What’s New

Each issue, the Scuba Diver test team bring you the latest product and equipment releases from the dive industry. Cannot wait for the next edition? Keep up-to-date with all the latest gear news and reviews by heading over to the Scuba Diver YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/ScubaDiverMagazine

HOLLIS ST, ST ELITE AND DT BUOYANCY SYSTEMS | SRP: £599.95-£689.95

Hollis is introducing three new buoyancy systems during Q1 2022, each designed to meet the needs of discerning recreational and technical divers. At Hollis, the design team knows that the needs of each diver are a little different, so when it came to designing new buoyancy systems, they sought to create gear that would meet its user where they’re at as a diver. Whether the user is a single-tank diver, a twin-cylinder diver - diving in the Caribbean or locally in cold water – Hollis has tailored these systems to the type of diving they’ll be doing. There are three systems available: the ST System, ST Elite System, and DT System, with customisation options for each.

The ST System is designed for minimalist-minded divers who prioritise streamlining their kit, for the ultimate in traditional simplicity. So if the diver is concerned about unnecessary bulk and pieces of equipment failing, the ST eliminates those factors. The foundation for the ST System starts with the new Hollis backplate 2.0 with geometry and material choices tailored to an individual’s style of diving.

The ST features a continuous-weave solo harness. It has no buckles that can fail, and no extra parts that aren’t needed. An ultra-streamlined single-tank ST wing rounds out the system with a perfect balance of horizontal trim and surface floatation. It’s all one simple, ultra-rugged design made for technical dive utility.

The ST comes pre-assembled from the factory and includes unique components depending on the user’s desired configuration. For warm water and travel destinations customers can choose the ST Travel System (£599.95), which includes the Aluminium backplate 2.0, Delrin cam bands and the Backplate backpad 2.0.

Two wing sizes are available. The ST22 provides 10kg of lift while the ST35 has 16kg. Those diving in colder waters may prefer the standard ST System, which includes the ST35 wing, Stainless Steel Backplate 2.0, Stainless Steel cam bands and the Backplate backpad 2.0. An optional weight system is sold separately.

Similar to the baseline ST, the ST Elite brings together the most popular Hollis single tank components into a single system. However, instead of the solo harness, Hollis has added the luxurious and adjustable Elite 2 harness, yielding a result similar to what you’d expect from a full-featured BCD.

For divers coming from the recreational world of single tank diving using a traditional BCD, this gives the same harness style, but on a backplate for added stability. The ST Elite System also gives its owner a ton of options for customisation depending on their diving style, in case it changes over time. For warm water and travel destinations, an ST Elite Travel System (£649.95) is available which includes the ultra-streamlined ST22 wing, Aluminium backplate 2.0, Delrin cam bands and Backplate backpad 2.0. Those diving in colder waters can choose the standard ST Elite, which includes a go-anywhere ST35 wing, Stainless backplate 2.0, Stainless cam bands and a Backplate backpad 2.0.

For twinset diving, the Hollis DT System is minimal and simple, and designed for the rigorous demands of the discerning doubles diver. Made tough, it comes with all of the components for a backplate and wing kit in one, preassembled from the factory. The foundation for the DT system starts with Hollis’ new Stainless Steel Backplate 2.0, with geometry and material choices tailored to the user’s style of diving. The design team then added the continuousweave solo harness. This harness has no buckles that can fail, and no extra parts that the user won’t need.

Rounding out the DT system is the new DT50 doubles wing with 23kg of lift and, with a radical redesign, it’s ideal for various sized double cylinders and colder waters. The DT50 also promotes greater lift towards the diver’s hips for better horizontal trim. Alternatively, users can opt for the DT45 Dual wing offering 20kg of lift via its double bladder. Lastly, the DT includes the new Backplate backpad 2.0, which is designed to pivot out of the way when installing kit on a set of doubles. Owners can add a set of cam bands to the DT for the occasional single tank dive. www.hollis.com

Mares have always had a decent line-up of torches, and the new EOS range definitely ticks all the boxes regardless of whether you wanted a compact back-up torch or a morepowerful primary unit. The range runs from the EOS 10lr and EOS 10lrw back-up lights through the EOS 5, 10 and 15lrz units, to the range-topping EOS 32lrz. The EOS 10lr and 10lrw (both £134) feature a 1,000 lumen CREE LED, a visual battery charge indicator, a rechargeable battery, four options (on, low, SOS, off) and come in a padded case. The lrw has a wider beam than the lr, making it particularly useful as a video light.

The EOS 5lrz (£162), 10lrz (£242) and 15lrz (£269) all have a magnetic adjustable focus, which takes the beam from narrow to wide light. The 5lrz has a 520 lumen XP-G2 CREE LED, the 10lrz has a 1,100 lumen XML-2 CREE LED, and the 15lrz has three 1,580 lumen XP-G2 CREE LEDs. The top-ofthe-line EOS 32lrz (£359) has an XHP50 LED and like its lrz brethren, it has a magnetic adjustable focus for the light beam. It has a max burntime of 135 minutes on full power. www.mares.com

TECLINE FRAMELESS SUPER VIEW MASK SRP: £54.75-£59.25

Tecline offer a range of frameless masks, but one of their latest is the Super View, which comes in a selection of colours, including black (and the all-black Military variant at £57.98), white, pink and a vibrant orange. The Super View has a striking design, and looks especially good in the orange colourway. The silicone used for the skirt is soft and flexible, giving a comfortable fit on the face. The strap is a straightforward tried-and-tested design, and Tecline opted for simple but effective stainless-steel buckles rather than some button-operated system. It is basic, but it works well. You can also choose to get the Super View in black with a yellow-tinted lens (£59.25) to add colour back into your dive. The Frameless Super View comes in a sturdy plastic storage box and is very keenly priced. www.teclinediving.eu Scubapro has introduced two new regulator systems targeted at recreational divers who are ready to step up from their entry-level regulator systems and are looking for a reliable upgrade that’s durable while delivering smooth breathing performance. These new regulator systems are built around a new second stage – the S270.

The S270’s air-balanced design smoothes out the inhalation effort when diving at varying depths and supply pressures for effortless air delivery, regardless of position in the water. The techno polymer plastic barrel with metal thread helps save weight and provides a surface that ice crystals can’t grab onto when diving in cold water. This contributes to why S270 regulator systems are CE certified to the latest EN250A European Standards for all diving conditions, including extreme cold water.

The S270’s sturdy yet lightweight casing, made of a fibreglass-reinforced nylon core with a special anti-scratch PU outer layer, is able to handle years of hard use while reducing jaw fatigue and improving diving comfort. The S270 comes with a dive/predive switch that is easy to use, even when wearing thick gloves, and a compact exhaust tee that is very efficient in minimizing exhalation effort. The Hi-Flow mouthpiece, made with FDA-approved silicone, is comfortable and features a large cross-section to maximize airflow. It is teamed with a super-flow hose with an oversized bore that allows more air to flow on each inhalation.

The S270 is paired with MK11 and MK2 EVO first stages. The MK11/S270 features a balanced diaphragm first stage with sealed internal parts. This prevents water and pollutants from fouling the inner mechanism while enhancing cold water performance. The MK2 EVO/S270 features the only downstream piston-style first stage with internal components specifically designed to resist freezing in extreme cold-water conditions. Both systems are affordable, durable and deliver smooth and reliable breathing performance. This makes them ideal choices not only for recreational divers but for training and rental agencies seeking solid performance from regulator systems that will last. www.scubapro.com