News
Fantasea introduces new UW lighting range
Fantasea has introduced a selection of new products designed to enhance lighting of underwater images and videos, including LED Strobe Triggers, Fiber Optic Cables and a powerful video light.
Radiant 3000F Video Light
Cat. No. 6052
The Radiant 3000F Video Light is a durable and powerful video light, designed to significantly enhance color and light in underwater videos and still images. It offers a variety of advanced features for creative photographers.
Featuring an ergonomic design and a built-in YS connector, the Radiant 3000F Video Light can be comfortably integrated into any underwater photo system, such as with action cams, amphibious cameras, compact digital housings and more.
The Radiant 3000F offers a variety of operation modes, which make the light suitable to light a wide range of classic and creative compositions. Operation modes include flood light (100 degrees), spot light (15 degrees), red light, Ultra Violet (UV) & Blue light and two flashing modes (constant and SOS) that can serve for signaling / SOS purposes.
The Radiant 3000F makes use of 3 powerful LEDs for red light, 4 LEDs for UV & blue light, one X-PL LED for spot light and a new Cob (chip-on-board) LED array for flood light, which provides an impressively bright, wide and even beam. Color temperature of the beam is warm and assists with producing vivid and colorful videos and still images without having to use any color correction filters.
A battery power indicator light enables easy monitoring of the battery power. In the flashing modes the light can provide up to 8 hours of burn time (assuming the batteries are fully charged).
A user-friendly interface, based on two easily accessible buttons, allows for easy operation of the light. The Mode button allows switching between the various modes of light. The Intensity button allows adjusting power output in most light modes according to various compositions and diving conditions, as well as for extending the burn time of the light (the batteries will provide power for a considerably longer time when the light is set at lower intensity settings). Finally, a “memory” function will return the light to the same setting as previously used before the light was last turned off.
Depth rated to 100 meters/330 feet, the Radiant 3000F Video Light fulfills the needs of both recreational and technical divers.
Specifications
- Depth ratio: 100 meters / 330 feet
- Maximum output: Flood- 3000 lumens, Spot- 1000 lumens
- Beam angle: 100 degrees (Flood, Red, UV & Blue and Flashing) / 15 degrees (Spot)
- Material: Aluminum head, Polycarbonate body
- Mount: YS Connector (interchangeable)
- Battery: 2 x 18650 Li-ion batteries
- Burn time: Flood – 50* minutes at 100% power, Spot: 100* minutes at 100% power
* in optimal conditions - LED Lifespan: 35,000 hours
- Color temperature: 5,000K
- CRI: 90
- Operation modes:
Flood – 100% / 50% / 25% power
Spot – 100% / 50% / 25% power
Red – 100% / 40%
UV & Blue
Flashing
SOS - Battery power indicator:
Green (100%-60% power)
Yellow (59%-30% power)
Red (29%-15% power)
Flashing Red (14%-1% power) - Dimensions: 56 x 122.5 mm / 2.2 x 4.82 inch (diameter x length)
- Weight: 253g (without batteries)
- Included in package: Instruction manual, protective bag, secure string, 4 x 18650 batteries, battery charger, 2 x replacement O-rings, Connector Ball to YS Mount, silicone grease and microfiber cloth
FA-1 LED Strobe Trigger
Cat. No. 6551
The FA-1 LED Strobe Trigger triggers underwater strobes and flashes to fire in sync with the camera using fiber optic cables.
Using the LED Strobe Trigger eliminates the need for the camera built-in flash to fire, thereby extending camera battery life and allowing for longer shooting sessions. Eliminating the camera built-in flash also keeps the camera from heating up, resulting with less condensation in humid conditions. The LED Strobe Trigger’s super quick recycle time allows for rapid shooting and triggering of the strobes without having to wait for the camera built-in flash to charge.
The FA-1 LED Strobe Trigger can be connected to any camera featuring a hot-shoe connection. It can be installed inside any camera housing offering sufficient space, anywhere inside the housing, for the main unit to be placed.
The FA-1 LED Strobe Trigger is capable of triggering most underwater strobes available in the market. Note that when using the LED Strobe Trigger, strobe output is controlled manually only.
