Cressi AquaPro

As one can imagine a diveshop uses BCDs a good amount. At Coconut Tree Divers our business succeeds as a result of fun divers, new diver training, and continuing education. There's a whole lot more regarding why we are successful and that has to do mainly with our customer base, their satisfaction and the high volume of them who return. The point being that it doesn't come from high volume of gear sales. In any case, the gear we do purchase takes a beating as it goes straight to the rental rack. We get to find out what works, what doesn't, and what will we consider buying more of. When we first received our order of about 15 Cressi AquaPro BCDs a little over a year ago, there were doubts as to how they would perform and last. It did not seem as though they were made with longevity in mind.

Our BCDs get used about four times a day, seven days a week. The sizes we end up using the most are XS, SM, MD. We definitely use LG and XL but not as much as the others. It just so happens that we ordered five of each the more popular sizes. This week we ordered more of them. The current ones are not being replaced, they are simply taking over the racks. 

Among the features of Cressi AquaPro are the integrated weight fold out pockets.   Another popular BCD we have used is the Oceanic OceanPro. The pockets on the Oceanics get lost quite easily and they break just easy. Replacing them becomes an unnecessary expense when compared to the Cressi BCDs. This Cressi allows you to put your weights in the pocket, fold it up and clip it. In case of an emergency the clips are easily undone and the weights fall right out.


Another good thing from a rental perspective is that they display their size on the shoulder strap. They have big letters aiding whomever is outfitting customers for a boat dive or confined water quickly. The drawback is that once these letters fall, there is no back up letting you know what size it is. Oh, and the letters do fall off.

They have several dump valves. There is one at the end of the BCD hose, another on the right shoulder, and a third just above your right butt cheek. These all have lanyards that have been cleverly threaded through a loop in the material for easy dumping of excess air. Unfortunately, those long lanyards get caught and ripped right off. In the end they serve simply as dump valves for those who fill their BCDs to capacity. Someone who purchased one of these BCDs would likely care for it more than the usual rental gear user, thus they would likely last longer. That's for you to decide.

We were concerned about the inflators. They too have lasted the test of 100s of dives. They are a bit slow at inflating, but not a show stopper. They are not that complicated to take apart and clean either.

They also have a white lanyard used as trim for aesthetic purposes. Most of those are falling apart. It didn't happen to every BCD but to quite a few. We fixed that by cutting them with scissors. In the end they have have some minor glitches, (i.e. the sizes coming off and the aesthetic trim not lasting) but they are an excellent value for the cost.

If you are looking for a jacket style BCD that is not going to break the bank. The Cressi AquaPro may be just what you are looking for. Google has them listed for $230.

ScubaPro Seawing Nova Fins

These fins get tremendously positive reviews in lots of places. It is in part why DiveGearReview was created. Giving the reader honest feedback, not fluff or the result of someone buying ad space on a magazine.

The write up on these puppies goes like: "Seawing Nova combines classic SCUBAPRO fin technology with the latest innovations in hydrodynamic design and cutting edge materials. This fin has the power, acceleration and maneuverability of a paddle fin with the comfort, efficiency and effortless speed of split fins. The articulated joint allows the blade to pivot and the entire blade is able to generate thrust. Clean water blade geometry for optimum propulsion. Water is free to flow onto the working section of the blade, drag is reduced and thrust increased. Variable pivot control ribs insures that the most efficient angle of attack is maintained across all strengths of kick. Ergonomic foot pocket with extended heel plate insuring ultimate power transmission with less leg strain. Heavy duty marine grade bungee strap system for easy to wear comfort. Durable Monprene construction making Seawing virtually indestructible. Available in black and white."


All this talk of articulated, hydrodynamic, acceleration, maneuverability, comfort and ability to generate thrust is quite intriguing. Then you look at the price tag for them, on average $200 and one thinks, they must be amazing. Check out Divers-Supply.  They just might be what they advertise for the week-end warrior. Not so for those who plan to do more than say, 10 dives a year. 


