TESTCENTRE
The compact inflation unit cupped nicely in the hand . It has a chunky inflate button in grey , a solid oral- inflate mouthpiece alongside it and a circular deflate button situated at the top . All were very precise in operation and easily accessed / identified .
The flexible corrugated hose inflation hoses were exactly as I like them , nice and short . This keeps them close at hand and less likely to become entangled or encroach on my camera housing when in use .
There was an occasional migration of air around the jacket depending on my position but nothing I haven ’ t experienced with other similar BCDs .
The twin shoulder dumps were easy to operate : a firm tug on the inflation valve on the left side or a pull on the toggle by the right shoulder strap provided instant response . When face down the right-sided kidney dump offered similar response .
One thing I haven ’ t mentioned is the Lightning ’ s weight . Despite its robust build qualities , which make it a hard-wearing option for UK diving , it also comes in at just under 3kg which means it can happily double as a travel jacket . Neil Hope
SCUBA SAYS
Beaver ’ s Lightning BCD offers all that you can ask for in a comfortable , lightweight , robust package .
sticks can be attached to an octopus , snorkel or even a mask strap as a means of highlighting kit or an individual . Available in six colours , the Ni-Glo needs no batteries , bulbs or electricity and is charged by exposure to sunlight or any form of artificial light such as a torch , headlight or household lamp .
Ten minutes in front of my table lamp easily provided enough charge for a dive , while an extended period of exposure kept it glowing for 8-10 hours . Topside , the gear marker also highlighted my RIB keys in the dark ... and even my jet black cocker spaniel on the beach at night .
Supplied with a keyring and clip-on attachments the Ni-Glo has a lifespan of ten years and is depth-rated to 25 metres . NH
SCUBA SAYS
The Ni-Glow Gear Marker can be used for a wide variety of purposes to highlight essential safety kit .
Happiness is a warm john
Deepskin Short John
COMPANY : O ’ THREE PRICE : £ 84.95 TEL : 01305 822820 WEB : WWW . OTHREE . CO . UK
For wetsuit users wishing to prolong their season before switching to a drysuit for the winter , O ’ Three ’ s Deepskin Short John provides a very workable solution . Manufactured from 2mm High Flex neoprene with a glide skin interior , the short john ’ s lowprofile ‘ Croc-Grip ’ Velcro shoulder opening makes it incredibly easy to get the suit on and off .
It can often be the case that adding a base suit into the mix can cause gaps between the two garments where cold water can ‘ pool ’. However , the flexible , elasticated neoprene hugged my body , keeping the space between to the absolute minimum . Although I added a little extra lead there wasn ’ t any real noticeable change in buoyancy or my manoeuvrability . Where I ’ d normally experience a change in temperature around the 25-30m range in my semi-dry , this was pleasantly absent with the added exposure protection the short john afforded .
Back on the surface if the sun was shining , I could strip down the top half of my one-piece outer suit between dives , or keep it in place and take advantage of the double layer to prevent wind chill on the boat . I also found the Deepskin ideal for kayaking and snorkelling . It ’ s also a useful option as a standalone for diving in warmer climes . NH
SCUBA SAYS
O ’ Three ’ s Deepskin Short John hits the sweet spot of providing that little extra insulation when required , without impacting on comfort or manoeuvrability .
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