Voted Testers’ Choice in this category, the Axis delivers the functions, features and performance most coveted in a streamlined general-purpose back- buoyancy BC without unnecessary bells and whistles.

This year’s Testers’ Choice winner in the jacket-style category is a comfortable and stable BC with a good weight system, efficient valves, and a long list of convenience features.

Divers looking for an entry-level BC that’s well appointed and performs admirably — and doesn’t cost a lot of money — will be drawn to Prime MRS. It nails the important stuff at a good price, earning it the Best Buy award.

ScubaLab headed to the Bahamas aboard a Blackbeard's liveaboard sailboat to try out some new dive gear — see what our editors had to say.

The gear experts at ScubaLab tested 8 of the latest fabric drysuits for durability, performance and comfort — here are the results.

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The MP206 Chameleon mask from IST Sports is made from a liquid-injected, hypoallergenic silicone that is soft and supple, resulting in a skirt that offers comfort as well as a watertight fit. Its raked inverted-teardrop dual-lens design delivers a wide field of view. To enhance the underwater view, the mask is fitted with a new type of ultra clear lens that allows for increased light transmission.

Cressi’s R1 jacket-style BC is comfortable and easy to use. It features padding in the back and lumbar areas as well as underneath the shoulders, and the air cell slides on the cummerbund, eliminating body squeeze. The rigid backpack delivers a stable ride, and the Lock Aid integrated weight system loads and ditches easily. Available in five sizes with buoyant lift up to 36 pounds

A load of new gear debuted in 2012, and the ScubaLab team dive-tested just about all of it. After digging deep into both objective and ergonomic test results, on the following pages we celebrate the year’s top-performing fins, BCs, regulators and dive computers, along with some first-rate travel bags, warm-water wetsuits and a couple of our top picks for safety gear.