A friend bought a pair for himself and his wife before coming down to work full time as instructors here at Coconut Tree Divers. This Canadian couple is all about excellence in dealing with customers and students. The attitude spills over to their gear. Hence, the choice of spending $400 on two sets of these Seawing Nova Fins. To be fair, they supposedly come with a lifetime warranty. Nice, if you have a ScubaPro shop who will replace them every 200 dives. Like clockwork, the two sets of fins tore in exactly the same spot on each of the four fins. Not bad for accelerated articulation... blah, blah, blah. They get two thumbs down, way down. Perhaps one could purchase three sets and have them on a return rotation schedule but I am a dive instructor. In Roatan, Honduras it would take ages for them to get replaced. In the meantime one would have to use the reliable shop rental fins. By the way, what is the difference between a dive instructor and a table? The table can support a family of four. Guess who will not be buying three sets for the rotation thought. 

If you already have a pair, good luck. If you are not planning on doing much diving, they will likely work out well. If you are thinking about purchasing them, here is the the deal, the value of these fins is not worth the price tag. You decide. 

Mares Open Heel Fins

As promised, something that has performed well beyond expectations. Initially I trusted the dive shop employee who sold my first and only set of fins. They were bought in Jacksonville Beach, Florida at Atlantic Pro Divers. The cost was about $125, although a quick search on LeisurePro list them for $57.00. They were purchased right before doing the PADI Rescue course. Approximately 12 years later and over 5000 dives they are still going strong. Now that's value, and no warranty required.

There is a Mares dealer here in West-End who sells these and newer versions of the fins but the only thing that has been replaced is the straps. They can be quite pricey, but again worth it. PJ ordered a bunch of new straps for open heel fins used during the rainy season. When the weather gets nasty on the north side we dive the south. At times we do shore dive in Flowers Bay over by Church Wall. That's when the open heel fins earn their money. To clarify, we carry a large variety of closed heel fins, some of which are never picked because they are simply to hard to put on and much less take off while hanging to the back of the ladder. The rest of the year they sit there on the shelf providing cover for Precious, Mally, and Shitty Kitty (our shop cats). In any case, he found some third party fin straps sold by Trident. That strap is also holding up.

I've tried the split fins and they definitely have less resistance and thus less stress on your knees. I'd hate to have to tow someone back to the boat against a current using them. That's a matter of comfort anyhow. I'm just making the case that the Mares Open Heel fins are good reliable ones.

Here are what a pair of well used ones look like;

You can see the third party strap and how it fit right into the Mares clips. I still have the Mares strap, it was switched to simply test it. The fins are starting to tear on the rubber right where your foot goes, but simply because at times someone doesn't zip up their booties. There is only one person to blame for that.

On a separate note, Coconut Tree Divers has used a variety of close heel fins for just about all our rentals when diving off Potlicker and Wish You Were Here (our current boats). During that time, it is also the Mares closed heel fins which have lasted the test of time. Those do tend to tear at the heel though, but they have outlasted the competitors we have used.

They get the double oks from this reviewer. That's not to say I'm not going to try a different pair.

Until next time, happy bubbles.

Oceanic Pioneer Mask

This mask was given to me by a friend in a brand new condition. It belonged to his father whom couldn't get the thing to seal. His father purchased the mask for $125 in Canada. I found it online for $99 but it lists a MSRP of $149 at the following site. No matter how you look at, the thing is not cheap, but in the end it is a cheap mask. Seriously, this thing was brand new in it's carrier when given to me. Four months later, the thing started falling apart in several different areas. Rather than explain the whole thing, several pictures have been taken to hopefully save someone from spending a whole lot of money on something unworthy of it. For anyone who might be inclined to suggest better care of the mask is required, perhaps. I hope to use it everyday and rinse it in fresh water upon completion of diving and store it with the rest of the gear.

