SEARCH
Archive |
Tags
BCs Fully Loaded
Comparing 11 ‘feature-rich’ jackets was the assignment for NIGEL WADE, but we asked him to compare them with each other, not with his own well-worn favourite!
more...
Electronic flash: The Magnificent 7
We say ‘magnificent’ because it appears that the old ineffective brands of flashgun for underwater use have departed, leaving the way clear for the brighter sparks. JOHN BANTIN tests the seven and looks at two extras
more...
The Rolex of rebreathers?
The JJ-CCR is the latest closed-circuit rebreather to win CE-marking, which allows it to be sold in the UK. JOHN BANTIN tests the newcomer, and compares it with all the other CE-marked rebreathers now available more...
The eCCR MARKETPLACE
ARGUMENTS MAY RAGE among manufacturers and users about the significance of CE-marking, but the fact remains that any unit sold legitimately in Europe must be so certified. more...
BC basics
New to diving and looking to buy your first BC, or more experienced but in need of a no-frills stab that won’t strain the wallet? JOHN BANTIN tests a diver’s dozen of the latest offerings, and considers another six worthy of considerationmore...
Fins that kick
The fin-makers sent us what they considered to be their most efficient fins, and then John Bantin and his test-dive team set about establishing which were the creme de la creme.If you’re looking for a new pair of fins, start here
more...
Have a Compact Christmas
It’s a gift – the latest in digital camera/housing combinations to suit every pocket, from just under £200 to £850. And some of the 14 combos here now offer additional flood-resistance, says John Bantinmore...
Special Offer! Download the DIVER App for FREE Now you can download the DIVER App for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices via iTunes, for FREE. The DIVER App is also available to Android users for FREE from Android Market. Whichever one you choose you also get a FREE taster issue!
More...
Visit our Talk Forums
Latest Forum Threads :
Light breathers
A lightweight regulator can shave enough weight off your baggage to allow you to take a few clothes on holiday, as well as your dive gear! John Bantin tests 10 examples
more...
The reel test
We all need them, whether to send up a marker buoy or to mark our passage through a wreck or cave. It's simply a line-dispenser, but some definitely work better than others, reports John Bantin
more...
Come fly with me
We pay by the kilo to take to the skies these days, so air travel doesn't come cheap for divers. John Bantin tests 12 lightweight BCs that might help reduce your fare
more...
Don't get yourself in a tangle!
We may never use our alternative air sources, but we still need to carry them. And for a usually 'redundant' item, this one can certainly generate sizzling debate! John Bantin tests 12 of those regs that lie in wait
more...
A sense of algorithm
Take 10 current diving computers equipped between them with seven different formulas to stop their owners getting bent. How cautious or devil-may-care would they prove to be on ascents from around the 50m mark?
more...
Star Fins
What's makes good fins? Those you find comfortable and that perform the way you want them to! "Bring unto us 16 pairs of your very best fins, for we wish to compare them one against the other!" we demanded of the nation's leading fin suppliers. Which are your dream fins? John Bantin tests them, you decidemore...
Budget Regs
Side-by-side regulator comparisons can be very revealing, and this test of 12 is no exception, proving as it does that surprisingly good performance is available for a low outlay. John Bantin reports
more...
Leading lights
Technical diving lights are the ones deeper divers use and the rest of us want to use.They aren't cheap, so must be chosen with care.
But should you go HID, LED or tungsten? John Bantin tests 20 shining examples more...
Win a Luxfer pony cylinderDIVER Magazine’s Big Question this month asks: Are enough younger people coming into diving? Answer yes or no, and feel free to comment.
The way of the DSLR
You're serious about underwater photography - John Bantin has the answers
more...
Analyse that! 9 ways to get sampling
Used by the many, bought by the few - but would you be safer having an oxygen analyser of your own? John Bantin tests eight of these useful devices
more...
DRYSUIT BUYERS' GUIDE
There are hundreds of drysuits from which to choose. John Bantin provides a snapshot of what's on offer
more...
21 mask test HOWS THE VIEW?
We asked suppliers to nominate their most distinctive underwater viewing aids and send them in for test. John Bantin is aided and abetted by Colin Mac Andrias
more...
MARES PEGASUS VS HALCYON ECLIPSE
For anyone who doesn't enjoy pushing bulky items through water, it makes sense to dive with sleek equipment. Two simple wing-style BCs, one from Italy and one from the USA, look as if they might qualify for minimal-style diving. John Bantin looks for a winner more...Computer watches
At one time divers had to sport something the size of a half-brick on their wrists or consoles as an alternative to tables. Today, we have the option of a stylish computer-watch. John Bantin assesses 10 distinct possibilities
more...
28 FINS ON TEST
When you're looking for the best source of foot-mounted propulsion, do you get more by paying more? John Bantin and Colin Mac Andrias test 28 pairs of fins in an attempt to find out
more...
Call for back up
Thirty back-up lights, switched on and ready to shine, but which one would you want to find in your BC the day everything goes dark? John Bantin and Colin Mac Andrias put them to the test
more...
The DIVERS' guide to compacts
Planning to give (or hoping to receive) an underwater digital camera set-up for Christmas? John Bantin and Colin Mac Andrias round up the latest offerings in the fast-moving compact market
more...
Travelling Light
Toting heavy dive gear around the world is costly, so it's time to strip down to the bare essentials. We're talking BC, regs and fins - John Bantin tests 11 sets of lightweight gear for the travelling diver
more...
DIVER TV
more...Fins ain't what they used to be
Big changes are afoot in the world of fins. John Bantin samples three new sets aiming to grab a toehold in the market - the walkable, the rotatable and the simply massive
more...
BCs built for women
There are plenty of BCs with "Lady" or the equivalent in their name nowadays. John Bantin introduces the seven contenders for this comparison test, but Tamara Double was better equipped to provide the comments
more...
16 BCs at entry-level prices
Which low-cost BCs provide the best performance? We asked suppliers to submit their cheapest models for in-water testing, and whether yo're buying your first BC or simply looking for a cash-saver, John Bantin has the answers
more...
15 regs at 50 METRES - The Tests
We asked 15 suppliers each to nominate a regulator of choice to be tested every which way down to 50m, in a typically tough Diver group test. The result? A lot of great performers, some at prices that will surprise you - and a couple of horrors too.John Bantin reports.
more...
More Links: