New lithium primary batteries preform in RX10 flashlight.  The RX10 flashlight draws .5 amps of power as compared to the RX10 canister light drawing 1 amp. This doesn’t mean half the output but rather only a 30% drop in output. When running alkaline batteries in the flashlight it will drop to .35 amp draw and about 50% brightness after 2 to 3 hours depending on the battery brand/type. At this lower power drain the light will continue to fun for approximately another 3 hours.  The new lithium primary batteries are the answer to keeping the light at higher output for up to 6.5 hours before dropping to the lower setting.

The new generation of AA Energizer Lithium Ultimate batteries are designed for high drain devices light flashlights. Don’t mistake these for early AA lithium batteries that boasted long duration but the fine print defined this for devices such as cameras.  Duracell makes their version too but I only tested the bunny brand.

This new battery has many pluses over rechargeable and alkaline battery options for divers, especially the cave divers that prefer the RX10 flashlight as a primary back up light.  Any back up light is just that a back up so non rechargeable long shelf life batteries are preferred and now the longer full power mode means it can be used a number of hours before having to replace the batteries. So its actually cheaper to use the new lithium primary cells for their longevity at full power.  I was impressed.

Lamar

This week is one to pay attention to. Right now we are offering trade-ins for BCDs, harnesses and wings from any manufacturer, in any condition and we’ll get you in a Dive Rite BCD, harness or wing at a reduced price. I’m asking our staff to hold onto every BCD we get and owner of the oldest BCD sent in will get an additional gift certificate signed by me. The offer is only valid through July at participating Dive Rite dealers in the US and Canada. Some divers are contacting us directly and that’s fine, too.

Details

Lamar

The youth program is nothing new, but after going to a Dive Rite Tech Tour in Albany I was impressed with the number of children diving and trying our gear. The comments on how our gear fit kids better got me reminiscing. We started a kids program when my son, Jared, was nine years old (he is now twenty-two). It was called the LTD (Little TransPac Diver) program and we updated the child’s TransPac harness as they grew.

This year, the program is relaunched with the TravelPac and VoyagerPac BCDs . This open water, lightweight rig is perfect for children and they can grow into it. We can change out the shoulders to keep them in a well fitting product. All they have to do is drop us a note about how much they like diving to get the upgrades as they grow.

Learn more: Dive Rite FREE Youth Upgrade Program

Lamar

We get questions about where to mount a lift bag. The answer isn’t simple because it depends on the comfort and needs of the diver. Our new TransPac XT has a built-in lift bag sleeve in the lumbar pad, a nice convenience for technical divers wearing backmount twin tanks. Single tank divers will want to mount a lift bag on the side of their plate or TransPac harness using uick Link hardware and a lift bag sleeve. Divers who wear a Nomad or dive a Tech Buttplate for sidemounting primary or stage bottles can use the buttplate for their lift bag. Of course, divers who don a Thigh or Bellows Pocket might find it easiest to simply stow a lift bag in the pocket. This Rough Cut video shows the options: Lift Bag Mounting Options

Lamar

Some divers won’t try a softpack-style harness due to concerns about plastic buckles. However, they miss out on comfort and versatility. We designed the new TransPac XT with these divers in mind. The new TransPac XT Tech model removes the shoulder strap buckles in favor of continuous webbing. The chest strap remains in order to achieve the mountaineering backpack fit and support.
Try one at a Demo Day or Tech Tour, or come by the factory in Florida. Chances are, one of us will go diving with you.

Lamar

VIDEO: Technical Diving: TransPac XT Tech Version

It’s not just about the regulator you choose, but also how you configure it. If you want to look like you know what you’re doing, then hose management will impress anyone. I can always tell the casual diver from the serious diver. When I dive a single tank, I like to keep all the hoses tucked in close to the body just like when I dive doubles, sidemount or rebreathers. It makes it easy to keep up with everything: a short hose (22”)  on a necklace and a longer hose (40”) for the sharing air comes under the arm and comfortably up to the mouth. We started putting a 22″ inflator hose with our open water wings so it would lay better on the diver. Standard SPG hoses are 32″ and I assume this is for divers that want to attach a compass console to it. If you aren’t going to put a compass on it a shorter 24″ to 26″ hose is better. It’s the little things that make the dive safer and more comfortable.

