Hi SD fans, and welcome back. It’s been a while since we did a What’s New round-up due to,
well, nothing really being released on to the market.
However, this last month or so there has been a flurry of releases, so in this video, I am
going to present an overview of all those we have featured in the magazines over the past few weeks.
We have not dived with any of these, this is purely to whet your appetite – I will
be conducting in-water tests with the dive kit later in the year.
First up, a new regulator from Mares. The Atlas 62X features an all-metal second stage,
that has a control knob to allow the diver to tune the performance, and features Mares’
renowned VAD (or Vortex Assisted Design) system for natural breathing – according to them,
the bypass tube delivers gas to the mouthpiece, creating a swirling vortex
with a low-pressure area in the centre that pushes the diaphragm down during inhalation.
The pearl chrome finish twin balanced piston first stage is environmentally sealed for
better performance on cold-water dives, and while it is compact and lightweight,
it has pre-orientated low-pressure and high-pressure ports.
There is natural DFC (or Dynamic Flow Control) on all low-pressure ports which ensures high
air flow regardless of depth, and AST (or Auto Sealing Technology), which avoids water
entering the first stage if you accidentally submerge it when it is not on a cylinder.
Fourth Element are well known for their wetsuits, drysuits and undergarments,
but now the company has made its first foray into diving hardware with the Scout mask.
As you’d expect with it being Fourth Element, it is not just a straightforward ‘dive mask’.
We all know that diving in caves is a different experience from snorkelling in tropical seas.
Likewise, diving in lower visibility, temperate waters is different from the near-unlimited
visibility of some blue water locations. The lens system in the Scout dive mask is designed
to deliver an optimised experience for different conditions when diving, whether for underwater
photographers looking to maximise the light transmission, or wreck divers needing to enhance
their perception of dimly lit surroundings. The Scout is a single-lens frameless mask
that has an angled profile to maximise the field of view, and a soft silicon
skirt for optimized comfort and fit. There are four lens to choose from:
Shield, which is Anti-UV and Anti-Glare, was inspired by the gold visors of NASA astronauts,
although I immediately thought of the Halo computer game!
That would be a good name for a mask, but they already have an undersuit with that moniker!
The Shield lens provides UV protection and reduces glare, making it fully suited to tropical
and warmer water environments for shallower diving and snorkelling in bright conditions.
Clarity, which is a pure clear lens, is designed to maximise the amount of transmitted light,
without any tint from impurities in the glass. The Clarity is the ideal lens for night divers
and photographers, and is also the perfect lens for teaching, allowing students and instructors
to clearly see each other’s eyes. Contrast, which is Anti-UV,
is designed to filter out some of the mid-range wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum,
and the lens has a green appearance. Particularly when diving in temperate waters,
images seen through the lens show an increase in contrast, accentuating brighter and darker areas,
increasing the perception of visual acuity. Enhance is anti-UV and anti-HEV. Filtering
ultraviolet and High Energy Visible radiation, the Enhance lens is designed to protect the eye
and enhance the visual experience. It is well known that UV has a damaging effect on the eye,
but it has also been shown that HEV light can interfere with the lutein proteins in the eye
and alter them, so filtering out this High Energy radiation can help to preserve optical health.
Then there is the mask strap to choose – there are various colour options of an elasticated strap
that is made using rubber and recycled nylon, with clips made using recycled waste ABS plastic from
the automotive industry. The clips have also been designed so that they will fit most mask buckles.
Even the mask box is special. The Scout comes in a mask box that is designed to replace the
plastic boxes that are supplied with so many masks. Low profile and protective,
this case will protect the lens thanks to its cushioned half shell, without creating bulk,
meaning it can fit in the foot pocket of most fins for convenient transport.
Scubapro’s S-TEK Technical Diving programme re-invents the classic backplate and wing system
with a clever design focused on adjustability, fit and comfort. A comprehensive line of accessories
rounds out the collection offering a unified programme for technical divers.
The revolutionary design combines premium materials and durable construction with purist
features and technology - 3D formed backplates with fully radiused edges, softened organic
shape and recessed wingnut socket increase diver comfort; angled webbing slots optimise
webbed harness threading, offering greater comfort and reduces webbing abrasion over time;
and durable S-Tek donuts feature rounded profiles, allowing for smooth, controlled
air migration and a new best-in-class Scubapro-designed K-Style inflator.
