TESTCENTRE
Peanut positivity
Tecline Peanut 16 Modular wing set
COMPANY : AQUA ACTIVE LTD WEB : AQUAACTIVE . CO . UK PRICING : ALUMINIUM H PLATE : £ 84.80 TECLINE COMFORT HARNESS : £ 120.08 SINGLE TANK ADAPTER : £ 43.47 WEIGHT POCKET ( LEFT ): £ 27.38 WEIGHT POCKET ( RIGHT ): £ 37.38 PEANUT 16 BAG ( BLACK ): £ 280.51
TOTAL : £ 593.62
Of all the refinements introduced by technical diving , the buoyancy wing has made arguably the greatest contribution to mainstream scuba . With the lines increasingly blurred between the worlds of ‘ tech ’ and ‘ rec ’, wings are an option for any diver who values a streamlined buoyancy device that helps you maintain horizontal trim , with an uncluttered front .
All of which brings us to Polish manufacturer Tecline and its modular wing system . I visited Tecline ’ s UK distributors Aqua Active , who put together a travelfriendly set for me , based around their asymmetric Peanut 16 wing , intended for single cylinder use . Mine came in traditional tekky black , but there ’ s a nifty range of colours from which to choose .
‘ Asymmetric ’ refers to the shape of the bag , a departure from the conventional donut . The little triangular extension at the top allows optimal location of the inflator . It doesn ’ t restrict backward head movement , but allows the corrugated hose to be attached to a point on the wing at head level . It also prevents the wing hindering operation of the first stage .
Underwater , it ’ s close to perfection . I used it on trips to the Philippines and Mexico ; at the former I needed horizontal buoyancy to photograph small reef creatures . Then in Mexico I wanted to be as streamlined as possible while tracking fastmoving sea lions . The Peanut succeeded in holding me well clear of the water when inflated at the surface . This is thanks to its deceptively high lift capacity – the wing is wider in the central and lower sections , allowing the bag to use the space between the cylinder and the backplate . Over the course of about 60 dives , I came to know the Peanut intimately ; it is one of the most streamlined and comfortable buoyancy devices I have ever used . Robust and efficient , it weighs in at less than 3kg , thanks in part to the aluminium H-shaped backplate , a feather-light 0.53kg . Despite this , the Peanut is durable ; it ’ s double layered , with an inner bladder of PU-240 and an outer shell of Cordura 1000D ( Kevlar is also available ). Any diver would enjoy a set like this , especially someone who favours a single cylinder and appreciates the dynamics of a wing . If you ’ re diving a twin set , then you need something with more lift , like the Peanut 21 . Have a look through the website and I ’ ll bet you ’ ll find something that will suit your needs as fully as the Peanut 16 suited mine . Simon Rogerson
Easy-access dump valve
SCUBA SAYS
Tecline ’ s Peanut 16 is a high-quality buoyancy wing based around an innovative design . Ideal for travel , it ’ s easy to use and ideally suited to fine-tuned buoyancy and trim . Near enough faultless , we recommend it highly .
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A version of the H-shaped backplate