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For Subscriber David Denson Whiteside (with username 'dwhitesi' exp: 2024-08-20', at dwhite95815@hotmail.com )
November 25, 2016
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News from Undercurrent, the private guide for serious divers, published since 1975

The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Show Report, by Senior Editor John Bantin.

I have just returned from the American annual diving trade show held last week in at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Every aspect of diving was catered for and there were many interesting new products as well as some quirky ones exhibited. Here are just a few:

Probably the most portentous product in the DEMA show, the European-made SDL-600 dive light has no battery but is powered by seawater! Its patented energy cell using graphite and magnesium rods is said to last for 2190 hours and the lamp itself is rated to 325 feet (100m) deep. Electrolysis powers the 1pc CREE XM-L2 U2 producing a maximum of 1140 lumens. No price was available at the time of writing but Undercurrent has been reliably informed it will be less than $500. www.swesholdings.com

the brain-child of Don Rockwell, is completely modular, allowing the buyer to tailor a perfect fit. It’s four four main parts include a choice of two different buoyancy cells, different length shoulder straps, and waistband, all of which easily snap together. One can attach different size integrated weight pockets and the whole can be conveniently transported broken down into its constituent parts. With soft D-rings and a daisy chain loop feature for multiple ways to attach gear, it weighs only 4 pounds (1.8kg) and is expected to cost $389. www.aqualung.com

combines a snorkel with a compressed air cylinder that can easily be switched to when the user is underwater. But it seems as if a snorkeler might too easily hold a breath taken at depth and then ascend unwittingly with a great chance on inducing an air embolism. This hazardous item, complete with Spare Air cylinder, is available at $380. www.easydive.us

If you haven’t already, please file a report of your last dive trip for Undercurrent’s 2017 Travelin’ Divers’ Chapbook, to be finished in just a couple weeks. Your fellow subscribers count on you, just as you count on them so please, fill out our online trip report form at www.undercurrent.org/members/UCnow/SubRR.php

Among numerous offerings of underwater housings for iPhone 6/6S and iPhone 7 at DEMA, this one interfaces with the majority of GoPro mounting accessories and for less than $100 includes a wide-angle lens. Another $40 will get you a 151° fisheye lens to increase the angle-of-view of your iPhone camera. www.proshotcase.com

With a target price of $599, this precision little Danish unit starts recording as soon as it goes underwater. Watertight to 650 feet (200m), it uses clever programing to adjust the white balance for color-corrected pictures according to depth. But it’s more than just a camera. The Paralenz app generates a time, temperature and depth graph linked to the recordings (either still pictures or live action) and this information can be embedded as an overlay. Combined with an iPhone, footage is shared at the click of a button and its rechargeable battery is said to be good for more than two hours use. More than 200 divers in 35 different countries have tested it. www.paralenz.com

There was a reduced accent on technical diving at this year’s DEMA show, typified by the fact that Shearwater Research has come up with a computer equally intended for leisure divers. With a high-resolution colourful display and two-button interface it allows air integration by means of a radio transmitter attached to the regulator first-stage. The Perdix AI functions equally well whether you are a single-tank leisure diver or use a closed circuit rebreather. Not only that, but it can be linked to the Shearwater Cloud for easy sharing and viewing/editing of dive logs on either phone or tablet. It costs $1525 bundled with the transmitter. www.shearwater.com

Using ultrasound frequencies, this is wrist mounted unit can draw the attention of another diver, or even a group of divers if so equipped, by vibrating and flashing an LED. Its calling distance is 262 feet (80m) and it represents a discreet method of keeping divers in touch with each other. A pair of units costs around $280. www.divealert.com

Ben Davison, editor/publisher
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