The S-Tek is available as a Pro System, with molded Monprene pads that cushion shoulders,
waist and back for increased comfort, and highly adjustable TEK LOK shoulders that
contribute to a snug, individualised fit, and as a Pure System, with a continuous webbing
harness and a stainless-steel waist buckle that provides a custom, individualised fit.
A comprehensive line of accessories rounds out the collection, including single tank adapter,
bungee regulator necklace, low profile or cold-water stage kits, trim weights kit,
pro fluid form weight system, expedition thigh pocket, expedition reels, spinner spools, cookie
monster and arrow monster markers, glide, D-ring and bolt snap hardware and exclusive colour kits.
It is not just Scubapro releasing new backplate and wing systems, Hollis is also showcasing three
new units in 2022 – the ST, ST Elite, and DT. According to Hollis, when it came to designing
new buoyancy systems, they sought to create gear that would meet its user where they’re at as a
diver. Whether the user is a single-tank diver, a twin-cylinder diver, diving in the Caribbean or
locally in cold water, Hollis has tailored these systems to the type of diving they’ll be doing.
The ST System is designed for minimalist-minded divers who prioritise streamlining their kit,
for the ultimate in traditional simplicity. It features a continuous-weave solo harness, with
no buckles that can fail, and no extra parts that aren’t needed. An ultra-streamlined single-tank
ST wing rounds out the system with a perfect balance of horizontal trim and surface floatation.
The ST comes pre-assembled from the factory and includes unique components depending on
the user’s desired configuration. Aluminium or steel backplate. 22lb wing or 35lb wing. The
choice is yours. The ST Elite brings together the most popular
Hollis single tank components into a single system. However, instead of the solo harness,
Hollis has added the luxurious and adjustable Elite 2 harness, yielding a result similar to
what you’d expect from a full-featured BCD. For divers coming from the recreational world
of single tank diving using a traditional BCD, this gives the same harness style,
but on a backplate for added stability. The ST Elite System also gives its owner a ton of options
for customisation depending on their diving style, in case it changes over time. So again, you can
choose backplate material and wing capacity. For twinset diving, the Hollis DT System
is minimal and simple, and designed for the rigorous demands of the discerning doubles diver.
Made tough, it comes with all of the components for a backplate and wing kit
in one, pre-assembled from the factory. It features the new DT50 doubles wing with 50lb of
lift and, with a radical redesign, it’s ideal for various sized double cylinders and colder waters.
Alternatively, users can opt for the DT45 Dual wing offering 45lb of lift via its double bladder.
Tecline is a brand which has been around for quite a while, but it is set to make
a splash with its latest line-up of kit. Particularly noteworthy are their fins.
The Jetstream fins are classic tech fins, very reminiscent of the trusty old Jet Fin, with a
broad and surprisingly springy blade. They have a durable stainless steel spring strap, with a large
rubber thumb loop for easing donning and doffing. These come in traditional techie black,
but for those wanting to add a bit of colour into their ensemble, they are also available in
bright yellow, a vivid red, and vibrant orange. The Powerjet again follows the Jet Fin styling,
but has a longer blade and comes in three different compounds – soft, medium and hard, with
Tecline warning that the latter require the diver to be really fit! These have a stainless steel
spring strap as well, but covered in material and with a large tab to aid with putting them
on and off. These follow the Henry Ford mantra – you can have any colour as long as it is black.
Last but not least there are the LightJet fins. These again have that classic Jet Fin look,
but have been designed to combine the advantages of a tech fin with the lightness of recreational
fins. They are made from a new, flexible material which is produced from recycled materials,
and is 100 percent recyclable. The LightJets have the same stainless
steel spring strap as the Jetstream fins, but also have a hole in the tip of the blade
for hanging them up during storage or when they are drying. They come in black or white.
So that’s our latest round-up of new diving-related kit coming your way in 2022.
Anything there that takes your fancy? Leave your comments below, and if you have a question,
fire away – if we can’t answer, maybe someone in our community will be able to. Remember,
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As always, stay safe – and if you are going diving, enjoy!