Polar Bear 8mm Rubatex Hood Review January 12, 2007
Posted by Andy Carroll in : Equipment, scuba gear , 2comments
Well, I bought one of these hoods before Christmas and now it has a few dives in it I though I should tell people just how good it is.
When I first purchased it I had heard mixed reports, well, bad reports really. Howard Radcliffe had one and seemed to be happy with it whilst Bob Cooper had returned his as he didn’t like the fit. The guys at Polar Bear said they would happily let me return it if it didn’t fit, so I ordered a Medium and handed over my £40. For that you get an 8mm hood in black with red lining. It is made from what is called Nitrogen Blown neoprene, which basically means it does not compress as much as other neoprene at depth, giving it better thermal properties. It is contoured to fit the head and neck area very closely.
I am a great believer that if you focus on keeping your head and ‘core’ warm then you can worry less about your hands. I prefer to wear 3mm gloves and so far I have been wearing 3mm gloves without feeling the cold at all, which is just the way I want it.
When I first tried the hood dry, out of the packaging it was really hard to get on as the hood is contoured to the shape of your head, and as the material is so thick it makes it hard. It was initially extremely tight, to the point of giving me earache and headache, but I thought that I would give it a chance, get my hair cut , and see if it would loosen up after diving. Wearing it in the office is perhaps not the best way to impress your colleagues and evaluate a diving hood. I also liked the fact that it was a simple black hood, with no advertising or logos on it. I prefer to be paid if I am going to advertise at a dive site
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UWATEC unveils new Aladin dive computer September 13, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : Equipment, scuba gear , 4comments
Scubapro have announced their latest scuba diving computer, the Aladin TEC 2G. This seems to be causing quite a splash within the diving community, and funnily enough, I have just ordered the existing TEC model for myself to replace my broken Suunto Vytec. This from the press release;
The latest addition to the Aladin Dive Computer line. The TEC 2G is an easy-to-use two-gas computer offering decompression calculations that adjust to your actions. Engineered for advanced and demanding divers, the TEC 2G offers a sophisticated predictive multi-gas algorithm, fully adjustable settings and the compact size and accessibility of the Aladin line.
Halcyon Voluntary Recall of Select Explorer 40 BC’s September 6, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : Equipment, News , add a commentHalcyon have announced a voluntary recall of a number of Halcyon Explorer Wings. They say that the over pressure valve may delaminate, causing the Wing to leak. Here is the announcment;
Halcyon Manufacturing has identified a very small number of Halcyon Explorer-40 BC’s sold after July 2005 that could develop problems over time. In these few units it is possible that the over pressure valve (OPV) could delaminate, causing the BC to leak. It is unlikely that most of these units will experience any problems; yet, given its rigorous desire to produce only the finest quality equipment, Halcyon would like to ensure this problem does not affect the safety or convenience of our customers. This problem was identified during regular quality control evaluations in which a lamination machine (RF welder) showed slight inconsistency during production. The machine has been replaced and the few BC’s affected have been identified by quality control. Halcyon is seeking to minimize any inconvenience to our customers. To this end, all Halcyon distributors have been notified and are prepared to assist any affected customers. If you have an affected BC (see serial numbers below) please return the unit to any Halcyon dealer; you may also contact your local distributor for replacement.
More details at the Halcyon website
Cochran Computers “Authorized for Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Operations” July 13, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : Equipment, News , add a comment
I saw this announcement today that the US Navy have authorised two computers from the Cochran range suitable for use in their diving operations. Although they look a little bland and somewhat ugly for consumer use, they have been field tested by the US Navy so I guess they can stand up to quite a bit of abuse. This from the press release;
Cochran Undersea Technology revealed today that dive computers designed and manufactured by Cochran have been added to the US Navy’s ANU (Authorized for Navy Use) equipment list. The Cochran Navy Dive Computers, NSW II and NSW III, received the “Authorized for Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Operations” ratings after extensive laboratory and years of field testing by the US Navy.
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New Mask from Seac Sub revealed July 12, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : Equipment , add a comment
Seac Sub have released the Italica mask, priced at £45 ($70). Its a standard type twin lens mask which has a distinctive frame shape, somewhat similar to free diving type masks, but that may just be the Italian design influence. Some promotional stuff;
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New Aeris Mako Fin now available July 12, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : Equipment , add a comment
Aeris dealers have apparently been anxiously waiting for this fin to be officially released. Aeris sent all of their dealers a pre-production sample and they were enthusiastically received. The fin looks very similar to the popular Mares Avanti fin, especially with the large blade. These are some of the main features, from the press release;
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