Amron International
For 25 years Amron International has manufactured hardwire communicators, helium unscramblers, air control systems, decompression chambers, and umbilicals for the commercial diving industry. Amron products are highly regarded for their design, durability, and technical performance.

The company's latest innovation is a new Wireless Tender Option for their two- and three-diver communicators. This enhanced wireless unit allows greater mobility for the tender to maintain constant contact with the divers while checking topside equipment. The new wireless tender option has the capability to add an unlimited number of remote "listen-only" headsets for topside personnel, allowing increased flexibility on the job site for diving supervisors, crane operators, etc.

The wireless kit comes standard with 40 different channel combinations that allows for the use of use up to 40 different radios in close proximity without cross-frequency interference. The units operate on the FM band at 902-928 MHz with a range of a quarter-mile. The transmitter/receiver unit is housed in a rugged plastic casing that can be clipped to a belt or slipped in a pocket. A single charge of the NiCad battery from the included AC adapter provides approximately eight hours. The standard headset is a tough over-the-ear design with adjustable boom microphone. Also included is a smaller, lightweight headset/microphone for added mobility.

Amron's line of radios includes one-, two-, three-, and four-diver models, in both portable and rack-mount configurations. They also have analog and digital helium unscramblers that can be added to any radio (except one-diver models). The Wireless Tender Option must be ordered with a new Amcom radio, as this option is factory-installed. Contact Amron International at 760-746-3834 or visit www.amronintl.com for more information.

Diving Unlimited International
Diving Unlimited International (DUI) has kept commercial divers warm and comfortable in the water for over 40 years. The newest addition to their product line, ZipSeals, are put onto a drysuit similar to a Zip-loc bag. A flexible ring is installed on the drysuit and on the seal. This makes a latex neck or wrist seal replaceable in about 30 seconds.

Being able to do this offers many advantages to commercial and public safety divers, which are often overextended and underfunded. Most cannot afford to purchase one suit per diver. When seals are trimmed to fit one diver, if another diver with bigger or smaller neck or wrists tries to wear it, it just doesn't work. At best, it makes the suit uncomfortable and, at worst, it makes the suit undiveable. Being able to change the seals in seconds allows one suit to be used by several different divers.

Another benefit is for contaminated water divers. No matter what the diving conditions, the most fragile parts of the diver's drysuit are the seals. Some contaminates even require that the seals are changed after every use. The ZipSeals allow contaminated water divers to change them instantly.

In public safety or commercial diving, the standard method for replacing seals is to send the drysuit to a repair facility, which can leave the diver without a drysuit for weeks. However, with DUI ZipSeals, a neck or wrist seal replacement can be done in about 30 seconds and the diver can keep diving.

A Navy SEAL on a homeland security mission, a commercial diver on a one-day job, or harbor police on Zodiaks - all can benefit from DUI ZipSeals. In addition to standard latex seals, heavy-duty seals are also available, as well as dry gloves. This system is available on new DUI drysuits and can be retrofitted on most current model DUI suits.

Trelleborg-Viking Dry Suits Available from Mar-Vel International
Trelleborg-Viking has introduced a groundbreaking exhaust valve for contaminated water diving applications. Diving equipment distributor Mar-Vel International is now stocking the Viking X2 exhaust valve.

Based on Viking's extensive knowledge about contaminated water diving and the Swedish manufacturer Si-Tech's exhaust valve competence, it adds another dimension to the safety of diving.

The new Viking X2 exhaust valve was developed to meet the increased safety demand from contaminated water divers. The Viking X2 is built in a special chemical resistant plastic material and equipped with double check valves that minimize the risk for micro-leakage, which could injure the exposed diver. In spite of its features, the Viking X2 has a smaller profile than other exhaust valves.

For more information on the Viking X2 or Mar-Vel's range of commercial diving equipment and apparel, email sales@mar-vel.com or call them at 800-325-5711. Visit Trelleborg-Viking at www.vikingdiving.com.

Pommec
With over 25 years of experience, Netherlands-based Pommec has an extensive background in supplying commercial diving companies with professional diving equipment, including dive control systems, hydraulic power packs, air diver phones, and both neoprene and vulcanized rubber drysuits. The company also specializes in equipping dive control centers, containerized decompression chambers, etc.

One of their latest projects was delivering a containerized dive control center made for Diving Combination Netherlands (DCN). The container was completely equipped with the latest technologies for inshore diving activities. With features including a low-pressure air compressor, a three-cylinder battery, high-pressure cascade, an extensive three-diver panel with low-pressure warning, a three-diver communication system, electricity system, and storage cabinets, this unit is completely self-supporting and needs only electrical power and equipped divers. DCN and Pommec are finalizing plans for another nine dive control centers in the near future.

