Gear / Photo & Video Equipment

10 Simple Strategies for Making the Best Purchase Possible1. Start at Your Local PADI Dive ShopThis is where to find the most trusted advice. Well-trained staff will know the local environment and can also advise on what you’ll need for travel. And there’s no substitute for getting fitted by an expert. 2. Look at What Your Instructor is Using

Maximum enjoyment. That’s what we’re all looking for when we dive. And our equipment plays a huge part in that equation. A warmer wetsuit, a better-fitting mask, an easier-breathing reg, a more user-friendly computer — all of these things will contribute to your ultimate underwater joy. That’s why we’ve gathered 167 of the newest, most innovative and downright coolest products for 2011, and poured them into 72 gear-packed pages. Because we know what a big difference new gear can make to your scuba experience — and we’re here to help you do it right.

A powerful and compact focus light, the Sola 600 cranks out 670 lumens of white light or 225 lumens of red light for increased stealth. Burn times for the rechargeable system run between 80 and 320 minutes based on the user-selected power level.CONTACT uwimaging.com

A 3-in-1 system, this 500-lumen LED light works for shooting video or digital stills, and can be detached and used as a primary dive light. It spreads a smooth 70-degree beam and runs off four AA batteries. Multiple power settings allow extended burn times. CONTACT sealife-cameras.com