March 2007

By Bill Kendig

Photograph by Joseph Byrd

Mares Nemo Wide

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Uncomplicated, uncluttered and undeniably easy to read, the Mares Nemo Wide wrist computer is proof that good things sometimes come in big packages, too. Sporting a 2.15- by 1.4-inch display with a 170-degree viewing angle, this single-gas computer displays all the data you need in big, bold digits. It's also easy to use, with four intuitive control buttons that let you scroll between functions, settings and alternate screens, and it's even easy to maintain, thanks to a user-replaceable battery. The Nemo Wide can track dives on air or nitrox mixes up to 50 percent using its conservative RGBM algorithm. Divers are prompted to make deep stops when they are near no-decompression limits and a three-minute safety stop on all dives. On the surface, the Nemo Wide displays max depth, dive time and temperature, and you can scroll though screens for time to fly, surface interval time and desaturation time. The logbook holds 40 hours of dive time (about 60 dives), and each dive can be viewed as a summary or in profile mode at 20-second intervals. We look forward to putting this computer and its optional PC interface kit to a complete test in our next Scuba Lab review of dive computers, scheduled for the June issue. Price: $550. Contact: www.mares.com.

Sea Quest Pro QD i3 BC

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There are many nice features we could tell you about on the new Pro QD i3 jacket-style BC, but it's the new inflate/deflate system that really sets this BC apart. Gone is the traditional corrugated inflator hose. It's been replaced by an intuitive lever control on the left-side lobe. Lift the lever to inflate the BC; press down to deflate. Push rods mechanically open both the right shoulder and lower rear dump valves. On our dives with the BC, complete deflation took only seconds in either a head-first or fin-first descent. As a backup to the system, there is a manual dump valve and an alternate oral inflation tube. Price: $655. Contact: www.aqualung.com.

ReefNet Sensus Ultra

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The Sensus Ultra is a convenient tool for collecting detailed dive log data. It's depth-rated to 500 feet and powered by a 10-year lithium battery, so just clip the recorder to your gear and every time you dive it will automatically record dive time, depth, temperature and ascent rate profiles for up to 1,500 hours at a 10-second sampling interval. Price: $150 (includes recorder, download unit and software). Contact: www.reefnet.ca.

Mares X-Vision LiquidSkin Mask

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The new X-Vision LiquidSkin mask from Mares is as soft as a goby's bottom and sticks to your face like the suction cups of an octopus, thanks to a new co-molded skirt that mixes two different silicone compounds for durability and unmatched comfort. The company says that the sealing edge of the skirt and the nose pocket are made from a proprietary compound that is 45 percent softer and 270 percent more elastic than traditional mask skirts, while the silicone that supports the buckles and connects with the frame is 30 percent harder. We can't vouch for the precise numbers, but in a blind test against a handful of traditional masks, we did note a softer, more comfortable feel with the LiquidSkin. The new Ergo buckles are another nice touch--just tug forward on the buckle to loosen; tug on the end of the strap to tighten. Price: $95. Contact: www.mares.com.

HangAir Wetsuit Dryer

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| Left: Wetsuit drying on the HangAir hanger. Right: Wetsuit drying on a traditional wetsuit hanger.|
The HangAir wetsuit dryer comes with the intriguing promise of ending your "wetsuit funk" worries. How? This broad-shouldered, thick-necked hanger holds the suit open for better ventilation and it has a built-in 12-volt electric fan that blows air through the suit for faster drying times--up to 70 percent faster, says the company. We tried it head-to-head against a traditional wetsuit hanger using two Bare Velocity 3/2 fullsuits. Both suits came out of the rinse tank and went onto their respective hangers at the same time. Then we plugged the HangAir's 15-foot cord into the wall and flipped the switch to the "Hi" setting. Two hours into the test, we noticed the first real difference--the interior torso of the HangAir suit was mostly dry; the suit on the traditional hanger still mostly damp. Eight hours later, the HangAir suit was completely dry, from neck seal to ankle seal; the traditional hanger suit was still damp in the lower arms and legs. Winner: The HangAir if faster drying is important and retail price ($69.95) is no object. Contact: www.hangairs.com.