If a more sufficient container is needed, Pommec designs self-supported containerised decompression units. These feature a decompression chamber with panel and communication, a dive control panel, HP and LP supply, cascade cylinders, heater, air-conditioning, workbench, and video. All this is built into one standard 20-foot container, equipped with extra doors, windows, and isolation.

Pommec has distributorships for some of the best brands in the commercial diving industry, including Broco, Cygnus, and JW Automarine.

DeepSea Power & Light
With over 20 years of experience as a manufacturer of state-of-the-art imaging and lighting systems, DeepSea Power & Light's equipment is used daily for deep and shallow underwater applications in the most demanding environments on earth. The company's progressive engineering and product development has fostered a reputation for reliability and their latest innovations continue to meet the subsea market's challenging demands.

DeepSea Power & Light recently expanded its line of gas-discharge and incandescent lights, and also added a new, more economical color camera to its line of Multi SeaCam video cameras.

The Multi SeaCam is a versatile, premium-quality camera, and has earned a reputation as a leading general-purpose camera system for the diving and ROV communities. The new Multi SeaCam 2060 replaces the Multi SeaCam 2050, and features an improved sensitivity of 0.2-lux in comparison to the 8-lux sensitivity of its predecessor.

The Multi SeaCam line incorporates a nearly scratch-resistant sapphire port and rugged corrosion-resistant Delrin or titanium housing, depending on depth specification. The cameras are available in black and white and low-light black and white, with optional ultra-bright LED variants. One housing and mounting system accepts three cartridges, enabling the diver to standardize all applications with one electrical and mechanical interface. The cartridges can be replaced in the field by removing a snap ring, allowing users to upgrade or repair them in minutes. The Multi SeaCam is an ideal general-purpose camera for helmet-mounted or hand-held diving applications, vehicles, hazardous inspections where the camera must be disposed of after use, or as a lower cost backup camera for any unpredictable situations.

For more information, visit www.deepsea.com.

Societe Eca
With the emphasis on national defense and homeland security, divers have become more important than ever before. A French firm, Societe Eca, is filling a security niche with its new Acoustic System for Tracking and Surveillance of Divers (ASTRID), which is designed to increase the safety of divers working in difficult conditions where surveillance is weak or non-existent. Eca's Underwater Acoustics Department hopes ASTRID will decrease the number of dive accidents in both the offshore industry and defense operations.

During training, divers mostly operate in teams of at least two, allowing them to keep an eye on each other and assist in case of emergency. The surface team gets involved only when a diver is surfacing or when something goes wrong with the dive plan.

However, some conditions make direct surveillance and control through the surface unit difficult. In this context, particularly on military operations, it is essential to dispose of a system for detecting an emergency immediately in order to facilitate a possible rescue.

The ASTRID system was designed for these scenarios. It allows the topside team to know the position and movement of each diver within a couple of meters, while recording different assigned data from each diver. If something goes wrong, the system can transmit an emergency signal (in automatic mode or manually triggered) by a pinger in less than five seconds, and guide the rescue team to the victim.

The positioning system consists of acoustic transmitters worn by the divers, one or more surveillance buoys deployed around the diving location, and onboard equipment. One buoy is capable of following 12 divers, relaying the exact position, immersion depth, and possible alarm signals of each diver.

The buoy locates the diver emitting a signal by a pinger. This buoy is equipped with a GPS, which delivers its position with high accuracy. The positioning of the diver is a function of the buoy position and the relative position of the diver to this buoy.

The capacity of localization of each buoy is superior to a range of 1,000 feet (300m), but it is possible to cover very large areas through deployment of several buoys at a time.

The topside control unit allows the surface team to visualize the progressing of each diver, record relevant dive parameters, manage emergencies, and guide rescue teams toward the victim if necessary. Eca says ASTRID can monitor a dive for over six hours, in day or night. The lightweight system can be carried and deployed by as few as two people, ideal for the covert underwater operations prevalent in today's defense climate.

Biox
The goal of Biox (UK) is to introduce a safer tomorrow in the commercial diving and hyperbaric industries, while preserving the delicate ecological table in which divers work. The company contributes to safeguarding the underwater environment with safe products for clean diving and hyperbaric breathing equipment. Their systems avoid the use of harmful or aggressive chemicals that endanger the ecosystem, without sacrificing performance, or cost.

Biox products and cleaning systems for regulators, pipe work, hyperbaric systems, and other breathing components are used by the UK's Ministry of Defence and many offshore diving contractors.

Biox Biodeg is used to remove heavy grease from components to be cleaned. The components are then immersed into Biox 02 liquid in an ultrasonic tank, which eliminates contaminants leaving the breathing apparatus and pipe work to desired cleanliness standards. The components are then rinsed in distilled water and dried before packing and storage. The whole process is totally safe, without harmful vapors or unpleasant odors, and can be handled in small clean rooms onboard offshore vessels.

Biox offers a range of safe oxide- and verdigris-removing products, widely used for oilfield valve refurbishment through to delicate restoration of historical artifacts salvaged from the seabed.

