By Natalie Gibb A quick googling of “scuba diving reels” results in over 1,330,000 results. There’s an overwhelming number of options, and one might assume that if a commercial dive gear company makes the effort to design and manufacture a reel or spool, that it would be good. Sadly, this …

The SeaLife SportDiver is not the first of its kind, but given their track record at producing user-friendly camera systems and the iPhone’s current image making capabilities, is now the time to start using your phone underwater? Words by Russell Clark We have, in the past, featured underwater iPhone …

An exciting week fin lovers! Fourth Element’s new Rec Fins have hit the market. The recycled dive fin is made from post consumer plastic waste. With a fully recycled plastic blade, the Rec Fins deliver great diving performance with a much lower impact on the environment. The classic 4 channel …

Exotech Company has kicked off the Kickstarter campaign for their new product – Folding Fins. Inspired by nature, Folding Fins, will allow you to take them in your luggage and across the world with a little more ease. Finding  regular fins to be unhandy and hard to fit into …

Garmin have announced the Descent Mk2S, its smallest watch-style dive computer – ideal for women and those with smaller wrists – designed for everyday wear and maximum functionality. Packed with innovative dive technology and Garmin’s most sought-after built-in activity sports profiles and wellness features, the Descent Mk2S is a tool …

Founded in 2015, NOVE has been making waves in the timepiece industry due to their comprehensive design that joins function and fashion. Representing the new sense of innovation in the field of watch design, their mission of creating beautiful, unique wristwatches pays homage to the rich history of craftsmanship …

Coral Guardian, a major force in coral reef conservation around the world, now offers a unique Christmas gift through it’s Adopt a Coral program, Coral Guardian. So spoil your loved ones, or yourself, while contributing to the protection of the ocean. Click here to adopt!  Each coral adopted comes …

NOVE recently announced their first automatic Swiss-made wristwatch via Indiegogo. The new Trident R150, or simply the Trident Automatic, is a sleek redesign of their Trident line of watches, a popular choice among divers due to its water-resistant capabilities up to 200 meters under water. Inspired by Poseidon and …

Looking for a new dive knife? Thresher Dive Supply have launched their all new Monad 5 inch titanium dive knife. The handle offers a fatter, rubberized grip for better wet-handling The injection-molded plastic used in the sheath is stronger. Granted, it’s not indestructible but it’s much less brittle. The …

SeaLife is introducing a new compact and lightweight underwater housing for Apple’s iPhone.  The new SeaLife SportDiver housing will allow divers to take photos and video with their iPhone down to 130 feet (40 meters).  The SportDiver can encase iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, Xr, Xs, …

Shearwater have announced their newest dive computer, the PEREGRINE, a simple and accessible, full colour, multi-gas dive computer that will be easy to use for divers of all experience levels. The Peregrine has four diving modes – Air, Nitrox, 3 Gas Nitrox and Gauge. With simplified recreational dive modes, full …

A new Kickstarter campaign has launched for a reasonably priced and very attractive diver water – the Cult Diver Arctic Circle. Knut Gadd is a small lifestyle watch brand from Stockholm, Sweden, inspired by the founder’s grandfather, a water polo player, an Olympian and a member of the old …

JW Fishers are synonymous with underwater search equipment. You would have likely seen their adverts inside the pages of DIVER for as long one can remember. The JW Fishers HQ is located about 35 minutes south of Boston, Massachusetts. From November to March, the entire New England coast is …

By Roger Lacasse   The Düsseldorf international boat show held its 50th edition in January 2019. Simply known as the “boot” (German for, and pronounced like boat), it is the world’s largest trade fair for all things related to recreational boating and watersports.  This was definitely a huge event, with …

Words and Photography by Jill Heinerth   Rebreathers offer an entirely new way to enjoy the underwater world. Whether it is the technology that attracts you or the potential to swim free without making bubbles, the decision to enter the domain of rebreather diving is a significant one. You …

Text by Russell Clark Panasonic and Aquatica bring professional underwater video tools to the masses with the GH5, GH5S and AGH5 housing. Get ready to be more creative!   Every few years a camera comes along that helps to evolve photography and video. The GoPro, the Sony RX100, the …

Text by Jill Heinerth Ask a rebreather diver what drives their rebreather and they will undoubtedly tell you, the oxygen sensors. These annually disposable devices are critical to creating a safe breathing loop and yet when not functioning properly can reduce a $10,000 investment in life support to a …

DIVER magazine would like to announce an amendment to our current Gear Guide issue. Our pricing of the Shearwater NERD (page 24 of Volume 41, Issue 1) should be CAD$2,500, and not $950 as printed. This is an editorial mistake by us, we put it down to a mixture of pre-Christmas excitement, narcosis, …

