For this edition of Gear Test Extra, Mark Evans heads out to evaluate a high-performance cold-water regulator from Dynamic Nord and a collection of new essentials from SEAC.
Gear Test Extra: Dynamic Nord TR-80 Superior Regulator | SRP: £599
Mark Evans: Dynamic Nord continues to make waves since arriving on the diving scene, and this top-of-the-line regulator is a strong contender for anyone looking for a solid, well-made set up that is equally at home in cold water as it is on tropical jaunts.
The balanced first stage is quite compact and not too weighty, so it won’t swallow up too much of your precious baggage allowance when you go on a diving trip abroad. Constructed from sand-blasted brass, it has a subtle matt chrome finish, and the membrane-compensated dry-sealing design makes it particularly suitable for use in cold water conditions, such are right here in the UK.
There are two high-pressure ports, so you can mount a transmitter for your dive computer and a tried-and-tested SPG at the same time for redundancy, and with four low-pressure ports, you are sorted for your primary and secondary, along with inflator hoses for your BCD and a drysuit. The hose routing from these ports is well thought out and keeps everything neat and tidy.
The balanced second stage is, I have to say, a little underwhelming on the looks front – that flat black fascia, with the Dynamic Nord logo in the centre, doesn’t exactly pop as some of its rivals do. However, looks-aside, there is no faulting the performance or the build quality, and Dynamic Nord actually say that the ‘special design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters’. Those ‘bland’ looks are because the water inlet openings have been placed on the side of the regulator, thus meaning that dynamic pressure cannot affect the inhalation membrane.
“There are two high-pressure ports, so you can mount a transmitter for your dive computer and a tried-and-tested SPG at the same time for redundancy”
The cracking resistance control knob feels nice and solid in use, and the Venturi lever has a similarly robust feel. You can really tailor the breathe to your own personal preferences or the conditions with these adjustments – something that can’t always be said of some regs that features these controls.
The exhaust value and deflector are well designed and deflect your exhaled bubbles away from your line of sight, even when you are stationary. The hypoallergenic silicone mouthpiece is quite soft and supple, but still supportive, and thanks to the second stage being quite lightweight, you do not suffer from any jaw fatigue.
Well priced against its competition, durably constructed, and with a smooth breathe, the TR-80 Superior reg certainly draws a line in the sand for Dynamic Nord. www.dynamicnord.com
Gear Test Extra: Seac Iena Mask | SRP: £44.95
Mark Evans: Seac’s latest offering in their extensive line-up of masks is the Iena, and it is a good-looking twin-lens mask which we found fitted a wide range of faces.
It has a high-quality silicone skirt which is soft and supple and molds to the shape of your face, and even one of our divers who was sporting a beard didn’t really experience too many issues with leaks or drips.
The mask delivers a wide peripheral view and decent downward vision, and being low profile, it was easy to clear. The Iena has twin-button release buckles for the straps, making tightening or loosening the strap a simple matter even when wearing thick neoprene gloves or even drygloves. The Seac Iena comes in black, red/black (as we had on test) and clear/blue, complete with a neat padded, zipped storage case. www.seacsub.com
Gear Test Extra: Seac Areatore Reversa Dry Snorkel | SRP: £28.75
Mark Evans: Now I am the first to admit that I don’t really do that much snorkelling, or freediving, these days. My snorkel usually languishes in the bottom of my kit bag, or in the box on the dive boat, on the odd chance dolphins or something else turn up that require me to forgo my full dive kit and jump in with just mask, snorkel and fins.
However, a recent trip Down Under gave me an opportunity to give the Areatore Reserve Dry snorkel from Seac a try, as Queensland rules require you to always dive with a snorkel on your person.
The Areatore Reverse Dry is equipped with a Dry Top system, which incorporates a splash guard with a float that blocks off the tube, thus preventing any water from entering. For any elements of water that do get into the tube, there is a purge valve situated at the very bottom of the snorkel below the mouthpiece to expel any remnants.
In use, we found that this Dry Top system works extremely well. I have tried similar efforts in the past from other companies and my findings on those were mixed, to say the least, but Seac have done well with this system.
The mouthpiece and lower purge valve are mounted on a flexible silicone section, which means the mouthpiece drops away from your face when not in use. This is particularly handy when wearing the snorkel while diving, as it keeps the end of the snorkel away from your regulator.
The silicone mouthpiece is soft and supple, yet still has enough support to be comfortable in your mouth without feeling the need to have to bite hard to keep it in place.
The ‘Reverse’ refers to the ability to switch the mouthpiece around, allowing you to mount the snorkel on either the left hand side of your head, or on the right.
The swivel clip that attachs the mask to your mask is a solid affair, and big enough to cope with normal silicone straps or the increasingly popular elastic straps. The Areatore Reverse Dry snorkel is available in a wide range of colourways. www.seacsub.com
Seac Equipage 250 Bag | SRP: £59.95
Mark Evans: Everyone needs a decent dive holdall to cart their gear to and from the dive centre, or to chuck in the bag of the car when they are going diving more local to home. The Equipage 250 from Seac certainly fits the bill, and looks quite stylish doing it, especially in the black/grey/red colourway of our test model.
Made from 600 denier polyester, it is robust and durable, but equally it only weighs in at 1.4kg, so wouldn’t hit your weight allowance too much if you packed this into your luggage for use on a dive trip.
It has a total capacity of 110 litres, and we found it swallowed a full set of dive kit – BCD, regulator, 5mm full-length wetsuit, fins, boots and mask. In fact, with fairly compact back-inflate BCDs, we managed to get two complete sets of kit into the bag, so it boasts plenty of room.
There are two drain holes in the bottom, so if you load it up with wet kit, this allows excess water to escape from the bag. Just bear this in mind if you are putting it into your car at the end of the diving day… There are also four rubber grip pads on the bottom that stop the bag sliding about. There are two pockets. One is opened with a zipper and is on one end – this allows access to a waterproof interior compartment. The other is closed with a buckle, and runs the full length of the bag, and is designed to hold a pair of fins rather than put them inside the main bag. The Equipage 250 comes with a removeable shoulder strap, and a comfortable carry handle. www.seacsub.com
FAQs
Is the Dynamic Nord TR-80 Superior regulator good for cold water?
Yes. Its membrane-compensated, dry-sealing design is specifically engineered for cold water conditions. The sand-blasted brass construction and matt chrome finish provide excellent durability and thermal performance.
Can the SEAC Iena mask prevent leaks for divers with beards?
During testing, the high-quality silicone skirt on the SEAC Iena proved exceptionally soft and supple, allowing it to mold to various face shapes and maintain a seal even on divers with facial hair.
What are the benefits of a “Reverse” dry snorkel?
The SEAC Areatore Reverse Dry features a reversible mouthpiece, allowing the snorkel to be mounted on either the left or right side of the head. Its “Dry Top” float system and lower purge valve ensure the breathing tube remains clear of water.
How much weight does the SEAC Equipage 250 bag add to luggage?
The Equipage 250 is very lightweight, weighing only 1.4kg. This makes it an ideal travel holdall, as it provides 110 liters of capacity without significantly impacting your airline weight allowance.
Does the Dynamic Nord TR-80 regulator cause jaw fatigue?
The second stage of the TR-80 is designed to be lightweight and is paired with a soft, hypoallergenic silicone mouthpiece. This combination provides enough support to prevent jaw fatigue during long dives.
This article was originally published in Scuba Diver Magazine
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