JORDAN DATE The nearest coral reef to Britain is at Aqaba in Jordan. Aqaba has easy diving from the shore, with brightly coloured soft corals and plenty of reef fish. If it's wrecks you want, don't forget the wreck of the mv Cedar Pride, and if it's sight-seeing, don't miss the rock city of Petra. Aquatours is offering 10% discounts on departures in September, with accommodation at the Alacazar Hotel. A single room has no supplement if booked as part of a larger group. Diving is with Seastar Watersports.

Aquatours 0870 442 3288.

ELLIPTIC APPROACH You've seen it in the ads - now, at last, see it at your local dive shop! The second stages of regulators get smaller and smaller but the problem for the designer is that performance seems to go hand in hand with the diameter of the front diaphragm. Cressi-Sub says it has circumvented the problem by giving its new lightweight Ellipse a shape to match its name. To make things even lighter, a titanium version is available alongside the standard version. It's paired to the compact six-port diaphragm-style first stage that has been well tried and tested. The Ellipse costs £178 and the titanium version is £239.

Cressi-Sub 01484 310130

TWO TIMES TWO These two new computers bearing the Apeks brand are for use with air or nitrox and give the option to switch to a second mix during a dive to accelerate decompression. The Quantum has an easily read display with independent back-lighting and is operated by three big buttons. The battery is user-changeable. The Pulse is more watch-like and has four buttons to navigate through its menu. Both are made in Japan and use a tried-and-tested algorithm. The Apeks Quantum costs £249 and the Pulse £295.

Apeks Marine Equipment 01254 692200

HIGH IQ This German company has introduced a range of strong dive bags and the iQ-Company Smart Adventure Bag is typical of the range. With four compartments, three outside pockets and a separate compartment for wet gear, it also has an extending handle and in-line wheels. Available in black or navy, it costs around £90.

IQ, www-iq-company.com

SENSITIVE LADIES This new BC is said to be particularly sensitive to the needs of female divers. The Selene buoyancy cell uses a high cut to ensure smooth hip movement. The sternum strap is removable if it proves uncomfortable but the main straps are well padded and are cut for narrow shoulders, so they are claimed not to slip off. The sophisticated integrated-weight pockets are angled so that the pouches can be loaded in after the unit is donned, which takes care of any heavy lifting. The TUSA Selene is available in sizes XS, S and M and costs £298.

CPS Partnership 01424 442663

KURT'S WORKSHOP Doyen of underwater photographers Kurt Amsler will let you into his secrets during his advanced photography workshop, conducted in English, at Les Lecques in the South of France. Topics cover almost every aspect of underwater photography. Open to underwater photographers with at least basic experience, the course is limited to 10 people for a week from 19 September. The fee of around £600 includes half-board accommodation, five dives and all you need in the way of computer hardware or lightboxes and film & processing, whether you use a digital or an analogue camera.

Kurt Amsler, www.photosub.com

BIG SWEDE This Divex 950 regulator comes from Sweden and is designed to be freeze-free. It has a 300 bar fully balanced piston-operated first stage and 8mm diameter hoses said to handle dense air at depth. It can be supplied for nitrox use or oxygen clean in the UK. The second stage is a very meaty affair, as you can see. From £300.

Mine and Science 01539 726952

POWER RANGE Among a full range of wetsuits by Ralph Tech, the Power line is said to be 100% glued and blind-stitched with tape reinforcement at points of stress. The importer tells us that metal-plush linings and an Aqualock neck add to the stretch sections to give total comfort. The Shield Power Shortie shown here is made with a combination of 2mm and 3mm neoprene and costs £70.

Denney Diving, www.divingdirectshop.co.uk

PHOTO OP Underwater photographers looking to get away from it all for the price of a flight may like to follow up on an offer from Raleigh International. The youth development charity plans to launch a fund-raising image library to celebrate its 21st anniversary next year and needs good diving photographers to record expeditions in such places as Fiji, Sabah and Costa Rica. It will provide all board and lodging. Send in references and examples of your work if you're keen.

Raleigh International, imagelibrary@raleigh.org.uk

QUICKER SNORKELLING Now available for those who prefer a full-foot or slipper-style fin, Scubapro Twin Speed fins did well in our side-by-side comparison test of fins. Ideal for snorkelling and casual holiday use, they don't weigh much in your luggage either. £40

Scubapro UK 01256812636

BLOOMING BOAT The my Sea Flower is the latest in a line of liveaboard dive boats offered by Oonasdivers and operating in Southern Egypt. Well-placed to explore the areas around St John's Reef, the famous Elphinstone and offshore sites such as the Brothers and Daedalus Reef, she has the capacity for 20 guests and will sail with a minimum of 14. Prices start from as little as £433 per person based on a full charter, and flights to Hurghada or direct to Marsa Alam can be arranged.

Oonasdivers 01323 648924

STIFFER STUFF Still using the Mares blade-pivoting design but stiffened up to give more effective finning, Mares Volo Power fins are the company's latest effort to be first choice among the world's most discerning divers. They come in three sizes, at £110.

Blandford Sub-Aqua 01923 801572