In scuba diving there are three things you must be able to do with ease and safety. These are: the ability to see, the ability to move properly, and most importantly, the ability to breathe. The easier you breathe, the more comfortable the dive, the less you have to worry about. It contributes to a better and safer diving experience. Which is the reason why I wanted to try out the Aquamundo Aroq series of 2^nd stage regulators. What makes these 2^nd stages different is that these are balanced 2^nd stages. Balanced regulators usually refer to the 1^st stage only (where direct tank pressure is reduced to intermediate pressure). The problem before with unbalanced regulators was they became harder to breathe from either with an increase in depth or with a decrease in tank pressure. Balanced 1^st stages solved that and most regulators in the market today are either balanced diaphragm or piston type regulators that give an even flow of air even with low tank pressure.

 

The problem with most of these 1^st stage regulators is that they are mated with unbalanced 2^nd stages. Adjustable, yes, but they are still subject to variations in breathing resistance at deeper depths. This means more work inhaling air when it counts the most. The Airoq series 2^nd stages are balanced to give the least amount of breathing resistance comparable to any 2^nd stage in the market today. The Aroq 1 features a venturi-assisted airflow switch that gives the user control over the amount of air needed in any situation. In pre-dive mode, it prevents accidental free-flows that would spoil any dive. The Airoq 2 is blessed with an additional feature: A fine-tuned airflow adjustment knob for precise adjustment of the air you need.

 

Both 2^nd stages can be mated to any Aquamundo balanced 1^st stage regulator (namely models QR5 and above) turning it into a high-performance setup worthy of even the most demanding technical diver.

 

My first breath on the Aroq 1 was a pleasant surprise. It was one of the softest breathing regulators I have ever tried. It ranked right up there with regulators that cost almost double what you would pay for an Aroq 1. High-end performance at a reasonable price, that’s a combination that’s hard to beat. As I descended, I was expecting the usual breathing resistance when reaching depths greater than 100 feet. Another surprise was that I didn’t feel any. It breathed as soft and as easy as before. Fighting against a current, you expend a lot of energy. Consequently you use up more air than usual. The Airoq was up to the challenge. Even when inhaling hard, the Airoq was giving me all the air I needed without flutter or resistance. Coming back to the surface, one thing was on my mind “Gotta get me one of these!” and so I did. I was so happy with the performance; I put one on my back-up regulator as well (you know, the one you used to use but now lend out to almost anybody, or use when your current favorite’s in the shop).

When I first started scuba diving, the first pair of fins I ever bought was Aquamundo Wave Cutters. That was years ago. My instructor told me “These things are great! The V-pocket forms a channel that forces water on the blade!” I had no idea what that meant, but the fins looked good and I trusted my instructor (as a newly minted open water diver, those were the only things that mattered). As I gained more diving knowledge and experience, I started to understand what he meant. I grew accustomed to the Wave Cutter’s power combined with its easy kicking efficiency. The fin is constructed with a composite of high-impact ABS plastic and mold-injected rubber, giving it a combination of strength and flexibility. This is where the Wave Cutter draws its power.

 

Surrounded by ABS composite material is a V-shaped channel of flexible rubber that runs down the center of the blade. As force is applied, the channel bends, forming a scoop that pushes more water on the face of the fin blade. The more water the blade pushes, the faster you move through the water. Simple enough.

 

Through the years I’ve used other brands of fins. I always end up comparing them to my trusty Wave Cutters. Some models share the same configuration, having channels along the face of the blade, but results vary. Some are as comfortable but I don’t seem to feel myself moving as fast. Some models seem to give me as much power but they feel stiff and my calves end up cramping after a long swim against a current. I feel that the Wave Cutter is a well-balanced fin that is both comfortable and powerful when needed.

There are fin designs that come and go. And there are some that have stood the test of time. Some designs are simple, and some are novel. And then there are some designs that don’t change because there is no need to. The Aquamundo Ventec is one such design. Used by dive professionals and paramilitary organizations for decades, the vented fin design delivers forceful fin strokes that provide power to fight stiff currents but provides very little resistance on the return stroke, giving your muscles a slight rest each time. This makes it ideal for prolonged use with all manner of kicking styles. The all-rubber construction adds another dimension to the word “durable”. I’ve heard of these types of fins being passed on from father to son. How’s that for “timeless classic”? The one drawback with the old models, was its one concession to durability, it’s weight. The fins seemed to get heavier the longer you used it. Those were the older models using older materials. Technology is a wonderful thing. The new Ventec fins make use of a new mold injected, lightweight rubber compound that reduces its weight without sacrificing durability. Now you can enjoy all the benefits of this classic fin and continue this legacy of style and durability, in total comfort.

By JP Tugade, PADI Instructor

 

There are many different kinds of Buoyancy Control Devices (BCD). There are jacket type BCDs, back-inflated BCDs and backplate-harness type systems used for technical diving. Then there are the most often used and abused BCDs of all – the resort rental BCD.

 

 Day in and day out these BCDs take the daily pounding of diving guests with varying degrees of proficiency, from student-diver to more advanced users. They have to be able to provide stability for a diverse number of body types. At the same time they have to be durable enough to last a long time under not-so-ideal conditions, like getting dragged through sand and rocks, over-inflation, scraping against corals, long exposure to the hot sun and being left without being rinsed for long periods of time.

 

I may have found the closest to an ideal in Aquamundo’s Spartan III BCD.

 

The first thing I noticed was that it was comfortable. It’s generously padded in the lower lumbar area and in the neck area, providing soft support to your neck and back (a feature more typically found in higher-end bcds). It is also blessed with a robust, easy to handle inflator / deflator mechanism that fits well in the hand – even with gloves on. It provides quick access for inflation or deflation, the wide oral inflation port makes it easy to manually inflate the bcd.

What truly sets this bcd apart are three key features:

2 levels of shoulder adjustment – In most jacket style bcds, you would find adjustable shoulder straps attached to a quick release buckle at one point. The Spartan III has two quick release attachment points at the shoulder for an even greater range of adjustability making this bcd comfortable for different body types. For a resort owner, this means less worry about sizing differentials and not having enough bcds of the right size. For a dive professional conducting resort courses, there’s less worry about ill-fitting bcds that are either too large or too small.

Octopus hose loop pocket- I found this feature really neat – literally. It’s a custom-shaped pocket on the side of the bcd that holds a loop of the alternate air source hose that keeps it secure but allows instant access with one gentle pull. It beats trying to wrestle the hose out of a hose clip any day.  Did I say hose clip? You’ll never lose one again, because you’ll never have to buy one again.

 

Console sleeve – Another reason you won’t need a hose clip. The gauges slide through this built in sleeve and emerges in front of the bcd just below chest level. All you have to do to check your air is look down. It prevents your gauges from dragging on coral too.

In case you’re wondering about durability, most resorts in the Philippines already use Aquamundo gear, and they have been for quite some time now. They know it can take years of abuse. I’m inclined to agree.

 

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