Scuba Gadgets Review Central

The sole purpose of this Blog is to give you, my reader a unbiased and evenhanded review of the latest and greatest Scuba and watersports equipment that I can get my hands on. . . you can bet on it!

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Location: North Hollywood, California, United States

Monday, May 10, 2010

Consumer Review of Atomic Aquatics ARC SCUBA Mask

Atomic Aquatics ARC  (Anti Reflective Coating)  SCUBA Mask & Snorkeling Mask

The strongest and most indestructible two-window mask ever. The Atomic Aquatics SubFrame Mask is so durable, it carries a Lifetime warranty against frame breakage.

What is ARC lens technology?

The strength comes from the internal frame (subframe) molded directly beneath the surface of the silicone rubber skirt (patent pending).

This subframe provides incredible strength and rigidity as well as eliminating the bulky external plastic frame in other masks.

A stainless steel retainer locks the lenses in place and provides added strength to the nose bridge area of the mask. A wide field of view and great fit completes the combination of function, style and durability. (US Patent #7,181,778).


Anti-Reflective Coatings
ARC Lens Technology Elevates UltraClear To A Higher Level. Atomic Aquatics developed ARC (Anti-Reflective Coating) technology to reduce reflected light and actually increase the amount of available light transmitted to a diver’s eyes.

The result is a greatly improved transmission of 98% of available light, compared to a loss of more than 14% of light with standard green "float" glass used on the majority of masks on the market.

Anti-Reflective Coatings or “ARC” is a multi-layer metal oxide coating process applied to both sides of the UltraClear lenses. This allows more light to enter the mask by reducing light reflections off the inside and outside surface of the lens. The metal oxide coating is only a few microns thick.

Between 4-14% of light can be reflected back or “lost” by the standard “green float glass” mask lenses used by our competition.

ARC technology lenses are especially important for SCUBA divers underwater, where available light is quickly absorbed by the surrounding water. 
What is the underwater benefit of ARC for divers?
• Clearer, crisper vision. You will see more clearly underwater and objects in the distance will become more defined and acute.
• Increased contrast and clarity.
• Reduces eyestrain, glare, and prevents ghost images on the viewing area of the lens.
• An absolute must for night diving, limited visibility conditions, and underwater photographers.

Consumer Review:

Paul Shanderling gives it 5 stars

I am really pleased with mine, i have had it a couple of years now. This is not a standard mask, it is a precision instrument which does out perform other masks on the market especially on night dives and poorly lit environments. It depends what you demand from your kit. However, the ARC application can make it awkward to defog properly. What is recommended is PSI 500, both from Atomic and from K2 here, once this has been thoroughly cleaned you will not have a problem with it. i would not give it a 2nd thought to buy another one!!!

This puppy retails for $150, give us a call at 818 982 2652 and mention this blog post, or that you are a member of the Tribe K2, and we will give you your extra special, insider schweet dealeo!

or check out Flipilicious today for Mask Monday!

Tevis

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Brand New BigBlue 500 Lumens BB 3x5W LED Diving Torch at Flipilicious! A Review!

Those Crazy folks at Flip! Product Debut  (Dey-Boot)! (in conjunction with those amazing folks of SDG, K2 SCUBA and K2 SNORKEL. . .

10% of the moola (your purchase) will be given to a worthy charity seen on the ScubaDiverGirls Blog page!

The BigBlue 500 Lumens BB 3x5W LED Diving Torch. . .

. . . for TORCH TUESDAY!

 

BB-3x5Front . . . .delivers ultra-high light output of up to 500 lumens. Combined with a series of smart features and ergonomic design, this powerful handheld device brings ease of use and portability to even the most demanding diver.

  1. Our high output 3 x 5W LED system delivers brilliant luminosity with a burn time that is four times that of the ordinary halogen torches.
  2. The energy efficient design and excellent quality of the LED guarantees a lifespan of 50,000 hours of burn time, reducing the need for frequent replacement of the bulb.
  3. The 6500K white light reflects the true vibrant colors of the underwater world.
  4. Only requires 1.5V AA or C Size Alkaline batteries.
  5. Also compliant with AA or C Size, 1.2V Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.
  6. The Hi-Lo Power Output lets you choose between two output levels, Hi at 100% or Lo at 70%, extending the burn time and reducing reflections on objects at close range.
  7. The Rotary Magnetic Switch not only makes it easy to switch between the Hi-Lo power output, but is also built to be insulated from all internal parts, eliminating the risk of leakage.
  8. Choose from a range of colors for the main body of the torch.
  9. The thermal protection system prevents the torch from overheating by automatically cutting off its power in cases where there is prolonged use on land, or exposure to temperatures above 70°C. As soon as the torch cools off, the light comes back on.
  10. The safety lock on the switch keeps the torch from being accidentally switched on during transportation.

Specifications
Light source 3 x 5W LED, 3.7V each, with optical diffusion lens
Light output 500 lumens
Casing material Non-corroding, polycarbonate plastic case
Colors A choice of different main body colors:
Magenta, Yellow, Crystal Clear, Translucent Black and Blue
Power source 8 AA or C size batteries, Alkaline 1.5V or Ni-MH 1.2V
Angle of light beam 60°
Color temperature 6500K
Light efficiency Equivalent to a 25 watt halogen bulb
Burn time AA size batteries:
Hi-Output - Up to 12 hours, 1st hrs at 100% - 2nd hrs at 50% - 5th hrs at 25%
Lo-Output - Up to 12 hours, 1st hrs at 100% - 2nd hrs at 60% - 5th hrs at 40%
C size batteries:
Hi-Output - Up to 20 hours, 1st hrs at 100% - 3rd hrs at 50% - 7th hrs at 25%
Lo-Output - Up to 20 hours, 1st hrs at 100% - 3rd hrs at 60% - 7th hrs at 40%
Gradual reduction of output strength until switched off
Maximum depth 100m
Diameter 80mm
Length 210mm
Weight in air 760gr (net of batteries)
Buoyancy in water +75g(with AA batteries) -285g(with C batteries)
Switching system Rotary magnetic switch system
Transportation lock Closure system with blocking button
Front glass * Tempered optical glass
* Thickness 5mm - 68mm diameter
Lanyard Included

 

and because you are all flippedy, we are going to twist the factory's arm and send you some surprise junk you caint get nowhere else. . .y'all is special. . .flip on wit your baad self's!