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The underwater photo pros at Backscatter.com present their monthly imaging column and videos.
Modern digital cameras capture both stills and video with equal capability — here’s how to get the best quality for each medium with the same system
Cressi’s Leonardo dive computer earned both a Testers Choice and a Best Buy in ScubaLab’s 2011 Dive Computer Review. Its long list of features includes Cressi’s special RGBM algorithm with three diver-programmable safety levels, an optional Deep Stop function, and a 70-hour or 60-dive logbook.
Cressi’s XS Compact/MC9 is designed for all divers, but is especially well-suited to the traveling diver. The hyper-balanced diaphragm MC9 first stage has a small, chromium-plated brass body that’s protected by a special elastomer skin.
On Scubapro’s Spectra Trufit, narrow ribs molded into the ultra-soft silicone create a pliable skirt that molds to facial contours, creating an excellent seal on a variety of face shapes.
Nauticam’s NA-D800 housing for Nikon’s D800 camera is made of hard-anodized aluminum alloy with stainless hardware, scratch-resistant acrylic windows and over-molded non-slip handles.
BARE’s ELASTEK 3 mil wetsuit boasts the newest advancements in wetsuit design and incorporates BARE’s latest innovations in dry technology, including SEAMTEK
Top Five Things I Learned at the Backscatter Digital Shootout
Sure, there might be other dive gear deemed more important to basic survival (a reg) or your general well-being (a dive computer) than a BC. But when it comes to being able to comfortably acclimate to being underwater — to the point where you feel like a resident rather than a clumsy topside tourist — the BC is the most important component of your kit.
Follow these 8 tips to keep your BC in good working order and ready for your next dive.
Moray’s Diver’s Communication Torch (DCT) allows you to be seen and heard underwater. This combination dive light and noisemaker is guaranteed to get your buddy’s attention.
The Tilos Eclipse roller dive bag is built for scuba diving travel. It’s sized to meet airline requirements for checked luggage, and weighs only eight pounds empty.
Introducing the new GEO from SCUBAPRO - the ultimate travel BC.
A look at the dive market's newest gear options for the gadget geek in all of us.
A look at the dive market's newest gear options for the gadget geek in all of us.
A look at the dive market's newest gear options for the gadget geek in all of us.
A look at the dive market's newest gear options for the gadget geek in all of us.
A look at the dive market's newest gear options for the gadget geek in all of us.
In 2009, divers were given a tsunami of new gear, and ScubaLab completed...
ScubaLab tests nine of the latest dive computer models and upgrades.
When you're rigged and ready for a tropical dive adventure, you need a BC to match.
Ready to combine your buoyancy with your ballast? Ready to get that air cell off your chest? Look no further.
Here's our annual product excellence awards for BCs, brought to you by Rodale's ScubaLab, the only independent testing facility of scuba life-support equipment.
Scuba Lab pushes inflator buttons, pulls dump valves and ditches the integrated weights of 11 new models to find the best ways to combine your weight belt with your BC.
Scuba Lab and two teams of female test divers put 17 models to the test and found six clear standouts.
ScubaLab tests nine of the latest dive computer models and upgrades.
Here's our reviews of 10 new dive computers that offer smart choices for safe diving.
The latest Scuba Lab Review of new dive computers (those that have been released in the past 12 months or that have never before been reviewed by Scuba Lab).
The results are in on 11 new recreational dive computers tested and reviewed by Scuba Lab.
Scuba Lab reviews the 18 top non-gas-integrated units available today.
January 2003 By John Brumm Computers Reviewed in This Article AERIS Atmos 1 AERIS Atmos 2 AERIS Atmos ai CRESSI-SUB Archimede DACOR Darwin ...
We rounded up 30 models to help you find the best possible view on the underwater world.
The Scuba Lab test team gets the big picture of underwater vision. See what you've been missing all these dives.
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A load of new gear debuted in 2012, and the ScubaLab team dive-tested just about all of it. After digging deep into both objective and ergonomic test results, on the following pages we celebrate the year’s top-performing fins, BCs, regulators and dive computers, along with some first-rate travel bags, warm-water wetsuits and a couple of our top picks for safety gear.
CETATEK’s new aquabionic warp1 fins instantly adapt and continuously change to any kick style and load level based on the demands of the diver. The warp1 blade features unique construction: At rest, it is relatively flat, but when the diver kicks, the sophisticated design creates a deep scoop that channels water to create thrust.
