New Products From DEMA 2009

The annual DEMA Show, sponsored by the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association, is the world’s preeminent showcase for dive professionals. Featuring hundreds of exhibits and attracting thousands of dive store owners, managers and instructors, the DEMA Show is not open to the general public. Nevertheless, it is where many manufacturers provide their dealers with a first look at the latest in equipment technology.

The 2009 DEMA Show took place in November at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. In this article, we are going to give you a look at six of the products that gathered the most attention at this year’s show.

Aqualung Zuma

Air travel isn’t as fun as it used to be — and one thing making it less fun is the airlines’ new restrictions on checked baggage. Divers. in particular, have been hard hit by limits and fees for checking dive gear.

One manufacturer has struck back. This year, Aqualung introduced the Zuma, a full-featured BC made specifically for travelling divers. It was clearly one of the hottest items at the show.

The Zuma weighs in at just four pounds and folds to an incredibly small size. Despite this, the Zuma has all the features you’d expect, including weight integration, remote dumps and an expanding pocket. The air-integrated SeaQuest Airsource 3 inflator is available as an option.

One store we know has put together a complete travel package that includes the Zuma, a lightweight reg, dive computer, 3.0 mm jumpsuit, mask, snorkel, fins and gear bag, and weighs in at just 17 pounds. And, yes, it qualifies as carry-on luggage.

The Zuma comes in a variety of sizes and is available now at your local Aqualung dealer.

Mantaray Dive Fins

You don’t create a powerful fin by making it stiff and hard to kick. You create a powerful fin by making it efficient — delivering the greatest possible thrust with the least effort.

In the last decade, we’ve seen split fins, hinged fins with elastic bands — but nothing quite like this. The APS Mantaray dive fins take their inspiration from the gills of a manta, delivering light weight, compact size and amazing performance.

A Scuba Diving magazine Tester’s Choice, these fins are available in three different colors and a variety of sizes. Visit the APS Mantaray website.

Ikelite Compact Video Package

Each year it seems the options for underwater imaging become more powerful, more compact — and more affordable than ever. This past year saw a quantum leap in this direction…and a further blurring of the line between still and video cameras.

Typical of these developments is a new camera and housing package from Ikelite. At its heart is a JVC Picsio compact digital video camera. Barely larger than a deck of cards, the Picsio nevertheless combines both a 1080p High Definition video camera with an eight-megapixal still camera, and accepts both SD or SDHC memory cards.

• A large, two-inch color monitor makes composing images easy. Image stabilization and a 4x digital zoom further extend the camera’s capabilities.

• The compact housing is tiny enough to fit in many BC or dry suit pockets.

• A UR/Pro color correcting filter is standard.

• Available options include an LED video light and 20mm wide-angle lens.

The best part, though, isn’t optional. You can get the base package including camera and housing, for under $500 — well within any diver’s budget.

Liquid Image Camera Mask

Yet another example of the revolution in underwater imaging is the camera mask from Liquid Image. Available in three different models, the top-of-the-line camera mask combines a five-megapixel still camera with a 720p, high-definition video camera. Available accessories include color-correcting filters and one- and four-watt video light systems.

If you have ever taken a class in underwater videography, you know that the constant panning and tilting, as well as the rapid head movements associated with a mask-mounted camera might not result in the most watchable video. But before you dismiss this as just another gimmick, consider the many practical applications for the hands-free operation this mask provides, such as:

• Light commercial divers, who may need to document the condition of hulls, props and shafts.

• Marine biologists. who may need to document plant and animal life while having hands free to record data on slates or notebooks.

• Dive instructors, who may want to record student performance without taking their eyes off students or losing control of the situation.

• Cave and wreck divers, who may be seeking a streamlined solution to documenting what it is they are exploring — especially when their hands are occupied by reels, tools or diver propulsion vehicles.

Until recently, this technology wasn’t even imaginable. Now it is practical and affordable.

Chammyz Dive Wear

If you’ve ever watched late-night television, you’ve seen famous pitchmen try to wow you with the wonders of micro-fiber towels. These seemingly miraculous products manage to absorb up to several times their own weight in water.

This technology is no stranger to many divers who, for years, have relied on Chammyz towels to dry off fast after a dive. What divers often don’t know, however, is that Chammyz makes a complete line of apparel for diving and other watersports.

Chammyz dive wear is lightweight, comfortable and warm. Its breathable, moisture wicking technology helps keep you dry while providing insulation and UV protection. The fabric is 100 percent recyclable.

To learn more about the complete line of Chammyz dive wear, visit your local Chammyz dealer.

Innovative Scuba Bladefish

Diver propulsion vehicles, or DPVs, have long been a staple of cave and technical diving. Despite this, DPVs have been slow to gain popularity among recreational divers. Nevertheless, a new generation of compact, affordable DPVs are starting to change that.

This year saw a quantum leap in compact DPV technology. At DEMA, Innovative Scuba Concepts introduced the Bladefish, a revolutionary new DPV that looks exactly like a more traditional model, except for one thing: the body is missing.

The Bladefish pulls off this technological tour de force by making use of ultra tiny, ultra efficient lithium ion batteries — the same technology that has made cell phones and mobile devices so small. These batteries are cleverly enclosed inside the prop shroud, eliminating the need for a convenrtounal scooter body. And, because these batteries are so lightweight, both Bladefish models weigh in at around ten pounds.

The Bladefish recharges fast, and can be ready to go in as little as an hour, depending on model. Bladefish models start at under $700 and are available through any Innovative Scuba Concepts dealer.