Nanuk 935 $259.99 – with foam For all the scuba gear you own and need to transport and store, there is Nanuk. A Canadian company in biz for more than 20 years, they offer a wide range of cases to protect everything from your expensive regulators to your iPhone, and your video …

Shearwater Research, responsible for the rather excellent technical computers Petrel and Petrel 2, have released a new and improved desktop application cunningly called Shearwater Desktop. Available for both Mac and Windows users, the new software offers an improved user experience, making it easier to implement firmware updates. Firmware is a vital part …

California based Light & Motion has been at the forefront of underwater imaging for several years and their Kickstarter announcement has captured the attention of a lot of underwater photographers and videographers! The Sidekick Kickstarter campaign aims to raise $50,000 so Light & Motion can begin full production of their excellent new GoPro light called Sidekick. …

QuikPod From $49.99 A great camera accessory, whether you’re shooting with a dSLR, compact, phone or GoPro, there’s a QuikPod for you. Customize with sturdy tripod legs, a floating lanyard, bluetooth remote shutter, smartphone adapter and more. Good build quality, long lasting and very handy – we have one on every …

SeaLife Micro HD 16GB $399.95 Micro HD+ 32GB WiFi $499.95 The newest addition to the SeaLife range of user-friendly cameras is the ultra compact Micro HD. Unlike most cameras this is a sealed unit – no openings, no O-rings, no memory card ports and, therefore, no risk of flooding. SeaLife’s trusted ‘piano key’ design makes …

Lowepro DryZone 200 US$283.86 ‘A drysuit for your gear’ claims the world’s first waterproof soft-sided camera backpack. TIZIP zipper system, rubber covered sealed seams, adjustable dividers, mesh pockets and a lifetime warranty. www.lowepro.com Ikelite RX100 III housing $550 Sony’s RX100 III is a first rate compact camera that produces …

First Published in DIVER Volume 38 Issue 5 By Phil Nuytten The problem: A swillion, or so, years ago, we humans were designed (or evolved, or left here by aliens – please substitute your desired flavour) to function best under a fairly rigid set of specifications. These specs include …

Dive Rite O2ptima Rebreather $8,500 This fully closed circuit, constant P02, electronically-driven rebreather features built-in decompression ability. Dive Rite’s O2ptima is great for overhead environments where immediate surfacing is not always possible, and it will appeal to open water and wreck divers too.  Features include 5-litre total loop volume counter …

Atomic Aquatics BladeFins $179 Feel the need for speed? Then these new fins designed specifically for a flutter kick will give you a powerful swimming style that will allow you to move through the water fast, even in strong currents. Designed with sweeping curves and a unique two frame structure …

Nauticam FIX Neo Prices vary A new line of lights that have an LCD display, removable battery, 100 degree beam angle, interchangeable heads, remote control and sealed recharging. Wowsers. What more could you want? www.fixneo.com Backscatter Macromate Mini $88.95 This well-priced, flip on and off, lens for your GoPro 3 …

By Jill Heinerth I have a confession: I have a bit of a light fetish. I can’t seem to stop buying new lights. Headlamps, solar rechargeable, hand-cranked lanterns, cinema lighting, LED key fobs and endless cave diving and video lights. I have them all.  And this doesn’t include the …

Sidemount diving may have been around for while now, but in the last couple of years it seems to have risen in popularity and become a very fashionable way of diving, and not just for cave divers, but open water divers too. The new SEAC KS01 Buoyancy jacket is a …

Announced a week ago at the TekDive USA show in Miami, the new Edge / Hog Gear sidemount system created a wee bit of interest to say the least. Little is officially known at this point, but that hasn’t stopped people getting excited at the prospect of a new, …

American Underwater Products (AUP) announced today the merger of two of their recreational dive companies, AERIS & Oceanic. Each of these companies currently offer similar product lines to the diving industry worldwide. Effective September 1st, 2014, these lines will be combined and sold exclusively under the Oceanic brand. The merger will …

The Nauticam Super Macro Converter (SMC) is the first underwater macro conversion lens that is fully optimized for in water use.  This unique and innovative lens claims to change the way that underwater macro photography is done. There are three key advantages to this internationally patent pending new optical design: …

For those new to sidemount, or those still trying to find the right gear configuration, Dive Rite may be able to help. Dive Rite’s new BC Hose Quick Disconnect Adapter is a simple solution to a common routing problem . If the power inflator on your sidemount rig doesn’t sit flat …

Ikelite have been hitting a lot of home runs lately. With some fantastic packages and a great new website to name just two.  Their new Vega has been looming for a while now, but it’s finally available in stores and is well deserving of your attention. The Vega packs a …

Five pieces of awesome dive gear, untested but worthy of your dive time Roland St. John Sterling Hammerhead Shark $75 Conservationist, videographer and artist Roland St. John has created this latest lovely piece for his Seaplicity Collection. It’s approximately 2 inches of sterling silver on an optional 2mm Omega chain. One of …