EARPLUGS:

EASIER COMPENSATION

 

 

Difficult compensation? Damaged ear drums? Frequent ear infections? For all these problems it seems that the 

proper solution comes from the USA and is it represented by anatomic ear plugs. They are the outcome of intensive research started over 30 years ago. They are made of flexible and soft plastic and once they are fitted into the ear they close the canal preserving it from external agents and avoid the sucker effect of the hood.
Some models do have a valve system that at a certain depth let water flow in moderately avoiding the effect of the pressure on the canal.  

 

HOW DOES IT WORK

PLUG 1  PLUG 2

As in the picture, if the plug was watertight during the dive, the increasing external pressure and the correspondent volume reduction of the air left in canal between the plug and the ear drum, would have dangerously pushed the plug toward the eardrum causing severe injuries. The small valves on the plugs instead by letting water in avoid this to happen. This way, then the external pressure is mainly borne by the plug and the compensation turns to be easier. 

 

PROS AND CONS
Although the experts opinions about this product are really controvert (click on the link), the producers claim that the use of these plugs helps prevent the ear infections as they act as a filter against the debris and since they reduce the water flow they also help to prevent thermal traumas. This latter feature is more useful in scuba diving as in spearfishing the change of water into the canal occurs at every dive. Many people witness that even divers with pierced eardrums have been able to dive thanks to these plugs. By clicking on the following link you can see the test on such a diver performed by the hyperbaric centre of Sassari (Italy): TEST 

In case of healed eardrums wounds, the presence of a scar on the membrane makes the latter more fragile than a sane one and however more keen to future ruptures. For this reason the plug might help the freediver to easily compensate as the external pressure works on the plug rather than on the membrane.A really negative aspect of these plugs is that it reduces the hearing of 35db in surface. It is also possible that after use the ear canal can redden so it is very important to carefully clean the plugs after every use by paying attention to the valves as there shouldn’t be any trace of earwax on them. 

For any further info or to provide us with your personal experience write us in the contacts section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GFT CARBONIO FINS

AREOSPACE TECHNOLOGY


What happens if we make free diving fins using the same strict processes and the same materials that are commonly used to build up critical parts of airplanes?
logoA couple of young engineers from Apulia after a long experience in aerospace industry have answered this question and founded the GFT Carbonio company based in Brindisi, southern Italy.

The passion for spearfishing and the knowledge in carbon fiber production technologies led them to create a line of fins that have no equals on the market as they are able to bear stress and efforts keeping the characteristic lightness and flexibility with an optimal distortion reaction elasticity ratio allowing spearos to use them for a longer time with the best performance in terms of thrust and movement control.

Everybody claims to use carbon fiber but production processes are not all alike and they make the difference when it comes to exploit all the benefits of the composite material mechanical properties as torsion, compression, resistance, elasticity, reaction and strength.Bracelet and earrings producers do use carbon fiber but they do not need to stress on mechanical properties and bicycles producers only need a lighter weight.
As a matter of fact the pregpreg carbon (the one used by GFT) is only equal to steel in terms of strength but it is much lighter. 

Production process
The fins are made with tissues and fibers that are pre-impregnated by the producer with a pre-catalyzed resin since fibers do need to be fully impregnated to pinnebe efficient. Since the mechanical properties of fibers are better than the resin ones, the higher is the volume of the fibers the better the out coming mechanical properties will be.
The fiber/resin ratio comes mainly from the production process used to mix the two components and it is affected by the way the fibers are incorporated.Further, the production process includes a number of imperfections variables and air inclusion. By using the typical naval “lay-up” process the fiber/resin ratio is about 30-40%.
By using the more sophisticated and precise processes used in aerospace industry the above ratio is even 70%!!! 

The fins line
The GFT fins are produced in four models for different uses and available with three hardness option (soft, medium and hard) and are able to go across the top, enhancing your performances.  

Bassofondo cm 65x19 variable thickness, extremely handy and light with an elastic reaction and a movement precision with no equals in its sector.  

Pesca cm 80x19 homogeneous thickness, they represent the common path between dimension and performance to face also greater depths with fluid movements being able to fully exploit all the properties you should care about: thrust-flexion-reaction-torsion. 
Watch the video1 video2

Apnea pura cm 90x19  variable thickness, made to enhance our abilities, not really handy in surface swimming but able to push the diver across the limits. 

 

Agguato cm 80x19 new 2010 made to meet the needs of who wants easy movements on surface and fluid reaction during the dive. Variable thickness in order to provide precise movements even on the bottom with a minimal impulse of the foot keeping the typical characteristics that distinguish GTF on the market. Watch the video

 

FOR FURTHER INFO OR ORDERS: www.carboniogft.com
Joomla visitor tracking and live stats