Specifications
- LED type: Ultra bright white LED
- LED ports: 2
- Voltage: 3.7 V
- Power consumption: 5 milliwatt
- Battery: 110mAh Lithium Polymer battery
- Charging time: 1.5 hours
- Flash capacity: 10,000 (when fully charged)
- Battery life: Up to 72 hours (when fully charged)
- Auto power-off time: 3 hours
- Dimensions: 40.5 x 45 x 13 mm / 1.6 x 1.77 x 0.51 inch
- Weight: 16.8 g / 0.51 oz
- Included in package: LED Strobe Trigger main unit, LED cable, Hot-shoe cable, Spongy LED trigger ports, Velcro sticker, Rubber band and USB cable
Product Demo Video
FA-2 LED Strobe Trigger
Cat. No. 6552
The FA-2 LED Strobe Trigger triggers underwater strobes and flashes to fire in sync with the camera using fiber optic cables.
Using the LED Strobe Trigger eliminates the need for the camera built-in flash to fire, thereby extending camera battery life and allowing for longer shooting sessions. Eliminating the camera built-in flash also keeps the camera from heating up, resulting with less condensation in humid conditions. The LED Strobe Trigger’s super quick recycle time allows for rapid shooting and triggering of the strobes without having to wait for the camera built-in flash to charge.
The FA-2 LED Strobe Trigger can be connected to any camera featuring a hot-shoe connection. It was designed to be installed inside Fantasea housings, but can also be installed inside other housings featuring sufficient space above the camera hot-shoe.
The FA-2 LED Strobe Trigger is capable of triggering most underwater strobes available in the market. Note that when using the LED Strobe Trigger, strobe output is controlled manually only.
Specifications
- LED type: Ultra bright white LED
- LED ports: 2
- Voltage: 3.7 V
- Power consumption: 5 milliwatt
- Battery: 110mAh Lithium Polymer battery
- Charging time: 1.5 hours
- Flash capacity: 10,000 (when fully charged)
- Battery life: Up to 72 hours (when fully charged)
- Auto power-off time: 3 hours
- Dimensions: 40.5 x 45 x 20.5 mm / 1.6 x 1.77 x 0.8 inch
- Weight: 16.8 g / 0.59 oz
- Included in package: LED Strobe Trigger main unit, LED cable, Spongy LED trigger ports, rubber band and USB cable
See Product Demo Video Above
Fiber Optic Cable A1
Cat. No. 6301
The Fiber Optic Cable A1 connects between the camera housing and a single slave strobe, thus allowing triggering the strobe in sync with the camera. The Fiber Optic Cable A1 is 45.3 cm / 17.8 inch long.
Using the plugs included, one end of the cable attaches to the fiber optic cable port on the camera housing, right against the camera built-in flash or LED Strobe Trigger (if using one), and the other end attaches to the strobe slave sensor. The light emitted by the camera built-in flash or LED Strobe Trigger is transmitted through the fiber optic cable to the strobe slave sensor, thus triggering it to fire in sync with the camera.
The Fiber Optic Cable A1 features a plug on its end which is compatible with Fantasea housings and other housings featuring a similar design of fiber optic cable ports. This plug is also compatible with many popular strobes. In a case of connecting the fiber optic cable to a housing or strobe featuring a different fiber optic cable port design, a compatible adaptor (separately acquired) can be mounted on or instead of the existing plug.
Fiber Optic Cable B2
Cat. No. 6302
The Fiber Optic Cable B2 is a dual fiber optic cable which connects between the camera housing and two slave strobes, thus allowing triggering the strobes in sync with the camera. The Fiber Optic Cable B2 features cables which are 45.3 cm / 17.8 inch long.
Using the plugs included, one end of the dual cable attaches to the fiber optic cable port on the camera housing, right against the camera built-in flash or LED Strobe Trigger (if using one), and the other two ends attach to the strobes slave sensors. The light emitted by the camera built-in flash or LED Strobe Trigger is transmitted through the fiber optic cables to the strobes slave sensors, thus triggering them to fire in sync with the camera.
The Fiber Optic Cable B2 features a plug on each of its ends which is compatible with Fantasea housings and other housings featuring a similar design of fiber optic cable ports. This plug is also compatible with many popular strobes. In a case of connecting the fiber optic cable to a housing or strobe featuring a different fiber optic cable port design, a compatible adaptor (separately acquired) can be mounted on or instead of the existing plug.
Further information can be found shortly on www.fantasea.com.
Distributed in the UK by Blue Orb Distribution.
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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