INTOVA MARINE GRADE X2 

THE NEW UNDERWATER ACTION CAM

In 2016 Intova has launched a new camera that really allows to capture all our adventures in a different way thanks to a new exciting features. Compact design, rubber armor coating and upgraded LCD screen are some of the main characteristics of this underwater action cam but the one that distinguishes it from the others, as it is the only camera in the world to have it, is a built-in photoflash and video light.

Let’s go through then all the features in detail!

This camera is waterproof up to 100mt (330ft) and can take both pictures and videos. As previous models from intova it can also take pictures while recording videos (picture in video setting). The highest resolution for videos is 1080p 60fps (but there is plenty of other settings to choose from) while the highest resolutions for stills is 16MP(and also in this case there are many other settings). It is equipped with a 2.3” CMOS sensor and a 2” TFT LCD  monitor with a 960x240 resolution, the whole camera weights 197gr (7oz) and it is characterized by a very compact design 8 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm (3.15″ x 2.76″ x 1.97″).

As we mentioned above, the top feature of the Marine Grade X2 is its built-in photoflash and 150 lumen video light. It can in fact be used, by activating the proper option in the menu, to record videos or take pictures in low-light environments like underwater caves, for example.

As it can be inferred by its name, the marine grade was born specifically for underwater use so besides the built in light it has other incredible features that make it the best choice for diving. Through its straightforward and stress free menu you can set the camera according to the depth of use. The camera will actually add a different grade of red to recording, according to the depth set (check the video test) in order to get always the most realistic colours. You can choose -10, -20, -30, over -30. 

It has 170° wide angle lens but thanks to another great setting (FOV in the video menu) the field of view can be narrowed (check the video test).

The marine grade X” is not equipped with a remote control but thanks to the a free download app it can be fully controlled through our smartphone/iphone (check the video test). In opposition to what happens with other cameras from other manufacturers, the smartphone/iphone app really allows to control all features. User can in fact change mode and settings of each mode. He can also choose the files to playback or delete. It is the best choice to share videos/stills on socials.

Now that we have been through the main features of the action cam, let’s see how efficiently they can be used while spearfishing.

First of all, being the wide angle 170°, it is not really the best for spearo as fishes will look very distant but fortunately the FOV setting solve the problem and make this camera useful for both our underwater adventures and our everyday life.

The video effect that applies a red filter is something you can do without but it will work properly only when you reach the bottom at each dive, in fact when surfacing right before to dive the video will result deep red. Obviously such a setting was aimed to tanks divers.

The 150 lumen built in led light is useful when we are about to shoot a grouper in a dark cave, for example, to keep the subject always illuminated and avoid aiming the supergun to some point in the darkness and then waiting for the fish to be extracted from the cave to see it.

The only negative point is represented by the duration of the battery. As it is stated in the manual it lasts up to 2h and obviously if we keep the led light in use when we record videos the battery life will be even shorter. This implies we need to consider a back-up plan because we won’t have an operating camera up to the end of our spearfishing adventure so we need to activate all those energy saving settings available in the menu as the screen switch off timer.

Today spearos are very “social” so having a camera that through an app allows user to instantly share pictures and videos is very useful.

The camera has many other features that make it very useful for spearfishing like the video rotation. If for any reason we need to mount it upside down on our speargun it will rotate 180° the shooting so that the video will always have the right orientation.

It has both the photo burst and self capture options that can be customized and allow the spearo to take the usual selfies with the prey just caught.

As we mentioned above it has many resolution settings for videos and it can record up to 120 fps, that is very useful to test new spearguns and see the trajectory of the shaft.

The camera itself doesn’t float, so fix it properly on the stirrup. The rubber armor coating really makes its job in preserving the case from scratches. The buttons are all easy to operate and  provide full controls of menu.

The overall opinion about the camera performance and how it fits to spearfishing practice is excellent. The great quality of the images is undeniable, what a pity that the battery doesn’t last any longer, however in comparison to other action cameras (that have a screen) the duration is in the same range. 

CAMERA FULL USER MANUAL 

OMER SUB DRY BAG FLOAT

& SPORASUB BLUE WATER FLOAT

The DRY BAG FLOAT is a product of extreme simplicity and easy to use, designed to be practical and comfortable in the exercise of our favorite activity, spearfishing. Many components of our equipment must be mounted, assembled, balanced and regulated and in most cases these operations must be repeated at each dive. We also need to cope with a series of objects that are not part of the equipment but we have to take with us anyway as keys, phone, documents, etc. As a consequence we use waterproof cases that we fix to the buoy at best, often in a way that is not really comfortable and reliable.

The DRY BAG FLOAT simplifies our lives and saves us from the stress of these alternative cases. It is a buoy so exclusive as to have received the innovation award at the Nantes spearfishing show 2016.

Let's see it then in detail. It is a red / orange buoy covered with anti-abrasion material and consists essentially of two large independent air chambers, one above and one below. It measures 55cm in length and 30cm in width and 55cm in height (including the flag). It weights only 1,15kg (including two lead plates, 100gr each, that have their housing in two pockets located in the lower part of the buoy) and is equipped with two solid handles on the top, 4 velcro rings at the bottom and a solid ring for traction in the front part.