CETATEK introduces the new patent pending aquabionic warp1 fin providing water adapting responsive propulsion technology.
15 kickers vie for the top spot in this year's ScubaLab fin tests. ScubaLab’s test team headed to Alexander Springs, Florida, a freshwater site that offers an easy entry, enough space and depth to do some serious kicking, and rock structures and crevices for performing tight turning maneuvers.
This kicker turned in some of the best overall in-water performance scores, earning the highest scores for acceleration. Test divers liked the fin’s exceptional maneuverability, and noted its ability to negotiate turns with minimal foot action.
In water, the fin delivered solid kicking performance. It did take a couple of strong kicks to get it going from a dead stop, but when test divers "turned it on," the fin generated some pretty good power.
The only split fin in this year's open-heel group, the Z3 is easily recognizable by its radical 27-degree blade angle. In the water, the fin racked up some of the best scores of this group in acceleration, stability and efficiency.
The Tusa FF-19 X-Pert Evolution was a test-diver favorite, with many of the testers commenting on how comfortable it felt, whether kicking easy or hard. Testers didn’t report any leg or ankle strain, and noted that the fin was fast, powerful and agile, plus very responsive using all kicking styles.
Kicking versatility through interchangeable blades is the name of the game with Cressi’s new Gara Modular free-diving fin. The standard blade is lightweight and provides a nice mix of power and flexibility.
Cressi’s Reaction adjustable fin has a long and relatively flexible blade that’s made from a new-generation technical polypropylene. This lightweight composite makes for a responsive fin throughout each phase of the kicking cycle.
The Supernova Dry snorkel from Cressi uses a 100 percent silicone mouthpiece and a corrugated breathing tube, and comes with a large, easy-to-clear purge valve on the bottom, and a completely dry top on the other end. It’s the perfect design in a snorkel, allowing for effortless breathing performance when cruising along on the surface, plus it eliminates virtually all water from entering the tube when submerged.
Seasoft’s frameless Visionmaster Super Mask features lenses made of H-G-G glass with Crystal ARC anti-reflective coatings that virtually eliminate glare. HGG glass and Crystal ARC coatings are found on the optics of leading riflescopes and camera lenses and allow up to 20% more light to reach your eyes.
Here’s something you don’t usually see on a snorkel: ball-joint connections. On IST Sports’ 3-D Flex Dry Snorkel you have two of them: one at the base of the mouthpiece, and one where the purge body connects to the breathing tube.
The New Mantis 5 has the same frame as our standard Mantis mask with a new low volume skirt offering 20 degrees more visibility. Fits medium to wide face shapes. Optical lenses available upon request.
IST is a family owned and operated manufacturer with three separate equipment lines available to the diving community. We have been manufacturing quality watersports equipment for others as well as ourselves for over 35 years, so while you may not have seen our logo frequently, chances are you have enjoyed our gear somewhere before.
Here are five tips and five bags to help ease the pain of overweight fees.
Gear up for better pictures with our photo pro's list of must-have tools.
With choices as varied as the stunning images they produce, 15 underwater photographers detail the gear they use today.
With choices as varied as the stunning images they produce, 19 underwater photographers detail the gear they use today.
Jim gives us his take on Sea & Sea's Canon DX-30/60 housing after a week of shooting over 1,000 digital frames in Bonaire.
A housed SLR camera system is a significant commitment. Be sure you're ready.
Want to take underwater photos like the professionals? Start by comparing your gear to theirs.
Nikon's Coolpix 5000 combines quality and affordability. That is, unless it gets wet. Here's how to find a good dry housing. (Note: This story has been updated since it appeared in the October 2002 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine.)
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Cressi’s Spring 3.5 one-piece wetsuit is designed to be worn in waters ranging from the tropical to the marginally warm.
From buying new dive equipment to taking care of what you already own, these simple tips will help you get the most out of your money.
Scuba diving is an equipment intensive sport, and your gear can be a fickle ally. Assembling a collection of dive gear-specific tools and spare parts to deal with basic maintenance and minor emergencies will help keep you ready to hit the water at a moment’s notice
A load of new gear debuted in 2012, and the ScubaLab team dive-tested just about all of it. After digging deep into both objective and ergonomic test results, on the following pages we celebrate the year’s top-performing fins, BCs, regulators and dive computers, along with some first-rate travel bags, warm-water wetsuits and a couple of our top picks for safety gear.
