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New imaging gear at GO Diving 2019
The new GO Diving show, held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry over the weekend had plenty going on for the underwater photographer or videographer with talks and workshops, the UPY Awards and also exhibition stands showing off their latest gear. I did a quick dash round the show to see what was shiny and new…
Ocean Leisure Cameras
There was lost going on and the stand was always crowded at the Ocean Leisure Cameras stand. Paralenz joined them, as did Nauticam. I caught up with Leo and he was keen to show me a new I-DiveSite SS-3 Symbiosis Compact Lighting System. It is a high quality compact combination video light and strobe. The strobe has a guide number of 20 whilst the video light is a 2800 lumen LED making it the ideal accompaniment to a compact camera system.It can easily be switched between constant lighting for video or strobe mode for photography. The constant light has both white and red modes or can be used as a focus light with auto-off function when the strobe fires. We cannot wait to get our hands on it to review it for Scubaverse…
For more information about Ocean Leisure Cameras visit their website by clicking here.
Nauticam
Nauticam joined OLC and Alex was also busy every time I tried to grab a word! Nauticam had the NA-LX100II housing on display, which takes the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 II camera. The LX100II features a big sensor improvement over its predecessor giving its multi-aspect ratio sensor a resolution increase from 12.8 to 17MP. The NA-LX100II is Nauticam’s 18th housing for Panasonic cameras. Nauticam housings for compact fixed-lens cameras are able to to enhance these systems for underwater use through native support for our underwater corrective optics. Access to essential controls is paramount when capturing underwater images. The NA-LX100II places these controls within easy reach of the shooter’s natural hand position when using the housing. The LX-100II’s customizable buttons are fully accessible, allowing for the optimization of the NA-LX100II to the user’s needs.
Nauticam have also moved to more eco-friendly packaging for their accessories, moving away from the plastic wrapping they used to have, with accessories now on cardboard with tissue paper wrapping. It is a great more – well done!
For more information about Nauticam please visit the website by clicking here.
Anchor Dive Lights
The team from Anchor Dive Lights were on the stand next to us and the new 189 light we reported on from Boot seemed very popular indeed. This time their Goodman Glove caught my eye. It allows you to use a torch and still have both hands free! The glove goes over an existing glove or bare hand and it can be used with all their Series 1K handheld and umbilical lights. Maximum size for a light is 3cm in diameter.
For more information about Anchor Dive Lights please visit their website by clicking here.
HumanEyes
HumanEyes teamed up with Monty Halls and they shared a stand at the Go Diving show. HumanEyes make the Vuze VR cameras and underwater housings and had the new Vuze XR Dual VR Camera on show. we are delighted to say that we will be reviewing the Vuze XR camera for Scubaverse very soon!
For more information about the Vuze cameras visit the website by clicking here.
Aquatica Digital
It was great to see Aquatica at the show. Aquatica is a Canadian manufacturer of fine quality aluminum housings for underwater photography. Along with its two sister companies, Amphibico, the well established leader in the world of underwater video, and Technical Lighting Control, manufacturer of the original strobe arm that started it all, is dedicated to fulfilling your requirements in underwater imaging. They had the new 5HN Monitor on show which offers film makers a full HD 1920×1080 resolution screen to review their film whilst underwater.
For more information about Aquatica visit their website by clicking here.
Liquid Sports
Liquid Sports had a huge range of diving gear as well as the bigblue lighting range. They had a display of video lights that would tempt anyone wanting to add some light to their underwater imaging setup. I took a look at the impressive VL-33000P II video light which packs a serious 33,000 lumen punch for its size. It has a 160 degree wide beam, red light function, the power can be stepped down 4 times, giving it a 90 minute – 15 hour running time. It is super bright!
For more information about Liquid Sports visit their website by clicking here.
For more information about the GO Diving Show visit their website by clicking here.
For a week at the end of February I was invited to sample the diving with Orca Dive Club based at the Breakers Diving and Surfing Lodge by courtesy of SOMABAY.
Somabay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds. Somabay caters for scuba diving as well as many other sports, including windsurfing, golf, sailing, go-carting, horse riding and many other activities.
All the activities are of a world-class standard and any or all of these can be booked directly from The Breakers.
I took Easyjet from Bristol (UK) to Hurghada. Easyjet are not by any means my favourite airline but the flight was cheap and direct (except for the surprise extra £48 I was charged at the gate for my carry-on bag).
I was met at Hurghada airport by a driver and car and taken to the Breakers 28 miles (45Kilomaters) south along the coast. Once at the hotel I was too late for an evening meal and so a basic meal was delivered to my room. That and a beer from the fridge and I was fast asleep.
Early the next morning after breakfast I arrived for my rep meeting at the Orca Dive Center for 8.00am. I was immediately made to feel welcome, and after brief introductions I got some dive gear from the store, had a chat with my dive guide Mohamed and got ready to try the house reef situated at the end of a very long wooded pier where all diving gear and divers are taken out by buggies.
Once at the end of the pier, a helping hand from staff makes sure your gear is set and then it’s a short walk to the very end where you can either climb down a ladder of simply jump in the water next to the reef. The house reef extends both north and south giving a very easy and safe dive with plenty to see. At this time of the year the water temperature was a constant 22 degrees Centigrade and there was little or no current, so there were no issues in swimming back to the pier.
Quite a few divers were in dry or semi-dry suits, but being from the UK and used to the cold I found a 3mm wetsuit with a 3mm neoprene vest quite comfortable. Even after 50 years of diving I still find that first dive of a trip slightly nerving until I am actually underwater and then all becomes relaxed and I ease into auto diving mode. There was plenty to see with many of the Red Sea favourites along the way.
After the dive and a buggy ride back to the hotel for a very good buffet lunch I was back in the water, once again on the house reef for an afternoon dive.
Check in for part 2 tomorrow when Jeff gets on a day boat and dives a few of the off-shore reefs.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
In an interview recorded exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman interviews Jeremy Higson from Sea to Sky about the itineraries the tour operator offers in Oman.
For more information about diving in Oman, contact Sea to Sky now:
Email: hello@mysetaosky.co.uk
WhatsApp: + 39 379 236 7138
Website: www.myseatosky.co.uk
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