4me.co.uk

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

GO DIVE

t: 01332 665353 e: sales@godive.net a: Nottingham Road, Spondon, Derby, DE21 7NP Take your diving to the next level with GoDive, the UK’s first fourth element concept store. Start shopping with us today! www.godive.net

PLYMOUTH

AQUANAUTS

t: 01752 228825 e: info@aquanauts.co.uk a: 88 Vauxhall Street, The Barbican, Plymouth, PL4 0EY Waterfront full service centre with direct access to the best wreck and reef diving the UK has to offer. www.aquanauts.co.uk

ROTHERHAM

DREAM DIVERS LTD

t: 07976 526050 e: info@dreamdiversltd.co.uk a: 18-20 Greasbrough Rd, Parkgate, Rotherham, S62 6HN PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre based in Parkgate, Rotherham. Our instructional team has been teaching PADI courses together in the Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and surrounding areas of South Yorkshire since 2005. www.dreamdivers.co.uk

SHROPSHIRE

SEVERN TEC DIVING

t: 01939 291303 e: severntecdiving@gmail.com a: Seventec Diving, Unit 1J, Leaton Industrial Estate, Shrewsbury SY4 3AP We are a Scuba Diving Training Center with over 20 years experience with a multi-agency approach to scuba diving. www.severntecdiving.com

SOMERSET

DIVE ACADEMY

t: 01935 353525 e: info@dive.academy a: Unit 7-8 Boundary Avenue, Commerce Park, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 8UU Somerset’s Premier. Scuba Diving Centre. Book a lesson. www.dive.academy

SUSSEX

OYSTER DIVING

t: 0800 699 0243 e: info@oysterdiving.com a: Maritime House, Basin Road North, Portslade, E. Sussex, BN41 1WR PADI 5-star IDC centre in London and S.E. Holidays around the world, active club and local dives. Exclusive lake in Surrey. www.oysterdiving.com

SUSSEX

PLANET DIVERS

t: 07889 883232 e: info@planetdivers.co.uk a: Planet Divers, The Angling Club, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22 7AA A Friendly Crew, Great Diving all year round. Excellent, Fun trips UK & Abroad for all levels, non-divers welcomed. www.planetdivers.co.uk

WEST MIDLANDS

AQUASPORT INTERNATIONAL

t: 0121 706 6628 e: info@aquasportonline.com a: The Dive Centre, 50 Lincoln Road, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands, B27 6PA The only purpose built diver training centre and dive shop in the West Midlands and the only PADI Dive Centre in the whole of Greater Birmingham and Solihull. www.aquasportonline.com

WILTSHIRE

DM SCUBA TRAINING

t: 07920 556116 e: instructor@hotmail.co.uk a: Filton leisure Centre, Elm Park, Fiton BS34 7PS DM Scuba hold pool training sessions in Bristol, Swindon and Bath giving you plenty of choice. www.dm-scuba.co.uk

YORKSHIRE

BELOW THE SURFACE

t: 07967 733764 e: info@belowthesurface.co.uk a: 26 Albert Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8AH A PADI 5 star centre with over 30 years’ experience, we teach in small groups & at your pace. www.belowthesurface.co.uk

DIVEWORLD

t: 01142 332995 e: info@learn2dive.co.uk a: 185 Holme Lane, Hillsborough, Sheffield, Yorkshire, S6 4JR Welcome to Diveworld, dive school, dive club, dive retail and servicing, dive travel and more, the complete scuba package. www.learn2dive.co.uk

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