BARE’s ELASTEK 3 mil wetsuit boasts the newest advancements in wetsuit design and incorporates BARE’s latest innovations in dry technology, including SEAMTEK
Subgear’s new Apnea 1 five-mil is a unique wetsuit designed specifically for free diving. It comes with a nylon-lined interior so it’s comfortable against the skin plus easy to climb in and out of. However, its exterior surface is slick to repel water.
Cressi’s Lido two-mil shorty provides enough high-stretch neoprene to help keep you warm and protect against stinging critters, but not so much neoprene that you feel overdressed in the bathtub-warm waters of the tropics.
Designed for cold-water divers, Thermalution’s Power-Heated Undersuit can be worn beneath any wetsuit. A thin, flexible heating element built into the nylon/lycra Undersuit lays against your back and radiates heat while you’re cruising the cold depths.
Features: 3.5 mm Ultraspan highflex neoprene; glued and blind-stitched seams; smoothskin seals at wrists and ankles; smoothskin spinal flap; adjustable collar with smoothskin sealing surface; embossed rubber kneepads.
Features - 3 mm neoprene with high-stretch nylon- and polyester-based exterior and interior laminate; glued and blindstitched seams with full interior taping; glideskin neoprene seals on wrist and ankles; olled-edge smoothskin neck; full-length back zipper; pull-over secondary glideskin neck seal; high-fl ex embossed rubber patterning on knees, shoulders and waist; 1.5 mm Hydrolock neck dam.
SPECS• Price: $1,650• Style: Front Entry, Diagonal-Zip• Suited For: General-Purpose Diving• Available Sizes: 6
Offering a featherweight, snug-fitting, watertight ride, the Fusion One earned the second-highest number of votes for top suit and this year’s Best Buy nod.
Test divers really liked the features and the overall feel of the Trilam Pro. It racked up the most points for overall favorite in our shootout — earning it the Testers’ Choice for 2013.
Bare’s Trilam Tech Dry is both durable and comfortable. Featuring fell-stitched glue and heat-tapped seams and a front-entry T-Zip MasterSeal waterproof zipper, this rugged suit is available with either neoprene or latex wrist seals, a neoprene or latex neck seal, and a choice of vulcanized neoprene attached boots or neoprene soft socks.
What's new in the world of dive gear for August 2012.
What's new in the world of dive gear for June 2012? Let's get that First Look.
Waterproof’s D7 Pro ISS is a new-generation trilaminate drysuit featuring a front-entry design for super easy self-donning, and an innovative sealing system that combines Integrated Silicone Seals at the neck and wrists.
This suit is among the best of the new crop of compressed neoprene drysuits. Bare’s new self-donning X-C-S-2 Tech Dry is made of two-mil hyper-compressed neoprene sandwiched between a tough nylon laminate on the outside and a high-stretch “frictionless” laminate on the inside.
Scuba Diving Editor David Espinosa and Sport Diver Editor Eric Michael take Camaro drysuits
G-DIVE is our brand for high-end latex seals and other diving related products. With our G-DIVE products you get the best quality on the market.
ScubaLab's Tester's Choice and Best Buy picks for 2011 drysuits
Utilizing Aqua Flex four-way stretch neoprene throughout, the Aqua Lung SolAfx packs 8 mm in the torso for heavy thermal protection to the core area, and 7 mm in the arms and legs for enhanced flexibility on the surface and at depth.
Ideally designed for dive shops and charter operations, the Start Pro BC from Cressi nevertheless boasts a number of features found on higher-end BCs designed for personal ownership.
The Dolphin Tech T110 Canister light generates a super-bright light beam well suited for advanced diving or cave exploration. In ScubaLab testing, its three LEDs produced an intense 12-inch diameter hotspot, matching the brightest ScubaLab has ever tested.
Swedish Manufacturer Waterproof is known for making wetsuits and drysuits for bone-chilling Scandinavian waters. The 3.5-millimeter W3 harnesses those same qualities, but this time, in a tropical wetsuit.
The special-edition chrome frame and black skirt give the Visio Pro mask from TUSA retro feel and look, but its high-tech features make it very much a 21st-century dive product.
SCUBAPRO’s balanced diaphram first-stage MK 11 is engineered to prevent the flow of cold or polluted water into the regulator, yet provide easy airflow regardless of tank pressure.
