News
rEvo Rebreather event held in wintry conditions at Stoney Cove
Over the weekend of the 17th & 18th of March, the teams from rEvo Rebreathers and Mares gathered at Stoney Cove to show off their latest equipment, offering rEvo try dives and loaning out Mares dive and XR equipment to the divers who adventured out on what was a particularly wintry weekend. Even with a weather warning for extreme cold and heavy snow, divers turned up from around the UK.
Saturday started out beautifully sunny as the first group, who had signed up to try out the rebreather systems, headed into the classroom at Stoney Cove to hear about how the system works and the benefits over other rebreather models. Then it was time to gear up. The sky turned white and soon snow was falling, but just as quickly it shifted back to bright sunshine; clearly, the weather was going to be a feature of the day!
In the water, the temperature was 4 degrees and the visibility was somewhat less than ideal. This, however, did not seem to put-off the divers from experiencing the rEvo rebreather on a try dive. Some were experienced rebreather divers, others having a go for the first time, but once they had signed up, they were treated to 1:1 guidance from the professional instructor team that had traveled from Italy, Belgium and all over the UK.
The rEvo is a revolutionary rebreather system and we were amazed at just how compact and light the system is. Features that make it stand out from the crowd include:
- Dual scrubber: the most efficient scrubber system on the market, dual redundant design, safer in use while using less sorb.
- Lightweight / travel friendly: travel weight of around 15 kg, and a dive ready weight of 21kg makes the rEvo micro one of the most travel friendly units on the market.
- Maintenance friendly: easy to set-up and maintain. Complete assembly and dive preparation including checklist in less than 5 min. The design prevents user assembly errors.
- “True” redundant electronics: the different electronic system that monitor the ppO2 in the rebreather are redundant up to sensor level and therefore produces an inherently safe design.
In the evening Mares and rEvo hosted a dinner at Stoney Cove for journalists, instructors and dive shop owners to hear a presentation from Paul of rEvo about how the system works. Alas, the snow really picked up, and the group grew nervous at the thought of the drive out of Stoney involving driving up the winding hill. Watching the blizzard getting worse from the Nemo restaurant window, the decision was taken to head back to the hotel while we still could; a wise move.
Sunday saw the air temperature drop to a chilly -2 degrees, and as we pulled into the car park at Stoney Cove, a layer of snow had covered the cliff edges and walls around the quarry. Surely only the brave would be turning up on a day like this, but turn up they did, and the morning rEvo try dive session went ahead with seven of us braving the chilly water. For those with little experience in rebreather diving, the try dives were conducted in shallow water, staying at 5m, and touring around the Nautilus sculpture, spending around 30 minutes in the water (which was plenty given the temperatures!)
It was a very informative weekend for anyone interested in rebreather diving and it provided a great chance to try out the rEvo rebreather with 1:1 instruction. Mares, somewhat unsurprisingly, saw plenty of divers asking to try out their heated vests. I was lucky enough to be one of the divers trying these out and the difference it made to diving these wintry conditions was incredible. We did three dives over the weekend and never once got cold; no ice-cream headache and our hands were fine throughout the dives too.
For more information about rEvo Rebreathers visit their website: www.revo-rebreathers.com.
For more information about Mares visit their website: www.mares.com.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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