VIDEO: Regulator Set Up for Recreational Diving

VIDEO: Regulator Set Up for Advanced Single Tank Diving

Lamar

I took my Classic TransPac off my O2ptima and replaced it with the new TransPac XT. Since you need Offset D-rings on your harness to accommodate shoulder-mounted counter lung,s I made sure the Offset Ds would lay on top of the shoulder transition plate of the harness and lock in place. The narrow, double padded shoulders lay nicely under the counter lungs. The tech butt plate attaches via assembly screws and hugs the bottom of the TransPac XT so it feels integral to the backplate. The stability of the new XT makes the added weight of the bailout bottles feel much lighter than before. I can’t get over the noticeable improvement in comfort.

After setting my unit up, I have requests for a CCR model of the TransPac XT so we built it up. The chest only has a set of Offset D-rings and the waist has two sets of Ds: low profile D-rings on the waist plates to attach the SPG to and a set of standard D-rings in front of those. By the way all new O2ptimas have shorter SPG hoses (42-inch), so they can be stored down the side of the unit.

Lamar

One of the exciting features of the TransPac XT are the new chest plates. I wanted to make it easy to add D-rings or adjust the length of the shoulder straps for a custom fit. The new chest plates will let you lengthen the straps or add D-rings in just a few minutes without having to double weave the webbing back through the hardware. For rebreathers, the offset D-rings can be added on top of the chest plate for a solid connection point. This is the best spot for bailout bottles when the rebreather has shoulder mounted counter lungs.

VIDEO: How To Adjust TransPac XT Shoulder Straps

Lamar

What makes the new, TransPac XT fit better than the Classic TransPac? Let me take you down memory lane on the evolution of the TransPac. The original TransPac had integrated hip support, but the shoulder to waist connection used screws and nuts. Any adjustment by the diver usually resulted in loosing one or more of the screws. The next generation incorporated side plates at the waist so divers could make their adjustments easily without concern of loosing any hardware. The TransPac had a cummerbund to cushion the diver against the side plates. This sacrificed some comfort and back support for versatility. VIDEO: TransPac XT Features

The new TransPac XT brings the best of both together: the hip pads are a continuous part of the backplate to increase the lumbar support for carrying heavy tanks. By extending the backplate around and morphing it into hip pads, more weight is shifted off the shoulders and across the entire back, reducing shoulder strain. The narrow side plates let the diver tweak the fit for comfort if you want to move them back further toward the lumbar for greater support.

The new design allows divers to now wear weight pockets in front of the sideplate, rather than captured on top of it. This gives more freedom for mounting options and the pockets will stay in place as long as you capture the belt loop on the hip pad. VIDEO: How to Install 16lb QB Weight Pockets on the TransPac XT

The TransPac will do everything the Classic TransPac can do, but now with greater support and comfort. I happen to believe you can be comfortable when diving.

Lamar

I had a great dive last week with my friend, Bill Main. He was taking his new RX10 on its maiden voyage while I bolted a production TransPac XT to a set of back mounted steel 104 cylinders, some of the heaviest cylinders on the market and preferred by Florida open circuit cave divers. We went for a leisurely swim in Devil’s Ear cave at Ginnie Springs. I was amazed at the support of the new XT. I had dived every prototype up until now and knew it was better than all previous models, but I hadn’t taken a production unit out for a swim yet.

I thought the changes were going to be more cosmetic than functional, but was I ever surprised. The guys at the office had already dived steel 104s a few days earlier and had told me the new harness was impressive.

Drop me a note if you want to stop by and try A TransPac XT, maybe I can get away and dive with you.

Lamar