Gear Bag: July 2006

Oceanic Excursion BC

Warm water or cold? Tech excursion or shallow reef dive? It¿s all good with the new Oceanic Excursion BC. For warm water, there is a padded backpack with lumbar support, and a rolled neoprene collar. For cold water, there are reinforced, contoured shoulders and long adjustment ranges to fit over bulkier thermal protection. Tech divers get a BC with lots of lift and pre-bent D-rings placed to accommodate a deco bottle, while rec divers get a streamlined system that¿s easy to pack and weighs in at just under eight pounds. At the heart of this do-it-all BC is the patented BioFlex back buoyancy air cell, which provides exceptional buoyant lift (45 pounds in the large size) while cutting a streamlined profile. Another nice touch is the efficient QLR integrated-weight system that holds 20 pounds of ditchable weight. In the water, the Excursion was comfortable and stable in all positions. We look forward to giving it a complete evaluation in our next ScubaLab review of new BCs, scheduled for the August 2006 issue. Price: $559.95. Contact: www.OceanicWorldwide.com.

Nocturnal Lights SLX

Choosing a dive light has always been a trade-off between brightness and bulk, and the new SLX LED from Nocturnal Lights aims to be the perfect compromise. The SLX is housed in a compact (2.75-inch diameter x 5.50 inches long) aluminum body, and it weighs only 1.4 pounds (.5 pounds in water). Depth-rated to 328 feet, it uses a double O-ring seal and comes with a locking switch to prevent accidental activation in your gear bag. The SLX uses three LED bulbs to produce a blue/white spot that¿s even and bright. Powered by six AA batteries, the light will run for four hours before slowly diminishing for several more hours. We made four night dives on one set of batteries and never noticed a difference in quality or brilliance. Price: $320. Contact: www.nocturnallights.com.

Mares Isotherm 6.5mm Semi-Dry Suit

Worried about cold water? You won¿t be in the new Isotherm 6.5 Semi-Dry wetsuit from Mares. Although it¿s called a semi-dry suit, we found it totally dry even after 45 minutes in the water, thanks to a number of water-blocking features. For starters, there is the TiZip self-sealing dry zipper, which runs horizontally across the back. Then there are the double-cuffed ankles and wrists that work with gloves and boots to keep water out. The internal cuffs, as well as the collar, feature a smooth-skin lining that can be rolled to form an effective dry suit seal. Internally, the suit¿s plush lining makes it easy to slide into, and there¿s also a 2mm vest built in as an extra layer of insulation. Other nice touches include smooth-skin panels on the chest and back to prevent evaporative cooling, and a no-slip coating on the left forearm to keep wrist gauges in place. The Isotherm is available in five men¿s and five women¿s sizes. Price: $475. Contact: www.mares.com.

Aqua lung Companion Bag

You¿re allowed one carry-on bag and one ¿personal item¿ when you fly commercial airliners, so make the most of it with the Aqua Lung Companion regulator bag. The padded main compartment is large enough to pack two setups (first- and second-stage regulator, octopus and gauges) with ease. Velcro straps keep hoses loosely coiled, while internal compartments on the lid keep your travel documents and miscellaneous items organized. This rugged reg wrangler is made of 1680-denier ballistic nylon and slides easily into either the overhead compartment or the space beneath the seat in front of you. Bonus: It comes with both an adjustable padded shoulder strap and padded backpack straps. Price: $58. Contact: www.aqualung.com.

Sherwood Scuba Titan & Oracle Masks

See into the future (or at least what¿s up ahead) with the Oracle (Left) and remember the Titan (Right) when looking for a comfortable mask. The new Oracle and Titan masks from Sherwood Scuba offer soft silicone skirts with wide double-sealing surfaces, easy-adjust swivel buckles, and V-shaped lenses that allow for better downward viewing. The Titan is slightly larger to fit wider faces, while the Oracle is more compact and the buckles attach directly to the skirt, letting it fold flat for travel. Both are also available in black silicone. Price: $60 for the Oracle; $65 for the Titan. Contact: www.sherwoodscuba.com.