Basic gear from mid-twentieth-century Spain: Other manufacturers

[Popgun Pete]

Something for other than mill pond conditions that will move the mask around on your face given that it has been provided with a long lever to do so. Landlubber thinking produced these masks just as it does the full face horrors we see today, some equipped with battery powered fans to bolster their poor air exchange capabilities. The only beneficiaries may be those who lack teeth to grip a snorkel mouthpiece.

 

[David Wilson]

Thank you for the posts, WeRtheOcean and Pete.

Two more Safari sub snorkel-masks. We begin with a model named after the Costa Blanca (above), literally meaning "White Coast", which is over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of Mediterranean coastline in the Alicante province on the southeastern coast of Spain. It extends from the town of Dénia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Cálida. The name "Costa Blanca" was coined in the 1950s as a way to promote tourism. The region has a well-developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists. The snorkel-mask:

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A full-face mask (note the chinpiece) enclosing the eyes, nose and mouth with an oval lens retained by a metal rim with a screw clamp combined with a snorkel socket. The split headstrap is adjustable using the twin metal buckles. I have been unable to ascertain what type of breathing tube and shut-off valve would have been inserted in the snorkel socket.

 

[David Wilson]

Our second Safari sub snorkel-mask today is the Ifach, presumably named after the Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Natural del Peñón de Ifach), which is a natural park situated in Calpe, in the Valencian Community, Spain. The Penyal d'Ifac (see above) is a massive limestone outcrop emerging from the sea and linked to the shore by rock debris. It is home to numerous rare plants, including a number of endemic species, and over 300 species of animals, and a nesting site for colonies of sea birds and other birds. The snorkel-mask of that name:

Spanish: "Modelo muy atractivo para juniors. Cerco de nylon".
Rough translation: "Very attractive model designed for juniors. Nylon rim".

So a rounded pentagonal mask with a plastic rim and buckles. The breathing tube emerges from a rubber socket top right and terminates at the supply end with a ball valve to shut off the airflow when submerged.

Other Ifach imagery:

The final two Safari sub snorkel-masks at the weekend.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Luis.

First Safari sub snorkel-mask today is the Impala, probably named after the medium-sized antelope (above) found in eastern and southern Africa and chosen in keeping with the manufacturer's name "Safari sub". The snorkel-mask:

A rounded rectangular mask with a metal rim incorporating the socket for the centre-top single breathing tube. The latter terminates in a ball valve shutting off the air supply when the tip is submerged. The model was available with a black or blue rubber body and head strap adjustable with twin metal buckles.

 

[David Wilson]

The final Safari sub snorkel-mask to be reviewed is the Volga, named after the longest river in Europe (above). Situated in Russia, this river flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Safari sub snorkel-mask:

Spanish: "VOLGA. Modelo ideal para Cadete. Cerco Inx"
Rough translation: "VOLGA. Ideal model for youngsters. Stainless-steel rim".

An oval mask with a metal rim incorporating a snorkel socket top centre. The single breathing tube was topped with a ball valve to cut off the airflow when submerged. The intended end-user was the younger diver. The model came with a black, blue or orange rubber body and head strap.

Other Safari sub Volga imagery:

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We move on to Safari sub fins midweek.

 

[David Wilson]

Thanks for the likes, Luis.

Safari sub fins now. First, the Comando S model, named after the Spanish wird for "commando", a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force, specially trained for carrying out raids and operating in small teams behind enemy lines. The fins:

Spanish: "Modelo de alta calidad técnica, por lo cual es indicada para inmersión en general".
Rough translation: "High technical quality model, which is why it is designed for general diving".

So a full-foot open-toe model available in four sizes. It comes with side rails and a blade with a tall centre rib for reinforcement on the bottom.

Other Comando S fin imagery:

 

[David Wilson]

On to the Safari sub Costa Blanca fin, named after the Costa Blanca (above), literally meaning "White Coast", which is over 200 kilometres (120 mi) of Mediterranean coastline in the Alicante province on the southeastern coast of Spain. It extends from the town of Dénia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Cálida. The name "Costa Blanca" was coined in the 1950s as a way to promote tourism. The region has a well-developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists. The fin:

Spanish: "Modelo semi-profesional".
Rough translation: "Semi-professional model".

Once again, a closed-heel open-toe fin available in four sizes. Plain blade.

A further couple of Safari sub fins at the weekend.

 

[David Wilson]

I am a bit of a loss when it comes to explaining the meaning of the product name of the first of today's Safari sub fins. The Spanish word "Grima" can signify a Columbian form of martial arts or the body's reaction to the sound of chalk scraping in a blackboard. Anyway, here is the fin with that name:

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So a full-foot open-toe fin, presented above in two versions. The first offers an interesting example of fin art and calligraphy from the earlier decades of the mid twentieth century. Otherwise the design resembles the iconic Cressi Rondine in look and shape.

 

[David Wilson]

Today's second Safari sub fin is called "Gulf Stream", named after the warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida and up the eastern coastline of the United States, then veers east near 36°N latitude (North Carolina) and moves toward Northwest Europe as the North Atlantic Current. The fin:

Spanish: "Modelo imprescindible para pesca e inmersión profunda".
Rough translation: "Essential model for fishing and deep diving".

A longer-bladed full-foot open-toe fin around in the early 1980s. It has three thin ribs for reinforcement on the upper side of the blade.

A further two Safari sub fin models midweek.

 

[David Wilson]

First up today is the Safari sub Madeira fin, named after one of two autonomous regions of Portugal, the other being the Azores. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in a region known as Macaronesia, just under 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the north of the Canary Islands and 520 kilometres (320 mi) west of the Kingdom of Morocco. The image above shows a partial view of the capital of Madeira as seen from the mountains above it. As for the Madeira fin:

Spanish: "Modelo concebido para gran turismo y pesca submarina".
Rough translation: "Model designed for the grand tour and underwater fishing".

An adjustable open-heel fin with a full range of sizes for children and adults. Fitted with plastic buckles and available in light blue in the smaller sizes.

Further Madeira fin imagery: