December 2006

By Bill Kendig

Photography by Joseph Byrd

Aqua Lung Blades 2 Flex

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Let's face it: Most of your dive time is spent meandering along, kicking gently on cruise control. It's in these moments that you will truly appreciate the new Blades 2 Flex fins from Aqua Lung. A supple foot pocket and a blade with even more flex than the original are designed to go easy on your calves during slow finning. But when you kick these blades into high gear, to chase a wayward buddy or fight a surprise current, you'll find they also have some edge, thanks to the stiffening rails. For convenience, the fins also come with a hands-free strap release. Just step on the bright red tab and--snap--you're out. Price: $115. Contact: www.aqualung.com.

DUI ZipGloves-WD

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Smart companies listen to their customers, and when tech divers asked Diving Unlimited International for a dry ZipGlove that could keep small leaks in the fingers from soaking a diver's arm during a long decompression profile, the company got to work. The result is the ZipGloves-WD, durable outer gloves with a latex wrist dam built inside the cuff. They attach easily to any DUI suit that accepts ZipSeals and each pair also includes liners at no extra charge. What's next from DUI? By the time you read this, the company also expects to be selling compressed neoprene ZipGloves (not pictured), giving divers another "handy" tool for cold-water diving. Price: $248 for the ZipGloves-WD; $198 for the compressed neoprene ZipGloves. Contact: www.dui-online.com.

Innovative Scuba Concepts Diver Tool and Repair Kit and T-2 Scuba Toolpack

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Indulge your inner MacGyver with one or all of these scuba tool kits, and you might just save the day in true action hero style. The deluxe 34-piece Diver Tool and Repair Kit comes in a zippered case that contains everything you need for quick field repairs, including two open-end wrenches (also sold separately) and a crescent wrench to handle hose connections, an eight-piece hex wrench set to take care of loose plugs, plus zip ties, silicone grease and spare O-rings. If you want to travel lighter, then pick up the compact T-2 Scuba Toolpack. Eleven of the most common repair tools fold out of the five-inch handle including open-end wrenches, hex wrenches and flat-blade screwdrivers, all made of stainless steel. Price: $29.95 for the Diver Tool and Repair Kit; $24.95 for the T-2 Scuba Tool pack; $9.95 for the two-piece wrench set. Contact: www.innovativescuba.com.

Pelican SabreLite 2000 PL

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This new version of the SabreLite 2000 has a glow about it. The luminous plastic lens ring glows in the dark, making it easier to find in your gear bag, in the boat cabin or on your person. The Xenon bulb puts out a sharp and focused beam underwater and you can count on a burn time of four to five hours on a set of three C-cell batteries. The ABS resin body is rated to 500 feet, and like all Pelican products it comes with the "You break it, we replace it ... forever" guarantee. Price: $39.95. Contact: www.pelican.com.

Body Bagz Rash Guard

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Wear your colors on your sleeve, or at least your chest, with these long-sleeve rash guards. In addition to the dive flag design, the Body Bagz garments boast a 50+ SPF to shield you from the sun's burning UV rays. The shirts are made of a comfortable 6.1-ounce cloth that is 81 percent polyester and 19 percent lycra, and they can also be worn beneath a wetsuit for protection from chafing around the neck and underarms. Custom designs are also available. Price: $45. Contact: www.bodybagz.net.