Concept II BC

Zeagle Systems, a leading innovator in BC design and proponent of weight integrated buoyancy systems, has introduced a ground up redesign of its popular Concept BC. The Concept II is a modular component system, which allows the dive center to custom fit and configure the BC to match the customer's body and style of diving. Torso length, shoulder size, waist size, buoyancy capacity and style of bladder, and type of integrated weights can all be independently adjusted to fit the needs of the diver. This is accomplished through Zeagle's new PFS (Personal Fit System) II, a patent pending arrangement of mating, interchangeable components.

Rather than being limited to a single style of BC, the Concept II allows conversion from one type of BC to another. The "Pro" model is fairly heavy duty, (1000 denier cordura construction) with 44 pounds of lift, and features Zeagle's patented Ripcord weight system with 40 pounds of capacity, plus dual 20-pound capacity Trim weight pouches mounted to the rear. The "Sport" model has less lift and weight capacity, while the "Express" model is designed for extreme light weight and compact size for travel.

For more information, contact Zeagle at 813-782-5568, contact your local Zeagle dealer, or visit Zeagle's website at www.zeagle.com.

Ocean Brite Systems in conjunction with Video Sea Housings is proud to announce the introduction of a line of digital still camera housings allowing the user to take megapixel cameras underwater. The housings have been designed to fit all the most popular new megapixel cameras currently being introduced to the market.

Ocean Brite has now developed these sophisticated housings to match what the camera manufacturers are now offering. Digital cameras are now available with 2+ megapixel resolution, expanded control features and, in some cases, external strobe plugs.

The new housings will offer a broad range of options from which to choose. Initially, there will be three models: the Standard Model&emdash;designed for "Point & Shoot" type digital cameras (basic) that use the camera's internal flash and do not offer sophisticated controls; the External Strobe Model&emdash;designed for "Point & Shoot" type of (slave) digicams that will accommodate the Ocean Brite slave strobe (sold separately); and finally, the Internal Strobe Model&emdash;designed for the more sophisticated (strobe) digicams such as the Olympus C-200, Nikon Cool Pix 950, and Agfa 1680, all of which accommodate the use of an external strobe and require more sophisticated controls.

Full information and pictures will soon appear on Ocean Brite's website, www.oceanbrite.com. The new housings can be seen at booth #547 at SCUBA Show 2000, June 3-4 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Seasoft Tank WTS

Watermark Scuba, famous for its Seasoft Weight Belts, has created an easy to use tank weight (Seasoft Tank WTS) that can be used to better balance the diver. The lead shot pouch is mounted on a tank and can be used in a number of beneficial ways. First, some tanks can become buoyant as they empty. This weight can deliver a remedy directly to the problem. Placing a small portion of one's weight on the tank takes some the lead off of the waist for greater comfort. And finally, this weight can be used to adjust a diver position in the water.

The Seasoft Tank WTS straps between a tank and BC with a simple but durable strap and buckle. A large adjustable strap fits virtually any tank and the soft neoprene pouch does not damage the tank. Seasoft Tank WTS are available in two, four and six pounds. An adjustable pocket model is available that will hold up to eight pounds.

For more information see your local Seasoft dealer. For a dealer near you, call 800-939-5510, or visit the Watermark site on the internet at www.watermark1.com. Seasoft products can also be seen at exhibit booth #161 at SCUBA Show 2000, June 3-4 at the Long Beach Convention Center.

HydroOptix™ has made a dramatic breakthrough with a revolutionary line of scuba and snorkeling masks that offer an underwater field of view four times greater than conventional flat masks.

"These are the world's only masks that let divers see underwater just as they'd see above water, without distortion or magnification," says Jon Kranhouse, the masks' inventor and HydroOptix LLC president.

The introduction of these masks culminates a decade of development and the granting of more than 20 U.S. and international patents to HydroOptix. According to Kranhouse, also an acclaimed Hollywood cinematographer and avid scuba diver, "The concept seems as fundamental as inventing a wheel that's round rather than square."

Kranhouse added, "However, only recent advances in optical and mechanical design software, optical polymers, molding techniques and coatings make this mask possible and affordable to the average diver."

Until now, scuba and snorkeling enthusiasts had to look through a flat pane of glass or plastic, mounted in a silicone rubber gasket that provided an air-pocket around the eyes and nose. Typically, these traditional masks magnify by 34 percent, thus limiting you to a 71-degree wide tunnel view of the underwater world.

The HydroOptix mask&emdash;using a twin-hemisphere, dome-shaped lens, with multiple internal lens elements&emdash;eliminates this restrictive magnification and provides a true-size, 150-degree horizontal by 100-degree vertical field of view.

"I knew enough about optics to invent the key concepts," recalls Kranhouse. "But to ensure we'd make a world-class product, I recruited the best optical talent in the country." Those experts included Dr. Iain Neil, Ph.D., winner of nine Technical Oscars® for designing Panavision's® best lenses, and for designing Jim Cameron's Titanic expedition optics.

Optical Research Associates® (ORA)&emdash;crucial to fixing the once-fuzzy Hubble Space Telescope&emdash;was contracted to finalize designs. With more than 50 optical and computer engineers and scientists, the ORA team draws from 300+ man-years of experience to solve optical challenges, aided by the world's most powerful optical design software, Code V, also created by ORA.

Dr. John Rogers, Ph.D. led ORA team members David Hasenauer and Dr. J. Michael Rodgers, Ph.D. during optimization of the HydroOptix design.

The HydroOptix product line consists of three products. MAX is the initial U.S. retail model offered to scuba divers with 20/20 vision, or those who can correct their vision to 20/20 with contact lenses. Suggested retail price will be about $500 (U.S.), with U.S. deliveries to begin by June.

MAXoptix&emdash;to begin shipping later in 2000&emdash;may be ordered with prescriptive correction for each eye, including bi-focal correction.

For more information, contact HydroOptix at (310) 459-2700, or visit their web site at www.HydroOptix.com.

The new Platina Plus fins from TUSA are specially designed to accommodate the fine contours of a woman's foot and leg. A shorter, softer blade minimizes leg fatigue significantly. Material used in construction has a "memory" and a hybrid configuration of materials result in dynamic channel action of the water resulting in great propulsion with an easier kick.

The foot pocket is styled for a woman's foot with soft material and a high peak. The design accommodates a higher arch while providing a comfortable, no-pressure fit.

The new TUSA Platina Plus fin is available in six color combinations. For more information, see the TUSA dealer near you. A guide to California TUSA dealers can be found in the Dive Store Directory section of this issue. Or for other dealers, call TUSA at (562) 498-3708.