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When we said that some tekkie wings are so big that in an emergency you could fully inflate them and sail home on them, we weren't joking. But don't despair if your wing is less well-endowed. How about a single-man life-raft stashed away in a bag and clipped to your kit? Halcyon can help. Its Diver's Life Raft is based on a US Navy pilot's aid. You inflate it with your BC or drysuit direct-feed hose or orally. It increases your visibility from the air and enables you to lie on the water for long periods with less discomfort than if you simply stayed in your inflated BC. Maximum payload (in kg) is similar to its price of £190, complete with optional zipped pouch.
Silent Planet 01305 826636
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The latest offering from Suunto is this three-in-one wrist-mounted computer. It's a computer for deco, an electronic compass and a pressure gauge with remaining gas time prediction. It's also a three-mix-switching nitrox computer with the option to include deep stops. As a compass, it gives cardinal points, exact bearings and will remember headings for downloading and analysis later. Gas-integration is by way of an optional wireless transmitter fitted to your regulator first stage. All that, and you can download to your home PC by way of cross-platform software supplied with many Suunto instruments intended for other sports. Made from titanium, it is lighter than it looks. Expect to pay around £750 (optional transmitter extra).
Suunto UK 01420 587272
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Said to be lighter, more convenient and more sophisticated, the Evolution follows in the footsteps of the ground-breaking Inspiration closed-circuit rebreather. With a single multi-function wrist-mounted display featuring maintenance-free switches, a fibre-optic head-up display, battery-status indicator, CO2 scrubber-life gauge and deco software upgrades for the electronics among its innovations, the Evolution is aimed primarily at those who travel. It weighs in at 23kg with two 2 litre cylinders and 2kg of Sofnolime. The Evolution costs from £4695 and is now in production.
Ambient Pressure,
www.apdiving.com/evo.htm.
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Humberside-based Pain or Glory offers a range of British-designed T-shirts inspired by scuba diving. Log on to its website to choose from a range of inexpensive garments. Prices include p&p at first-class rates.
Pain or Glory, www.painorglory.com
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For years photographers dreamed of an underwater camera that could capture both high-quality digital still images and digital video. The Sony DCRPC350 does that, and the Mako PC350 housing has been designed for it. Sony's latest mini DV can record a 3.0 megapixel still image on its tape. Accessories for the Mako housing include a super-wide-angle lens and 2.5in colour monitor back.
Light & Motion, www.uwimaging.com
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Tired of finning? Want to take it easy? This Sea-Doo SeaScooter GTI is rated to 30m deep and is claimed to be able to tow a diver at up to 2.5mph for around two hours. It's lightweight at 8.4kg, and said to be highly manoeuvrable, with an automatic cut-off feature. Its forward chamber is available for ballast so that you can adjust its buoyancy to suit the water conditions, and its circuitry is said to be waterproof against damage by accidental flooding. Aimed at recreational divers and snorkellers, it's apparently the brainchild of British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair. Made in China, it costs around £380.
Daka Development, 020 8752 8407
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Does your granny complain about the nasty rings your coffee mug leaves on her highly polished Steinway? Buy her a set of coasters adorned with vintage images taken from a previously published set of deep-sea diving cards (still available). In fact buy yourself a new mug, similarly adorned, to go with them! The coasters cost £12 for six and the mugs cost £10.
LF Design 020 8531 622
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Diver's lamps seem to evolve faster than we can write about them. This, the latest in the range from Italian manufacturer Fa & Mi, is called the PowerLed-4. It has a 3W consumption from its three high-intensity white Luxeon LEDs but that is claimed to be equivalent to 40W. As such it has a brightly focused 12¡ beam that burns at around 5500¡K, like sunlight, and gives eight hours of burntime from four AA alkaline batteries. It has an anodised aluminium body, a magnetic switch and is only 14cm long by 6cm diameter. It costs £195.
Submerge 01484 310130
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The Coltrisub Zero Tech featured in our September review of wing-style BCs, The Wing Thing, but is also available with releasable integrated-weight pockets, making it even better value at only £190. It has a progressive inflation system that combines a conventional-style jacket for the surface with a small wing for use as buoyancy control. During our test it provided very adequate surface support. We are told that it has suddenly proved so popular with the diving public that stocks are limited. No doubt the price has something to do with that.
Submarine Manufacturing & Products 01772 687775
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Got a non-swimming partner or spouse? Get them into the water with a mask and snorkel! Worried about them drowning? Equip them with an inflatable snorkelling vest like this one. The Scubapro Swimming Vest promises to assist those who want to stay at the surface. It costs £35.
Scubapro UK 01256812636
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