Diver Tests
Hollis LX100 & LX200
I’d be tempted by the lower price of the LX100, but I really like the idea of the tougher coating on the LX200. Regardless of which you plump for, these are good regs. Read more...
Mares 72X / Loop
The Loop offers a good breathe, though the difference in ease of cracking effort between it and the pneumatically balanced Ultra Adj is apparent and to be expected, given the price difference. But if you want a budget recreational or stage regulator, the 72X and Loop combo is a winner. Recommended. Read more...
Tovatec Mera
The Tovatec Mera just might appeal to a certain sector of the diving fraternity, those of us who like a bit of wreck penetration. Combining primary light and video unit is a compact solution while swimming through dark passages. Read more...
Aqua Lung i770R
It seems to be built and to work well enough to deliver sufficient pride of ownership for that diver never to want anything else. It really is a cracking little unit. Read more...
Mares Coral Dive Skin
Getting sunburnt or stung by underwater no-see-ums takes the edge off that pleasure. The Mares Coral offers a practical solution to these annoyances in a comfortable, travel-friendly and well-made dive skin. Read more...
Deepblu COSMIQ+
I really think Deepblu is onto something with the COSMIQ+, and hope it will add to its range and encompass deco and tech diving. Read more...
Scubapro Mk11/C370
Head up, head down, inverted or in good trim the Mk11 and C370 worked very well, and passed my forget-about-the-kit-and-go-diving test within seconds. Read more...
Tusa BC0103B Liberator
The Liberator is a very nice BC for single-tank diving. It meets the needs of lift, comfort, stability, safety and ease of use like a trooper. Read more...
Apeks XL4+ Regulator
The XL4+ works really well as a reg, breathing smoothly and staying dry regardless of orientation or depth. Read more...
Finclip
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Finclip offered as an option by fin manufacturers worldwide in the near future, assuming that the necessary deals can be arranged. Read more...
Mares XR Training DSMB
The XR training DSMB is an excellent idea. I’d have liked one when I learned to launch a DSMB, and the hose-inflation method makes the bigger buoys very tempting indeed. Read more...
Scubapro Go Travel
For casual snorkelling I happily recommend the Go Travels, but for scuba-diving I would look elsewhere in Scubapro’s fin range. Read more...
Sea & Sea Orca D570
All in all, it’s a cracking unit, and I’m only holding back a single star because it costs £150, which is a not-insubstantial amount of money. Read more...
GoXtreme Rebel Action camera
You’re getting a video camera and housing for the price of a Friday night takeaway and a bottle of wine. Read more...
Suunto D5
The Suunto D5 is a very well thought-through dive computer for the users for whom it is designed. Read more...
Surfears 2.0 ear-plugs
Surfears are a very interesting development and could serve as a valuable preventive health measure in helping your ears to survive your next dive-trip. Read more...
Mares X-Free mask
I tried the ultimate dive-guide trick and pulled the strap loose to swim around with the mask held in place by gentle sniffage alone. Read more...
Shearwater Teric
You know that old line about being “designed by divers, for divers”? Well, the Teric was or, at least, that’s how it comes across. Read more...
X-Deep Stealth 2.0 Rec sidemount wing
X-Deep Stealth 2.0 Rec is a grand piece of kit, and if you’ve never dived sidemount it does indeed offer everything you need. Read more...
Mares Epic ADJ 82X
Fifty-two metres flashes up on our computers. On test is Mares’ latest Epic ADJ 82X regulator. Nick Balban, my buddy and co-tester, is thinking very seriously Read more...
360 Observe – Divers Rear Mirror
Yes, it’s a rear-view mirror for divers. And yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Read more...
Humaneyes Vuze+ 3D
Most of the products we test these days are improved versions of existing products, and if they’re not, there’s usually a good reason why nobody has brought them to market before. Read more...
Oxygen Analysers – Vandagraph VN202 MKII & Tek-Ox
The option to split sensor and control box makes the VN202 more appealing in certain situations. Read more...
Strobes/Torch – Beaver Spectrum/Electra
The light output is pretty decent, helped by the deep-dished reflector forcing the beam into a narrow cone with a trace of a surrounding halo. Read more...
Drysuit – Scubapro Exodry 4.0 Compressed Neoprene
Steve warren finds out how much in the way of insulation a compressed-membrane drysuit will afford him in 14°C waters. Read more...
Sherwood Brut Pro
The Brut Pro is Sherwood’s entry-level regulator. Its ease of breathing is certified for diving to 50m Read more...
Scubapro X-Tek Pro System Extreme Wing
If you want a wing with dual bladders and high volume, you won’t regret buying the Scubapro X-Tek Pro System Extreme. Read more...
Scubapro Apnea Folding
The Scubapro folding snorkel is a simple design. Read more...
