REVIEW Waterproof H1 5/10 Sandwich - 24/03/2020

So with the snow melt starting to dramatically cool the seas near where I live and the first dive hood I ever bought starting to disintegrate, I decided to invest in a new dive hood. I mean, with coronavirus madness dive kit seems like as good an investment as any, right?

I'd seen an online discussion on a local Facebook page about a Santi hood and the Waterproof 5/10mm. The general gist of it was that there was little difference between them except in price. So I went to the local dive shop and made my order of a new Waterproof hood which I'd subsequently sneak into the house after its first use and my wife wouldn't even notice there'd been a hood switch. Smart.

The mission was deftly accomplished and I've now used it on three dives, so I feel qualified to comment on it. 

If you've used Waterproof H series hoods before it's essentially identical in terms of pattern. The face section is the more flexible section which makes tucking your mask skirt in pretty straightforward. The 10mm section doesn't feel any different to a 7mm  when you're wearing it on your head. So that should allay any fears about such a thick hood.

I suppose the one question I should answer is 'was it warmer'? Well the simple answer is yes. I certainly came out with a toasty head.

On each of the dives the water was a balmy 5 to 6c (that's 41-43f in old money.)

I'll Tell You What Really Bugs Me - 23/03/2014

On Facebook I 'like' Mares, Scubapro and Fourth Element. I like many of their products in real life too.

For example, I own:

• a Mares Abyss Navy Regulator
• a Scubapro Mk17 Regulator
• a Mares Dragon BCD
• a Fourth Element Arctic Undersuit
• Scubapro Seawing Nova fins
• Fourth Element Thermocline stuff

I also like hoods by Waterproof and my Oceanic Shadow mask, but I'll tell you what really bugs me are the string of professional film makers, professional divers and 'explorers' who endorse these products. When buying a product I'm not interested in 'celebrity' endorsements. I'm interested in how cost effective/efficient/comfortable/useful is it going to be for me?

How long does a drysuit take to dry hanging under my stairs? How expensive is the service pack? If it breaks, how good is your customer service?

Like the vast majority of people I have to pay for my kit and it has to perform and last. Wouldn't it be great if these companies, instead of expedition divers, used honest recreational divers to review and promote their products?

It would be amazing to watch a review of two products and hear the diver honestly say, that they can't tell the difference between the two regulators or after using these gloves my fingers were a wee bit warmer.

The current marketing of the big brands in SCUBA is a throw back to last century. Peer to peer marketing is the future it's time for the diving industry to embrace it.

Le Retour à la Ruelle de Conger - 30/01/14

So after last week's misadventure we returned to Conger Alley. This week I was accompanied by Laura and West Coast Divers own, Avril Keith, AKA The Mermaid of Kilmarnock.

Avril is a legend in West of Scotland dive circles, it's like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon - except Avril can be gotten to in two every time. If you live, or dive on the West Coast of Scotland Avril's West Coast Divers page on Facebook is a great place to find buddies and chat.

As always, there was new kit on display with Avril proudly displaying her new 7mm Waterproof H1 Hood purchased ex-ante from Glasgow's oldest dive locker, Aquatron. Now, concerning this hood, I'd just like to say I think it's the best on the market. I myself have two. If you're cold water diving it's an essential piece of kit and it's safe to say that the Swedish know a thing or two about cold water.

I was also test driving a new toy, a 12l cylinder borrowed from my local ScotSAC branch. I haven't dived with a 12l cylinder in Scotland in about a year and I forgot how heavy they are compared to my cheeky 10l cylinders. However, it did help with my side mounted pony which can be awkward with my little 10s - February may see a purchase.

The following should go without saying in every dive report from now on.

• We had quality banter that descended into the gutter, rapidly.
• We ate sweets, lots of sweets.
• We did a buddy check - it's important, and even though I don't mention it doesn't mean it doesn't get done.

Entering the water we quickly dropped below the thermocline (5-7m), made sure everyone was OK and headed down just past 20m to the reef for which Conger Alley is famous. Once there the plan was to find stuff and hope Beryl the Seal turns up (she didn't).

At the reef we slowly worked our way up to the top at about 10m. En route we found:

• Octopus
• Conger Eels
• Loads of Wrasse - Corkwing, Goldsinny etc
• Weird Worms (you can tell my naturalist skills are limited)

In short this was a nice, relaxing, hassle free dive with two eagle-eye buddies who pointed out lots of cool stuff that I couldn't see even with a torch pointed on it.  :) Good times.

Weird tentacled worm creature

Big conger eel

Thursday Night Dive - 9th January, 2014

So last Thursday's dive to Loch Long's Twin Piers was a conger-fest. I have no good photo's as my camera was set to dive in blue water, which ultimately meant they were all the wrong colour, but rest assured, the eels came out to play.

It was my usual Thursday night buddy Laura who partnered me and we were accompanied by Andrea, Alistair and Edgar. I'll introduce them all properly in due course - it would be rude not to.

It was cold, particularly above 7m, with my computer recording a dishonestly warm 6c, but as we went deeper (around 20m) it warmed up to a toasty 11c. Thankfully I had my favourite Fourth Element Arctics and my number one 5/7mm Waterproof hood. On the downside I need new gloves.

This was the only decent photo I took.  I think they are the egg sacks of Dog Whelks which are relatively common at this time of year.