Gear News
Scubaverse Christmas Gift Guide 2017
Struggling to find the perfect gift for that special scuba diver in your life? Look no further, Team Scubaverse have searched far and wide to bring you this season’s must have Christmas gifts!
ACCESSORIES
EEZYCUT Trilobite
RRP £29.95
PHONE: +44 (0)333 444 0104
EMAIL: info@blue-orb.uk
WEBSITE: www.blue-orb.uk
There are numerous activities from scuba diving to parachuting that require an EMERGENCY CUTTING TOOL (E.C.T.) as a mandatory piece of equipment, to be carried on every activity specifically for self rescue or for the assistance of others. The Eezycut fits this profile perfectly.
While the EEZYCUT TRILOBITE stands out as an incredible cutting device on its own, it is also an ideal choice of E.C.T. There are important safety differences between the two, even though one tool traditionally serves both purposes.
A cutting device is a tool which is carried in anticipation of using it, where it’s use is pre-planned. An E.C.T. however, is a tool to be used in an emergency, and should be treated as such. In general, you plan to use a cutting device, but you plan to NOT use an E.C.T. Your need to carry a cutting device is optional. Your need to carry an E.C.T. is mandatory.
An E.C.T. needs to be fit for purpose. Like a fire extinguisher or insurance, you do not plan to use it. It needs to be well maintained, and regularly inspected. Get to know how the tool works before you are confronted with an emergency. Locate the tool in an accessible area, especially when you may unexpectedly have restricted movement or limited visibility.
The EEZYCUT TRILOBITE has two sides, and so it has REDUNDANCY built into its design, but nothing can replace the true redundant safety feature of two completely independent E.C.T.’s. TheTRILOBITE‘s size and effectiveness fits in easily to any inventory of cutting tools, or for carrying multiple TRILOBITE.
As the UK distirbutor for Eezycut, Blue Orb is focused on bringing this safety cutting tool to diverse markets from outdoor pursuits to emergency services and medical personnel.
MOMENTUM Mini Rubber Dive Watch
RRP £145
£185 with Sapphire Glass upgrade
PHONE: +44 (0)333 444 0104
EMAIL: info@blue-orb.uk
WEBSITE: www.blue-orb.uk
St. Moritz Watch Corp. designs, assembles and services high quality sports watches under the MOMENTUM® brand. As life becomes more active and a more casual style becomes the norm, our straightforward designs, with outstanding waterproof performance and no-BS pricing, resonate more and more with active people everywhere.
The smallest, thinnest M1 ever. Despite the compact, 31mm case and slim profile, each watch is tested to a depth of 200M/660FT. The Mini offers 7 color options and a bright white, luminous dial that is easy-to-read. Clean styling and a choice of great colors make the Mini a favorite for day-to-day wear and for active lifestyles. Perfect for smaller wrists.
This model comes on our Natural ‘Mini’ Rubber band, specially made for Momentum in Italy. This natural rubber is specially designed for smaller wrists, and is soft and flexible, for unsurpassed comfort and durability. The rubber mix is lightly scented with vanilla, to mask the natural rubber smell. Made to withstand the elements, and easy to scrub clean with a little soap and water, natural rubber is completely waterproof and perfect for any adventure.
Really tough on your watch? Consider upgrading to an ultra-hard, sapphire crystal. This is dramatically more scratch-resistant than regular mineral glass and virtually impossible to scratch, ensuring a crystal-clear view of the time, year after year!
TECHNICAL
XDEEP NX ZEN
RRP £535
£575 with Deluxe Harness
£595 with upgraded SS Backplate
£635 with Deluxe Harness & SS Backplate
PHONE: +44 (0)333 444 0104
EMAIL: info@blue-orb.uk
WEBSITE: www.blue-orb.uk
We dive for different reasons, but whatever inspires us to take to the water, our gear must add to the enjoyment. Through meticulous design, by applying advanced materials technology and engineering expertise, the NX ZEN really does make us feel at one with the aquatic world.
At XDEEP we are passionate about doing things better, improving and refining our products. We want wings to be safer, to be robust and reliable and to be more comfortable for divers. Our engineers and designers leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of this goal. From the overall design concept to the little details, everything is examined and improved. Once we have come up with the design we obssess about identifying and using the best materials.
The NX ZEN is so named for a reason; that feeling of being ‘at one’ with the world that diving brings. Advances in materials technology, in diving design and our ability to apply modern engineering concepts created a dive system that delivered on our priorities.
A stable, comfortable and ergonomic wing that is truly ZEN.
