Questions about ScubaDiving.com??

[mdb]

Larry,

The review *is* the ad. Do you think you can get a testers choice rating from Rodales without paying for it?

R..

Apollo bio-fins have placed #1 every year since 1999. Until this fall we had never spent 1 penny in advertising in Scuba-Diving magazine.

 

[DivesWithTurtles]

Apollo bio-fins have placed #1 every year since 1999. Until this fall we had never spent 1 penny in advertising in Scuba-Diving magazine.

mdb, has ther ever been any connection between the current or previous publishers of SD Mag and Natures Wing?

 

[mdb]

mdb, has ther ever been any connection between the current or previous publishers of SD Mag and Natures Wing?

DivesWithTurtles: The only connection seems to be that the SCUBA-LAB is making a very honest effort to test and review SCUBA and swim equipment. We have been knocked on our regs and drysuits, yet we continue to submit since we learn and, hopefully, improve. John Braum and his staff seems to carry on the work that Jon Hardy started. Pete McCarthy, the holder of the Nature's Wing patents did employ some Rodale's Scuba Lab folks to do some open ocean testing. He was not always happy with the results and he kept on "tweaking" his basic split fin concept. I do know that when Apollo first went diving with prototypes of the design, after Aqua-Lung and
others had opted out, the founder of Apollo said to me: "This is right, we want to be first". Apollo spent several million dollars over 2+ years to find the right design and the correct material. We use 100% natural rubber and compression molding. Anyhow,
I have gone way off track; there is no connection between the current and former owners of SD MAG.

 

[DivesWithTurtles]

... I do know that when Apollo first went diving with prototypes of the design, after Aqua-Lung and others had opted out, the founder of Apollo said to me: "This is right, we want to be first". Apollo spent several million dollars over 2+ years to find the right design and the correct material. We use 100% natural rubber and compression molding.

Anyhow, I have gone way off track; there is no connection between the current and former owners of SD MAG.

Well, your investment paid off. You came up with a super product, and I'm sure you have reaped a fair return.

The reason I asked is that I recall at the time there were rumors that people at SD Mag were investors in Nature's Wing or Apollo.

 

[crpntr133]

Scuba Diving Mag is who we look to for unbiased info on gear. They're the Consumer Reports of the Dive World! I use them all the time.

Rap

Can't totally agree with that one! I used the rags as a BASE for my gear decisions. Then after narrowing it down to three or four, I used the boards and any other review that I could find.

As mentioned before there has got to be some bias in an opinion...even if it is small.

If I used the reviews and such out of the rags solely then my LDS would be top notch..it is far from it. What I am refering to is the "gold tank" that is/was given out to different shops. I think it was Rodale's that did this but I might be wrong.

 

[Brannon132]

Hey guys thanks for all of the info. To me it seems that Scubadiving.com is a great place to get some general ideas about different equipment. Thanks again, Brannon

 

[Chad Carney]

Wally,

Scuba Diving Magazine used to pi$$ me off when they would print that one of our regulators was rated "very dry" when another with the same second stage was only "pretty dry". And this was back when we spent HUGE $$ with them.

Even worse was when one rated "excellent" for performance, and got the "testers choice"... when another that had the same second stage and only a slight change in the 1st stage, (like no dry seal... and actually the better performer of the two), would come up "very good", but would get a point knocked off and miss the elusive "TC"!

But lately everything is "coming up roses" for Zeagle, even though they have not advertised for a few years, so I'll just enjoy it while it lasts!

The funny thing is they retested the performance issue regulator I mention above, and guess what? Yeah, they got the same results we got from the Ansti lab... it's a smidge better than it's "TC" big brother, on pure performance alone. Now they both have the "TC."

What it sometimes comes down to is that it's not easy being the consumer reports of the diving industry. Tests are hard to implement and report. When you look at the big picture, I think they have done better than any other tester out there has ever done. In fact no other tester even does it regularly.

JMHO.

Chad

BTW, Monday's diving was 60*F and only one foot visibility, in "sunny" Florida! (Yeah, I'm still a cold water wimp!)
But I got a couple dozen stone crab claws, by brail.

Man 1' vis really sucks!

Chad

 

[crpntr133]

This is exactly why when I was looking for my gear I spent HOURS on the computer. And I didn't take any ONE advice. It still tickles me to see someone come here and ask which is better X or Y. Sometimes there is no comparing them but most of the time they are close.
When a rag uses actual divers then there is bound to be some preference...I can't stand splits but some get high ratings. If using a machine then the results should be the same or at least pretty close.

I guess 41 degree water and 25-30' viz is great compaired to 1' viz in any water. BTW, my new Flathead was great!! I forgot to switch it out of predive and never knew the difference. Gotta love it.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Can't totally agree with that one! I used the rags as a BASE for my gear decisions. Then after narrowing it down to three or four, I used the boards and any other review that I could find.

As mentioned before there has got to be some bias in an opinion...even if it is small.

If I used the reviews and such out of the rags solely then my LDS would be top notch..it is far from it. What I am refering to is the "gold tank" that is/was given out to different shops. I think it was Rodale's that did this but I might be wrong.

I hear ya. No review is perfect (even Consumer Reports) and your right, it's always a good idea to follow up any review with additional research.

Rap

 

[keyshunter]

Wally,

Scuba Diving Magazine used to pi$$ me off when they would print that one of our regulators was rated "very dry" when another with the same second stage was only "pretty dry". And this was back when we spent HUGE $$ with them.

Even worse was when one rated "excellent" for performance, and got the "testers choice"... when another that had the same second stage and only a slight change in the 1st stage, (like no dry seal... and actually the better performer of the two), would come up "very good", but would get a point knocked off and miss the elusive "TC"!

But lately everything is "coming up roses" for Zeagle, even though they have not advertised for a few years, so I'll just enjoy it while it lasts!

The funny thing is they retested the performance issue regulator I mention above, and guess what? Yeah, they got the same results we got from the Ansti lab... it's a smidge better than it's "TC" big brother, on pure performance alone. Now they both have the "TC."

What it sometimes comes down to is that it's not easy being the consumer reports of the diving industry. Tests are hard to implement and report. When you look at the big picture, I think they have done better than any other tester out there has ever done. In fact no other tester even does it regularly.

JMHO.

Chad

BTW, Monday's diving was 60*F and only one foot visibility, in "sunny" Florida! (Yeah, I'm still a cold water wimp!)
But I got a couple dozen stone crab claws, by brail.

Man 1' vis really sucks!

Chad

Chad,
I know this is off topic, but I am interested in learning your technique for taking Stonies in 1 foot viz. Do you feel around until one grabs your hand and then bite his claw off?