TESTCENTRE
Mask ‘ n ’ fins combo
Oceanic Viper 2 Fins & Duo Mask
COMPANY : OCEANIC PRICE : £ 73.95 / £ 42.95 WEB : WWW . OCEANICWORLDWIDE . COM
While some divers chop and change their fins with inexplicable regularity , I pretty much find a pair I like and dive them to destruction . Ditto with masks . However , I confess I do enjoy trying out all sorts of different styles , shapes and materials for Test Centre , and the latest of each to come my way are Oceanic ’ s Viper 2 fins and Duo mask .
Both could be categorised as entrylevel products – they are reasonablypriced and as such would fit the budgetary considerations for someone just starting out but would also appeal to divers on a budget .
While the fins are available in both closed and open heel versions , for UK diving the latter are certainly the best option .
Oceanic ’ s in-house description of the Viper 2 ’ s hydrodynamics , ‘ Flexible Power Thrust Channels ’, enhanced channel rails and polished performance blades certainly sound impressive but technical terms aside - how do they actually perform ?
While my own fins will actually float , they are quite heavy in comparison to the lightweight 1.4kg Vipers . Once underwater , the contrast was even more stark , as if I ’ d attached helium balloons to my feet . It took a little while to become accustomed to the sensation , but once I did , I was impressed . After slightly adjusting my finning technique I was soon powering along and enjoying the ride , with and against the current . It seems sometimes you don ’ t know what you ’ re missing until you ’ ve tried it .
The Duo mask features a 100 % silicone skirt with a double-feathered edge . While not as soft as some masks , neither is it as hard as some others . It sat firmly in place on my face as I inhaled through the nose . Placing the wide strap on the rear of my hood I easily adjusted it for fit by pinching on the strap clips either side of the frame .
The twin-lenses are manufactured from the usual tempered safety glass and have a nice wide angle of view . Importantly there ’ s also a good range of downward vision to allow easy viewing of gauges and computers . A further plus point for the Duo is its compatibility with a selection of corrective lenses . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Whether new to the sport or looking for value-for-money replacements for your older kit , Oceanic ’ s lightweight Viper 2 fins and Duo mask make a winning team .
Back to the future
Nova 850 Tec
COMPANY : SCUBAPRO PRICE : £ 138 WEB : WWW . SCUBAPRO . COM
When many contemporary diving lights seem to offer such an array of different colours , angles and strobe settings more akin to the discotheque than the diving world , Scubapro has gone distinctly old-school with its new Nova 840 Tec .
This matte black aluminiumbodied torch measures 243mm x 45mm and is a substantial-looking piece of kit . It is however , surprisingly lightweight at around 400g , including a trio of C-cell batteries .
A single 850 Lumen Cree XPL LED produces an 8-degree angle beam with a colour temperature of 4200K . Activated via a twist-on , twist-off head there are no bells and whistles with this single-mode light . I actually found that quite refreshing .
There ’ s not much can go wrong with a light like this , no buttons , no complicated circuitry , no access for charging and as a result much less chance of flooding .
Just fully unscrew the double O-ring protected light head , insert the batteries and it ’ s good for 300 metres .
The rear of the body has an over-pressure release valve in case of gas build-up , plus a secure , integrated attachment point for a lanyard or bolt-snap . I found the light was great to use with thick gloves and the narrow beam equally adept for peering through wreckage and reefs during the day as it was for night diving
In darkness , the 850 ’ s slightly wider , diffused outer halo also illuminated the periphery to good effect . The head ’ s rubber ‘ shroud ’ also worked well in preventing the beam from blinding my grateful buddy .
Depending on battery type , the Nova can be used with rechargeable or nonrechargeable cells . Expect up to seven hours of burn time . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Scubapro ’ s retro-looking Nova 850 Tec dive torch keeps things simple with its single LED , 8-degree angle beam offering no-nonsense illumination in a robust , reliable package .
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