AMMONITE LED Stingray Compact Primary Torch
RRP £139 (Standard),
£209 (Rechargeable)
PHONE: +44 (0)333 444 0104
EMAIL: info@blue-orb.uk
WEBSITE: www.blue-orb.uk
This is the most powerful and at the same time the smallest compact torch Ammonite System have ever developed! LED STINGRAY sets a completely new standard in its class of products. Its distinctive features are the amazing amount of light, long operation time, handiness and reliable, heavy-duty build. Also, the torch is characterised by a very small size – 120mm in length, 40mm in diameter – and low weight – 130 gr, which makes it perfectly fit into the hand; it is equally easy to mount it to the harness or put it in your diving suit’s or jacket’s pocket.
LED STINGRAY means 1000lm of light, offering a distribution angle of 16 degrees and as many as 1.5 hours* of stable performance! The source of light comprises 3 CREE XPG 2 LED’s powered with a single Li-Ion type 18650 battery protected from overcharge and deep discharge. The torch is built with the use of the best materials available on the market. The body is made of Delrin, while the aluminum head is coated with hard anode resistant to mechanical damage and any weather factors. The torch’s front glass is made of 6 mm tempered glass.
DIVE COMPUTER
AQUA LUNG i200 Dive Computer
RRP £248
PHONE: +44 (0)1254 692200
EMAIL: info@aqualung.uk
WEBSITE: www.aqualung.com/uk
The i200 is an intuitive, sporty computer with an easy versatility.
With its fresh design, you’ll find yourself wearing the i200 as an everyday sports watch that is ready to dive when you are. And with 4 operating modes, a user-changeable standard battery, the ability to easily switch between 2 Nitrox mixes, as well as no restriction switching between Free & Dive, it adapts to you.
LUGGAGE
THE DRY BAG
RRP £60
EMAIL: info@thedrybag.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.thedrybag.co.uk
Getting wet is all part of the fun of Scuba diving, right? Wrestling with your wet gear when you get home not so? Diving equipment is expensive so it makes sense to protect it and get as much life from it as you can. Enter The Dry Bag.
The bag comes in two options, Pro and Elite. The Elite is more suited to indoor drying thanks to the mesh front and the Pro for outdoor drying thanks to a full fabric front which shields your gear from UV rays, offering 30% more protection for your drysuit than without. Both bags have a water reservoir at the base that collects water from your suit and can be released with a plug when you’re ready – gone are the days of indoor puddles! Both bags retail at £60, fit up to XL drysuits and come with a full hanging solution.
The Dry Hanger allows your gear to hang whilst drenched thanks to being able to take a drop weight of 25kg. Made from 100% recycled materials, it is well made, sturdy and works a treat – once you have one in your life you’ll genuinely wonder how you coped before.
LIGHTS & STROBES
PATHFINDER Strobe GEN-4
RRP £199
PHONE: +44(0)1933 681255
EMAIL: info@narkedat90.com
WEBSITE: www.narkedat90.com
The most powerful diving strobe in the world.
Highest light output.
Highest flash rate of any emergency or location strobe for diving use.
User replaceable batteries 20 hrs burn time on the fastest flash rate.
Comes complete with clip device to securely lock it to the shot line when in use.
Finding your way underwater is a skill we all should have, but sometimes we need a little help. Wreck divers have long since known the benefits of having a marker light attached to the shot line at the bottom, especially when extended decompression is required.
Finding your way back to the shot line, the safety of the group, decompression station and boat cover with drop bottles should not be a matter of luck or yours might run out quickly. Simply attach the Pathfinder about 10-15ft above the wreck using the supplied locking clip and find your way back to safety.
The problem with strobes commercially available at the moment is despite their claims of depth capability, they flood. Regularly. They also flash too slowly to be of use when you’re looking round for the marker; you can turn your head and miss it.
The Pathfinder strobe is activated with a twist of the collar and has an extremely long burn time between battery changes.
Battery compartment is a triple O-ring seal and the unit takes x2 C-cell batteries that can be Alkaline or Rechargeable cells.
EXPOSURE MARINE Action 16 Torch
RRP £179.95
PHONE: +44(0)1798 839300
EMAIL: info@use.group
WEBSITE: www.exposurelights.com/marine-home
The Action 16 is designed as the perfect all-round light in a compact, factory sealed aluminium casing. Boasting 1000 lumens in a 16 degree beam it effectively illuminates large areas whilst maintaining a soft spot in the middle for pinpointing or signalling. It’s runtimes range from 1.5 hours on maximum (1000 lumens) to 6 hours on low (250 lumens) and with a charge time of 3 hours you can easily use it and charge it between dives. USB rechargeable and weighing only 113 grams The Action takes away the hassle of travelling with bulky umbilical torches and carrying multiple sets of replacement batteries.
The Action lights have the option to attach a ball bracket making them compatible with existing photographic and film rigs or a neoprene hand mount which enables hands free mode switching when in tap mode.
Waterproof to 100 meters it is suitable for all forms of diving and surface activities and is fully compatible with multiple Exposure bike accessories. Lightweight and compact the Action can be relied upon in the toughest environment.
