6 minute read
What’s New
from Scuba Diver #63
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
APEKS OCEA | SRP: £509
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The Ocea is the first of its kind – an environmentallyconscious regulator made from recycled materials and bioplastics, manufactured in a solar-powered facility.
Based on the trusty XL4+, every single material and process was reconsidered to create the most eco-sensitive scuba diving regulator in the world. For instance, the leadfree brass can be endlessly recycled and it is stronger than standard brass. The Ocea is a truly game-changing regulator that removes five times its own weight in plastic from the environment, as each purchase funds the collection of 5kg of up-stream plastic waste (in collaboration with Plastic Bank).
The compact machined first stage is based on the expedition-tested Apeks DS4 platform and has 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. It has two highpressure ports and four low-pressure ports.
The lightweight second stage improves comfort and helps reduce jaw fatigue on long duration dives, and features a igh performance pneumatically balanced lever operated poppet valve, large, over moulded self-flushing and controllable purge button, and ergonomic Venturi lever that is easy to use and locate.
The flexible nylon braided hose has better cold water performance than a traditional rubber hose, and it has the standard metallic hose connection for interchangeability.
The comfo-bite mouthpiece has a unique bridge that fits across the upper palate and does not require bite pressure to stay in place, while re-useable mouthpiece clips make it simple to change mouthpieces in the field. www.apeksdiving.com/uk OTTER WATERSPORTS CHANGING MAT SRP: £25
Getting changed in a muddy car park or on a rocky/sandy beach can be a real pain, as you don’t want to be getting dirty while trying to get into normal clothes apresdive. Otter Watersports have had divers covered on this front with their innovative drysuit bags, which open up fully to make a handy changing mat. However, they realised many people didn’t want to be standing all over their drysuit bag, and getting the outside dirty before it goes back in the car. Enter the Otter changing mat. Made from nice, thick neoprene, the changing mat rolls up and is secured with a Velcro tab. Once opened up, it makes a decentsized square on which to stand while you change. The thick neoprene is well padded against a stony surface, and once it does get a bit grubby, it can be given a good wash. www.otterwatersports.uk
Tecline boasts an impressive selection of backplate-and-wings, but here we are focusing on the Peanut 16 Asymmetric – the name relates to the 16kg lift provided by the uniquely shaped bladder. As with many Tecline products, there are a plethora of options available, from three different travel sets (Travel Set Comfort £633.74, Travel Set Light £514.50 and Travel Set Ultra Light £514.50) through Kevlar variants with DIR harnesses (£625.24) to femalespecific Comfort sets (£763.50) and full-on Kevlar Comfort rigs (£941.43).
There is a mesmerizing range of colourways too, including grey, red, camouflage, pink, pink camouflage, blue, black, and orange.
Peanut wings – they come in 11kg and 21kg variants as well - are made with an internal PU-240 bladder and an external Cordura nylon 1000D or Kevlar layer.
The DIR harness is simple one-piece webbing, but the Comfort harness has padded shoulder straps, adjustable pinch clips, etc. www.teclinediving.eu
The success Mares saw last year with the new XR-Rec Silver Backmount Set came with many requests for a more-robust, heavy-duty version suitable for cold-water diving. Mares has a long history of listening to its customers, so they have introduced the new XR-Rec Ice Backmount Set.
The XR-Rec Ice is the perfect companion for all cold-water technical divers. To increase this buoyancy system’s durability, Mares is replacing all aluminum components of the first version with stainless steel. The stainless steel backplate allows for double tank strap configuration, while stainless steel D-rings and buckles increase strength and offer a unique look.
Although the XR-Rec Ice buoyancy system is robust, Mares does not compromise comfort. A soft back panel, lower back padding, and XR shoulder protection make wearing the weight required for cold-water diving a breeze.
The XR-Rec Ice also includes two removable side weight pockets with D-rings. These optional pockets close with Velcro brand fasteners, and one pocket extends to store diving accessories. Available as a one-size-fits-all, this technical buoyancy system allows divers to create a custom fit when wearing the XR-Rec Ice Single Backmount Set. www.mares.com Shearwater Research has updated its two iconic flagship dive computers, the Perdix and the Petrel.
The Perdix 2 has an armoured casing with precision titanium surround bezel and dependable titanium piezo touch buttons, while an aluminosilicate glass lens guards a fantastic 2.2” bright screen. A strong vibration customizable alert system draws attention at critical moments of the dive.
Air integration with up to four Shearwater transmitters, the trusted and easy to find user-changeable single AA battery, and familiar ergonomic compact form factor. The Perdix 2 is available in Ti and Ti Black colour finishes.
The Petrel 3 features an all-new, stunning, easy-toread, 2.6” AMOLED display is protected by a toughened aluminosilicate glass lens, titanium bezel, and piezo touch buttons. Air integration is now standard to all Petrel 3 models with up to four Shearwater transmitters. Safety is increased with a strong vibration alert system, and a userchangeable AA battery offers l ease of replacement.
The Petrel 3 is available in standalone or rebreather monitoring models, including DiveCAN, 4-pin AK, and Fischer port connections. www.shearwater.com
FOURTH ELEMENT XEROTHERM HOODIE SRP: £129.95
Fourth Element’s lightweight but super-comfy and warm Xerotherm hoodie is now available in three new colourways – rust, stone and blue – to accompany the existing, original black version.
The Xerotherm undersuit was Fourth Element’s first technical product, and the Xerotherm hoodie references this with a minimalistic style. It is made from ECONYL regenerated nylon, made in part from lost fishing nets, and has a deep hood, generous hand-warmer pockets and thumb loops that essentially make it feel like it has built-in wrist warms – toasty! It comes packaged in a recyclable paper bag. www.fourthelement.com CREST CR5 | SRP: APPROX. £480
Crest might be a new name to the UK diving market, but the creative minds behind the company have a long history in diving.
The CR5 is their latest product, and it is firmly aimed at the diving and sports enthusiast, being a fullfeatured dive computer as well as a smart sports watch.
On the diving side of things, it is waterproof to 100m, can handle nitrox from 21 to 99 percent, and has a freediving and gauge mode alongside the scuba mode, which operates a Buhlmann ZH-L16C algorithm.
On the sports watch front, it has built-in modes for hiking, biking, running, swimming, triathlon and workout. It also features GPS positioning, compass and heart rate monitor.
The CR5 has a bright colour MIP LCD display, is very lightweight (80g) and the battery is rechargeable. www.crestdiving.com
