News
London Dive Show 2014
The sun was shining (the 2nd time this year) and visitors packed in to the London Dive Show, excited to see what new kit and gadgets were on this year’s must have list! Here’s our top 3 take outs from this year’s show.
The clear winner for the ladies was Sharkskin’s full suit – a snuggly warm technical watersports wetsuit with a great design.
For the boys, the new bigblue 15,000 lumen video light (VL15000 P) almost blinded a few passers by, got lots of ‘wow’s’
And the gadget addicts, the go-pro tray with the AL900XWP and VL2500 ticked all the boxes (including the ‘price’ one!)
Want more information on these or other products? See them on our website here www.liquidsports.co.uk/products
And we had to get proof that both Alastair and Joanna were working hard of course….
Birmingham Dive Show 2015
9:25 am on Saturday the 24th October visitors were queuing to enter the Birmingham Dive show 2015…..and they didn’t slow down until about 15:00 pm. The team at Liquid Sports were super excited to be launching the new RATIO computers; The range features a 2.8” colour-screen model, as well as full matrix watch-size instruments.
Here are some of the highlights from the day…
Everyone’s interested in the new RATIO Dive Computers at Dive 2015
RATIO Watches were also a hit!
The New HECS Sharkskin wetsuit with its revolutionary concealment technology that reduces the human body’s electric signal making you less detectable to underwater marine life. (and it looks great on too!)
Galaxsea Divers keeping cosy warm in Sharkskin at the Dive Show 2015
Seac
We’re really excited to be part of the Seac UK team as of April this year.
Just got the samples in and we’ll have them with us at Scubafest this coming bank holiday weekend. http://www.cornwallscubafest.co.uk
We’ll have products on our site soon but in the meantime, if you fancy a browse, cheek it out here http://www.seacsub.com.
Readers of Diver award Liquid Sports Newcomer of the Year 2013 (ok, 2nd place)
So unexpected that we didn’t even attend the Diver awards presentation and missed an opportunity to shake Monty Hall’s hand! (And 2nd place to Canon…game on!)
We’re delighted to be recognised, and would like to thank all of our retailers across the UK and our suppliers sharkskin, bigblue, aquabionic and Ursuit for their continued support.
We’re looking forward to sharing new exciting products with the industry for many more years to come with our existing and new brands…like us on Facebook or keep an eye on the website to be the first to see new products and brands in 2014.
Warp speed....
fin 1 (fn)
n.
A membranous appendage extending from the body of a fish or other aquatic animal, used for propelling, steering, or balancing the body in the water. Ummmmm so why am I not being propelled and steered through the water whilst wearing mine?
I had noted for quite a while that I was being well and truly left behind in the finning stakes and yet gaining cramp and calf pain along the way, too much energy was being put into this activity….according to a well known dive forum I should either [or both] learn to fin properly or get a new buddy. Whilst the latter is sometimes tempting [lets hope he who pays the bills isn’t reading this!] I’m not really ready to trade him in, so that leaves the first suggestion….I studied other’s finning techniques and copied them but to no avail…..so maybe it was time to look into buying a different style of fin.
I had used the same make of fin since I had started diving [10 yrs ago]; a very poplar make that scores high in reviews, so I was reluctant to make a change. However, needs must and whilst flicking through a dive magazine I saw a review on a new design of fins [ http://cetatek.com/]…well they certainly looked different, but do they work? back to the on- line forum, surely someone there has used them? unfortunately, no, but i did get the good advice of……”you’re be laughed off the boat wearing these” ok so they were quirky looking, but if they worked who really would be the one laughing?
So fins in my hands time to get them wet. First thought…basically….Wow….., I felt myself using less energy, no calf/ cramp experienced, and they certainly propelled me through the water. Ok, so these test dives were under Swanage pier hardly a stringent “road” test. So onto Meadfoot beach and Shag Rock anyone who has dived this great UK site will appreciate the horrendously long surface swim just to reach it [which of course also means a long swim back in]. Again these fins coped brilliantly.
I also found [for the first time] I could do helicopter turns [ok I’m sure the technique wouldn’t win any prises but still I was turning on the spot] it took me a few dives to really work out the main difference these fins made to my diving……I was now sculling rather than scissor kicking, thus I can now dive with bent knees, this is not to be mistaken for “floaty” feet as it didn’t feel like that at all, but it did feel more comfortable and easier to dive like this esp. on the silky UK seabed and with camera in hand, and my buddy certainly appreciated the reduced backscatter.
So, all in all, I undertook dives from Swanage pier, to diving off of rib into the Dover channel where these fins even gave me an added lift up whilst exiting the water. They also passed the tests of the rough water of the Farne Islands. On each and everyone of these dives these fins performed excellently and I just loved wearing them.
So the downsides-well the price for a start is possibly a bit off putting for some, however, they are well worth the money, but it does feel a big risk parting with so much when you don’t know how well they will perform, but i love these so much that i am having to buy another pair to wear with wetsuit boots, so i think that says a lot
one other point is the sizing, the small were too small for my dry suit boots and whilst the medium are a better fit there are the odd times i feel them a bit floppy but not enough to cause any problems, but another look at the sizing during the design stage wouldn’t go amiss.
Although I didn’t quite get up to WARP speed with these fins they are certainly powerful. I found all diving kicks possible with them, used less energy and got further, they also stirred up less water [or rather I did] as instead of them dragging down near to the sea bed I could hold them high, I also heard no laugher on the boats in fact I had one guy say they were sexy looking fins…..ummmm maybe I wouldn’t go that far but they are the best I’ve used by far.
Theresa Cloake, Dover
John Bantin 'takes it easy' with the aquabionic warp1 fins
The man who has tested just about every bit of diving kit reviews the new fins on the block…
aquabionic warp1 fins will be in the shops before the end of February.
Available in classic ‘diver-style’ black, blue for the boys, red for the girls and yellow if you just
want to be noticed!
aquabionic tested to the max by Sports Diver
aquabionic warp1 fin review by Sports Diver Magazine December 2012
See the full review here
"Comfort and joy"
Feeling festive yet? Going away for some winter sun? Sharkskin provide a range of unique technical water sports protection garments, designed and made in Australia, equivalent to 2.5-3 mm wetsuit but without the weight, discomfort and smell of neoprene.
1kg, the full suit is a perfect traveling companion for scuba and kayaking whether you’re off to Asia, Indonesia or somewhere else that we’re jealous about! Find your nearest stockist of this great brand here http://www.liquidsports.co.uk/stockists
Made in Finland dry suits
One for the boys this weekend at the the Kevlar BDS means business. At just over 3 kilos, the only breathable on the market giving extra comfort beyond all other suits. 20% Kevlar gives the membrane its strength and durability – perfect for wreck divers.
Sharkskin's first UK dive show
Sharkskin technical exposure protection has had a warm welcome from the UK diving community on a very cold weekend at the NEC Dive Show 2012!
The ladies love that it is neutrally buoyant (loose that lead!) and it’s 4-way stretch – it’s so easy to put on.