The Exposure Action Range can be found exclusively at Simply Scuba.
BCD
SCUBAPRO Hydros Pro BCD
RRP £570
WEBSITE: www.scubapro.com
THE ABILITY TO CHANGE ANYTHING, CHANGES EVERYTHING.
The HYDROS PRO is a true breakthrough in dive comfort and convenience. The moldable Monprene®, adjustable fit and multi-attachment points combine to make this the most customizable and comfortable BC ever. Winner of the 2016 Red Dot award for product design, the HYDROS PRO is an incredible feat of SCUBAPRO engineering, built for anyone who loves to dive.
Interchangeable straps, a packable design and an included backpack with room for your entire dive kit make the HYDROS PRO perfect for any destination and any dive.
Colors
Women’s: Pink, White, Purple
Men’s: Yellow, Black, Blue
Color Kits available to match the Seawing Novas (White, Black, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Blue).
Accessories
- Bungee Loops for mounting SMBs, dive lights, octo hoses, etc.
- Mini-D Eyelets for attaching clips, retractors, etc.
- Knife Mount Kit for mounting standard BC knives.
- Crotch Strap to enhance fit and security.
- Add-on pockets & smaller, single weight pockets for the Trav-Tek Harness.
DRYSUIT
OTTER Britannic II Telescopic Drysuit
RRP £1445
PHONE: 01274 379480
EMAIL: sales@drysuits.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.drysuits.co.uk
Here at Otter, we understand what it takes to make a great drysuit. When we say our suits are ‘exploration grade’, we mean it – with over 30 years experience behind us, Otter suits are the choice of some of the biggest names in dive exploration. From the deepest wrecks to the longest caves, diving explorers choose Otter to protect them from the harshest conditions.
Building upon the reputation of our popular Britannic drysuit, we’ve reinvented exploration grade with the release of our new Otter Britannic II telescopic drysuit. This super-tough suit is manufactured using flexible armour skin material that ensures that it’s as tough as it is stylish. Available either off the peg or made to measure, we offer a comprehensive range of customisation options – choose the suit colour, a choice of pockets, rock boots or Otter boots, si-tech or Apeks valves, neoprene or latex seals and more. We truly believe that the new Otter Britannic II is the last drysuit you’ll ever buy. But don’t take our word for it – this is what Scuba Diver magazine editor Mark Richard Evans had to say about his new Otter Britannic II…
“My Otter drysuit has accompanied me on numerous dives now, and it has never once let me down. It is comfortable, easy to get on and off, looks fantastic and is built to last. Otter’s customer service is renowned, and their build quality is off-the-chart. This genuinely could represent the last drysuit you ever buy, it is that good.”
PHOTOGRAPHY
OCEAMA Sepia 3000 Lumens Video Light
RRP £333
PHONE: +44(0)1404 812277
EMAIL: sales@camerasunderwater.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.camerasunderwater.co.uk
- 100m Depth rating.
- 110° Beam angle.
- Variable light output.
- Function Switch – Push the button and the light will come on in full, 100 degree wide mode. Press and hold the button down and it will gradually dim to 10% of power. Keep pressing and it will go up again. Release the button when the desired power is reached.
- Burn Time: Approx. 70 minutes at full power; approx.140 minutes at 100% spot; approx. 3 hours on red LED or blue-UV LEDs.
- Beam Angle – 110 degree on wide; 15 degree on spot.
- Charging Control: Digital protection against overcharging and over-heating.
- Operating Temperature: -25 degree C to 50 degree C.
- Material – Aircraft grade aluminium, hard anodized and with 4mm Ultra-Clear diamond glass front.
UN Bracket Set YS, black
RRP £179.99
PHONE: +44(0)1404 812277
EMAIL: sales@camerasunderwater.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.camerasunderwater.co.uk
Consists of a tray to fit a housing with a single standard tripod socket (1/4-20); a handle, two clamps, one 145mm arm and a YS adapter.
REGULATORS
APEKS XL4 Regulator
RRP £339
Stage 3 Set – RRP £479
Stage 4 Set – RRP £540
Nitrox (M26) – RRP £363
PHONE: +44(0)1254 692200
EMAIL: info@aqualung.uk
WEBSITE: www.apeksdiving.com/uk
The Apeks XL4 is a compact, lightweight regulator suitable for diving in all environments including cold water locations. Its design and low weight help reduce jaw fatigue on long dives. The XL4 also makes an ideal stage regulator, perfect for the technical exploration diver with a large amount of equipment. The XL4 is a high performance option for those technical divers serious about weight savings.