The company also supplies light, medium, and heavy metal protection oils, waxes, and a new black offshore structural paint for heavy protection against harsh elements. All product lines are compatible with Biox oxide removers.

Ameripack
Ameripack provides durable cases for various marine applications, including storage and travel cases for commercial diving equipment. Their Rotational Molded cases, available in more than 300 sizes, are used on commercial ships and by the US Coast Guard and military to store all types of electronics, bomb detection equipment, underwater suits, and gear.

Ameripack uses stainless hardware on all latches and hinge pins. Their cases can be equipped with casters for easy maneuverability, and are offered empty, foam-filled, foam-lined, or with custom interiors.

Their Injection Molded cases are both airtight and watertight, constructed of a high impact ABS material. These cases are employed on ships and land for storage of electronics, flare kits, defibrillators, portable radios, first aid kits and basically any piece of apparatus that must be kept completely dry. Many marine manufacturers design their products to fit into Ameripack cases, including their new PDA case, which protects all brands of PDAs used for navigation.

Plastic marine storage cases have advantages over bags or metal cases and provide the most protection in any environment. Ameripack manufactures various colored cases, such as a yellow and orange, for those who need to access equipment of importance. In emergency situations where blood or a substance gets on the case or foam, it can be decontaminated and put back into use quickly - a clear advantage over soft bags that in many situations would have to be discarded.

Sub-Tech Systems
Founded in 1999, Sub-Tech Systems manufactures and sells in-house products as well as used diving equipment to the international commercial diving market. The company also services and refurbishes all major underwater diving systems and recompression chambers, providing a comprehensive testing facility in conjunction with classification societies such as Lloyds Register of Shipping. In addition, they install and service hyperbaric facilities throughout the UK.

Their main office is situated in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK, with another office in Canada covering the North American market. A further office is planned for the Asian industry sector. Sub-Tech Systems has many years of experience dealing worldwide with both large and small companies, including Subsea 7, Comex, British Gas, and BAE Systems. The company is constantly looking for new, high quality commercial diving products to add to their expanding product lines.

JL Darling's Rite in the Rain
JL Darling has been producing all-weather writing products for outdoor professionals such as commecial divers for more than 75 years. The company's Rite in the Rain products are popular with geologists, biologists, soldiers, police officers, and a wide variety of industry professionals around the world.

For divers, Darling offers their DuraRite line of completely waterproof synthetic papers. It is waterproof, so the diver can actually use it to write notes underwater. DuraRite is available in spiral notebooks, stapled notebooks, pocket notebooks, loose leaf binders, vinyl labels, and even copier paper. Books are available in a variety of page formats or divers can have a custom page format designed.

In addition, Darling also produces SlateRite Dive Slates, created specifically for taking notes underwater or in extremely wet conditions. Professional divers have reported that they are the perfect combination of ultimate durablility and affordable pricing. Using a pencil or grease pen, SlateRite Dive Slates ensure that the diver's notes survive the rigors of working underwater.

"I'm testing some different types of paper for use in a dive logbook. Even though the book shouldn't be immersed, they can get wet. I was looking for paper that can withstand that kind of abuse. I have found it with your product," said one testimonial from Darling customer, diver Frank Aponte. "I printed out a test page, folded it up, and stuffed it into my wetsuit pocket. Two days and six dives later (about four hours of submersion), the page still looked great. I will certainly be buying some for myself soon. Commercially available dive-logs do not have the space to record all of the data that I would like to, so I've started making my own pages. I feel that I have finally found paper that can meet the need. Thanks for a great product."

Robert Mester, President of Underwater Atmospheric Systems, weighed in with his own endorsement. "My company provides unique services for location, identification, and recovery to depths of 17,037 feet (5,168m). The weatherproof materials we use to keep our often soaking records is Rite in the Rain." Visit www.riteintherain.com.

Wide-I Magnetic Fog Wiper
Some commercial divers cannot afford to have fog in their mask blocking their vision, particularly when diving in situations where even rinsing ones' mask is not an option. The physics of fogging is complex, depending on water temperature, body temperature, skin permeability, and other factors.

There is a wide range of antifog products and defogging liquids, but each shares the same defogging method: rinsing. There is now a new and better option. It is called Wide-I, and amounts to a pair of magnets sandwiching the viewing face plate. When the diver feels the need to wipe the faceplate, they simply slide the outer magnet across the face plate. The inner magnet then moves in unison and wipes the lens.

Wide-I works with commercial diving helmets, full-face masks, scuba masks, and even prescription masks. It doesn't wash-off like defogging solutions do during a dive. It wipes away everything, and does not have any of the disadvantages of rinsing. It saves air by not wasting it during a rinse, saves body heat by keeping cold water away from the diver's face, and it keeps pollutants in the water away from the the diver's eyes.