The main feature that makes it special is the capacity of being a waterproof bag and a dive buoy at the same time. Through the opening on the back you can introduce all those objects you want to keep dry. Once inserted, you just need to fold the edges of the rear opening and close it with the clips. At this point you can proceed to inflate the air chambers (I suggest you to inflate them a little at the time instead of fully inflate one first and then the other). The pressure exerted by these inner tubes will keep the objects safe from the water and firmly in the chosen position. The inner air chambers are equipped with double valves (one contained in the other) through which you can inflate and deflate them quickly.

It is, as said earlier, a product very simple and practical, but that appears to be both solid and resistant. The seals, the lining material and the flag locking system (for sure you are not going to lose the flag at sea) express strength and solidity that instill confidence about the reliability and duration of this buoy.

Another spearfishing buoy, designed by sporasub, is the BLUE WATER FLOAT. It is a originally designed for a different type of fishing, the one in the ocean to great size preys, however it well performs in our seas. It has a more tapered silhouette than the previous model, measuring 107cm in length, 38 in width and 81.5cm in height. The weight is 1,150kg (this buoy is also available in a mini version). Also this buoy is built in anti-abrasion material and is characterized by a plasticized orange band which entirely surrounds the central part and which has a lead pocket (in the bottom) for stabilization and a hole (at the top) for flag support housing.

In fact, as shown in the photos, when the buoy is not inflated, we need to put a rubber cylindrical support through the aforementioned hole and then place the flagstick in it. Once the buoy is inflated, the air pressure will hold both the support and the flag tight. However being the flagstick composed of two parts which fit one into each other we should secure them with tape or glue in order to avoid that the part with the flag falls off into the sea. The flag of this buoy, however, has the advantage of having the flag fixed on a support which allows it to rotate 360 degrees following the wind direction. In other words, the flag is fixed to a cylinder that can rotate around the flagstick.

The buoy is equipped with one air chamber which can be inflated through the straw valve located at the edge of the orange band. The operation is very simple, just unscrew a washer which allows the upper part to slide down opening the valve. At this point it is sufficient to blow into the straw which has a retention system through which when we stop inflating the air does not come out.

The system is great but when you want to deflate the buoy it makes the operation slower than with the DRY BAG FLOAT.

It is equipped with two solid handles for transportation and a ring for traction in the front, however, it has not snap hooks, rings or hooks of another type for the transport of our equipment. However the presence of a robust central band in the lower part allow us to customize it.

Thanks to its tapered silhouette this buoy could be customized also to be more visible and functional. If the buoy would remain perpendicularly on the water surface with the aid of a simple lead belt connected at the tip and the its flagstick could rotate thanks to a mounting system with a tilting base which includes fasteners (clips), this mark would be very visible because the flagstick (97cm) height and the buoy length (107cm) would merge. In short 2m above the surface!

MARLIN EVIL 100

THE NEW SPEARGUN BY BEAUCHAT

Beuchat, the historic French manufacturer is ready for the distribution of the new speargun presented during the Dema show 2015. It's the new Marlin Evil.

It is a speargun with a very basic configuration that does not include special innovative characteristics but that remains however a very well made product with high quality standards.

It has an aluminum barrel with a 28mm diameter round section characterized by an integrated spear guide also made of aluminum. The handle is the one from the well-known marlin series with stainless steel release mechanism. The muzzle instead is closed with a very simple and basic profile. Even the overall configuration does not include particular accessories. The speargun is in fact provided with a pair of 16mm bands (for a 100cm barrel) with articulated wishbone while the shaft (6.5mm diameter for a 100cm barrel) has only two notches away from each other 10cm.

It was designed for newbies spearos looking for a reliable and efficient product. The closed muzzle, the slings with articulated wishbone and shaft with  only 2 notches make it unfortunately unappealing to the most experienced spearos who may still choose it, in the shorter versions, for cave fishing.

SEAC MOTUS KAMA FINS

NEW BY SEAC SUB

The fins that we look at today represent the natural evolution of a product already present in previous catalog of SEAC: the Motus fins. From this year they are also available in camouflage version under the name MOTUS KAMA. It is mimetic fin with techno-polymer interchangeable blades that hold in their design some small tricks that make them different from the others on the market as they increase comfort and improve the performance.

The most important details lie in the design of the foot pocket. Two different thermoplastic rubber hardnesses were employed in order to ensure the best compromise between comfort and performance. The side ribs, the sole and a portion of the upper part (towards the fingers) are made with a greater hardness to avoid the dispersion of the force generated by the kick while the other parts are made of softer thermoplastic rubber to be comfortable and to avoid the occurrence of abrasions and blisters after prolonged use. The foot pocket finally, is designed with an inclination of 22° which optimizes the use of energy.

The blade as said earlier is now available with a very nice camouflage that shows the typical Mediterranean sea bottom made of rock and weeds (predominantly  brown in colour). Through the use of an innovative technique (WFT) the seabed is embossed directly into the plastic of the blade and therefore being not printed on a film applied to the surface, the resistance to abrasion is exponentially greater. Towards its end the blade has two small flaps which channel the water and improve the grip of the fin.

Overall it is a very soft and comfortable fin that we frankly recommend for fishing trips involving long surface swimming. Especially in the horizontal swimming they allow to increase the amplitude of the fin kick and do not tire the ankles. They are best if used within 15mt depth where also their camouflage can play a decisive role on the success of the fishing action. The foot pocket comfort, ultimately, is so important to suggest (if you do not find at your ease with the techno-polymer blades) to take it into account for mounting your carbon blades.