APEKS MTX-R Regulator
MTX-R Satin Yoke Stage 3 RRP £666
MTX-R Satin DIN Stage 3 RRP £666
MTX-R Regulator Yoke RRP £529
MTX-R Regulator DIN RRP £529
MTX-R Octopus RRP £219
PHONE: +44(0)1254 692200
EMAIL: info@aqualung.uk
WEBSITE: www.apeksdiving.com/uk
The new MTX-R is based on the MTX, a regulator that was developed in accordance with the United States Navy Experimental Dive Unit extreme cold water test. Innovations in design mean that the MTX-R regulator performs in almost freezing water at a depth of over 60 metres, something that very few other regulators on the consumer market can boast.
With an innovative first stage design that helps to prevent ice build up around the diaphragm, the MTX-R is reliable, rugged and expedition ready.
SAFETY
The Buddy Watcher Basic
RRP £175
PHONE: +44(0)1404 812277
EMAIL: sales@camerasunderwater.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.camerasunderwater.co.uk
Ideal for those who want to keep it simple. Keep in touch with your buddy via the vibration alert.
The Basic version is primarily intended for teams of two and allows you to call your partner at the press of a button. The button triggers a vibration alert, which can easily be sensed on wet or dry suits.
Specification
- Calls your diving partner within a distance of 80m
- Calls the Master-Buddy-Watcher from a distance of up to 80m
- Vibrating alarm for diving suits of up to 10mm
- Suitable for dry suits (XXL bracelet required)
- Personalized calling signal (Buddy to Buddy)
- Flexible closure around the arm with our QuickFix bracelet
- Break-resistant high grade plastic
- Waterproof up to a depth of 60 m
GIFT VOUCHERS
SCUBA TRAVEL Gift Vouchers
Denominations of £25 & £50
PHONE: +44(0)800 072 8221
EMAIL: dive@scubatravel.com
WEBSITE: www.scubatravel.com
The elves at Scuba Travel HQ have just the pressie for that special diver in your life. Give the gift of travel with our holiday vouchers. Available in £25 and £50 denominations, these lovely vouchers will look perfect wrapped up under the tree or filling a stocking. Order yours by the 21st of December for Xmas delivery. Simply call 0800 072 8221 and our elves will do the rest.
Oyster Diving have recently been given exclusive access to offer scuba diving courses and fun dives at Mercers Lake, a beautiful lake near M25/Gatwick in the UK.
Oyster have just launched their own dive boat ‘The Blue Pear’ to explore various parts of the lake. Divers can glide around the underwater woodland, see lots of fish and decent visibility. Out of the water divers set up in the purpose built kitting up area, unwind in a warm shower, and off-gas in the café & licensed bar.
To celebrate the start of the summer season, AquaSports and Oyster Diving have teamed up to host a Star Wars-themed open day on the 4th May.
Guests will be able to enjoy discounted tasters of various watersports including Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), Canoeing and Sailing. Oyster Diving will be joined by Apeks and possibly other dive manufacturers to display their latest products. Demo gear will be available for qualified divers and Oyster’s sales support team will be on hand for customers with any questions.
Divers wishing to get in the water will need to book in via Oyster Diving’s website where you can also choose to hire any equipment. Non-divers and well behaved dogs are very welcome!
As well as the watersports there will also be music, food and a licensed bar. The fun starts at 10am and finishes around 4.30pm.
Please come along, wear your finest Stormtrooper or Princess Leia outfit and enjoy the fun!
For more details contact: mark@oysterdiving.com
Dive Rite was founded in 1984 by technical divers and cave explorers with the goal to make the very best scuba diving equipment available. Gear that can be trusted on the most extreme dives and exceed expectations in any environment: reef, wreck, cave, or quarry.
The Nomad Ray is the product of years of design, development, field testing, and feedback from some of the world’s leading sidemount divers and instructors.
The Nomad Ray is available in black, blue, OD green, pink, or red. If you happen to find yourself in a tight spot, the Ray’s abrasion-resistant “skid plate” will have your back: providing wear protection exactly where it’s needed the most. SuperFabric® is a fast drying, highly durable, and slash-resistant material. The Nomad Ray Sidemount System is ready to perform in the toughest diving environments.
The Nomad Ray can be easily adjusted to comfortably fit all body types. The independently adjustable harness design can be quickly set up for any diver. Shoulder and waist webbing can be replaced independently if damaged or trimmed too short. The Nomad Ray uses a fast, tool-free bungee length adjustment system. Simply pull to the desired length, tie a single overhand knot, and tuck the excess into the integrated sleeve. A quick-adjust belly band with a custom moulded bungee hook keeps the wing wrapped snugly around the diver’s body.
A zipper on the inside of the Nomad Ray wing allows for access to three integrated weight pockets capable of holding up to five pounds of each of hard or soft weight.
To find out more go to https://www.diverite.com/products/nomad-sidemount/nomad-ray-sidemount-system/.
Sea & Sea is the home of Dive Rite and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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