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DIVER & SPORT DIVER
It’s that time of year again when we start to look back over 2015 and forward to 2016 about the best and most popular equipment in production. 2015 was a good year for innovation and upgrades across the range from the Scubapro EVO upgrade on regulators to the Gummy Bear seal on the Atomic Venom Frameless Mask.
Before we get into the most popular in each category we’re going to look at the most notable products that came to Simply Scuba in 2015. Some of these came quite late in the year to compare them to established equipment but each of them have innovations or features that earn them a mention in the Top 10 List.
Your regulator is your most important piece of equipment in my opinion and 2015 seems to the year of the Apeks regulator with half of the list with Scubapro working their way into their ranks. Early on in 2015 Scubapro released the Evo Upgrades to their MK25 and Mk2 1st stages which have given them the top 3 spaces on the list. It’s also encouraging to see that Apek’s Sidemount Regulator Set is in the Top 10 list also with more and more divers embracing sidemount diving.
Your BCD defines what kind of diving you’re going to do and this year’s Top 10 shows a mix of travelling and local divers who either have a dedicated travel BCD or a hybrid that is light for travel but tough enough for diving at home. Scubapro top this list with Mares hot on their heels and I think we’ will be seeing more Mares BCDs in next years list. Only 3 of the Top 10 are wings with the other 7 being jacket styles showing most of us prefer a jacket style wing with pockets.
Suunto dominate the computer list, owning half of the list but their usual grip is slipping. Suunto haven’t made that many changes to their line-up this year and Mares are striking back with their newest computer the SMART which was released about the same time as the Eon Steel for 2015 but has climbed over it to take 5th position. Other brands are taking advantage of Suunto’s lack of innovation and making their way up the list, the other brands are taking leaps and bounds with their new computers .
Mares hit the target hard when they designed the Avanti Quattro’s which have been consistently popular since they came out, simple tough and light the AQ+ are popular with Instructors thanks to their no nonsense design and efficient performance. Channel blade fins dominate the Top 10 with shorter vented blades like the Jet and RK3 creeping up the board and hinged X-Streams and Seawing Nova fins holding in the Top 10.
There are some exciting things due to come in the 2016 season with even more innovative designs and features. Right now I can’t mention specific brands or products but expect to see radical 2nd stage designs, dive computers with biometrics that adjust your deco algorithm as you dive and accessories to make your life easier in a whole manner of ways.
AquaLung’s purchase of Pelagic have given them a jump-start with a range of computers and the other big brands like Mares and Scubapro will probably climb over the sleeping giant Suunto this year for a more varied list next year.
Some of the 2016 line up has already arrived that you can take a look at; There’s going to be a new range of AquaLung dive computers that are certainly going to make waves with good looks and easy user interface. Mares have upgraded their X-Vision Mask to include a mirrored glass lens to reduce glare and improve colours underwater and I think Mares BCDs should grow in popularity this year with their new Quantum and the quality of their Hybrid BCDs.