As usual, not much to report... got waylaid discussing air Vs Electrically driven boosters with Stansted Boosters and missed the Rebreather World gathering!
VR3 had a fancy new mutli-tap rebreather connector on show which seemed to imply you could "'borisize" your rebreather. Doesn't seem to be up on their site yet but was a VR3 running a fatter than normal cable to a triangular connector box which then had two HP lines to monitor Dil and O2 pressure, a 4th cell connector and a boris like red/green HUD.... however it was just sitting in one corner with no bells and whistles, not sure anyone actually saw it!!!
Jetsam had their new Mares BOV on display and very nice it is too, they'd also wangled a great corner booth and had a couple of nice colour banners to advertise their presents, commendable seeing as it all had to be lugged from Canada by a couple of people! Met Alan on the KISS stand- what a nice chap, very knowledgable and picked up a couple of tips. Kim was pretty excited about being the 2nd largest rebreather manufacturer and didn't seem to believe it!
We had the inevitible chat about CE approval and it sounds like whatever happens won't be soon but they are going to take a serious look at it, which I think is the only sensible thing to do and wish them all the best in that undertaking.
APD had nothing new on show but they did have a very nice stand with a big plasma screen showing what I assume was footage of the recent Britannic expedition.
Submatics had 2-3 units on display, SCR and CCR, their case is a real nice bit of kit up close but the inside still looks abit below par IMVHO compared to Jetsam, AP and Boris. They where touting their MCCR CE approval to 80mtrs on Trimix which confused me alittle because I don't think anyone got CE on Trimix yet, Heliox/air maybe but not Trimix? (I could be wrong)
Off the stand I heard a couple of people question how and where they got their CE approval, suggestions that elsewhere in Europe one might be able to buy what AP and VR3/Boris jumped through hoops for... I'm sure Submatics did what they needed to do but it would seem to have ignited abit of debate!
I swung past the Solus stand and had a good long chat with them, the new handheld torch is a beauty and my girlfriend thought it would be a great torch for recreational divers as its so light and well bright! The price wasn't confirmed but it looks like around £350'ish.... Ouch.. but its alot of light for such a small package. Meanwhile they where using the umbilical lightheads to smash Walnuts for the punters amusement- its certainly as tough as they claim.
Didn't see anything new and noteworthy elsewhere and the show was pretty empty (which was fine for me but will it drive the manufacturers away?)
Lastly one excellent stand of note and genius was a stand inside the hall selling HUGE and pretty cheap sandwhiches, sticky buns, apple slices, Iced Donuts, hot chocolate, coffee and tea! Normally one has to leave the hall and queue up with the plebs from the National Wedding Show and SubPostoffice show for nasty Subway buns or cheap burgers- this was a welcome addition in my eyes/stomach!
BEN