Still going strong however is the OMS mask reviewed earlier. That was under $25 on LeisurePro.com The gift itself was a tremendous gesture which really touched me. The excitement for the thing was nothing less than, "hey check out my new bad-ass mask." It fit quite comfortably, the soft silicone skirt simply molding to your face, with easy to adjust straps. In the end I believe the silicone being used is too flimsy. I've had several Oceanic Shadows and they have all torn right under the nose. Anyhow, you decide, but you've been warned.

Merry Christmas to those who read this.

Up next, a set of fins which are well worth the money.

Hollis Stainless Cam Band

I ordered two Hollis Stainless Cam Bands from LeisurePro 07/26/2011. They each cost $30.00. Jose, whom also works at Coconut Tree Divers, ordered the same ones a couple of weeks prior. The result, after a mere 4 months of use, they are falling apart at the velcro section. They've been sewn together with a simple one pass of the machine. That is what is seems like anyhow. A pity because otherwise I was happy with them, ready to recommend them with double oks and everything. 

Again, we are looking for things that simply work. Are we to remove them, send them back and wait for a month while a new pair is sent to Roatan, Honduras? No, instead, we will purchase a different brand and keep searching for the optimal set of gear. One could say it was a bad "one", but it happened to different dive professionals and they failed at roughly the same time. Perhaps someone could cough it up as a bad batch. Well, I would rather purchase the kind which undergo quality control and did not rely on my putting the warranty to a test. We dive everyday and can not be bothered with a month long hiatus of non-working while being replaced gear. What the gear gets a holiday and we do not. Besides, we are diving in calm, warm, clear water in optimal conditions. If the gear does not work here, where will it perform? 

When the bands were shipped, one included the rubber insert used to keep the tank from slipping or sliding and the other did not. It is big deal because I paid for it, but I would not give the product a bad review because it was lacking a non-essential piece. That could be the fault of the third party seller and not necessarily the manufacturer. In my case I had a spare from the DiveRite bands being using prior to switching to the Hollis pair. The reason for the switch to begin with, was the DiveRite bands were the thin 1". They would come undone all the time, one of them anyhow. That would leave the tank attached but dangling and just felt wrong. Enter Hollis Stainless Cam Bands. Overall rating, thumbs down. 

Hollis Mini Led

I just completed the TecDeep course with Monty. That was my first "vacation" in six years. It was an an excellent course with some pretty special dives. If you decide to take it, read the book and answer all the questions before starting the class. That will make your life way easier.

About two years ago, I switched to a back-plate and harness. With no pockets you end up having to clip everything to D-rings. That includes a dive knife and a dive light. The goal was to obtain a compact powerful light with batteries that can be purchased here in Roatan. Some flash lights require CR-series batteries. As of yet, they are not sold here. At times, you can't get AAAs. Another point is not wanting to carry around a canister light. Nothing against them, but why carry one when teaching Open Water?

There are numerous options for lights and I have worked my way through a couple in attempts to find the one. They include Intova, Mares, Underwater Kinetics and the latest, a Hollis Mini Led. Not sure this is the one yet, but so far it is an excellent choice. It uses three AA batteries which works well will with Energizer rechargeable kind. To use it, simply turn the handle and there goes your highly concentrated beam of white light. Keep turning and the light turns off and you will end up flooding it. It is compact, about two inches in diameter and just shy of six inches in length. You can purchase this light at LeisurePro for $99.00.

There is one issue I have been having with the light. At 100 feet, turning the light on has been impossible. At about 70 ft it is easier but there is resistance. It seems to be the air compressing. I plan on switching back to regular batteries just to rule that out.

OMS Mask

How about a mask that has proven itself to be excellent? There is, in Spanish, the three Bs: Bueno, Bonito y Barato. The: OMS I-CU Two Window With Black Skirt Mask found at LeisurePro.com for $21.95 has proven itself to be quite reliable and worthy of las 3 Bs. Three of us at the shop use this type of mask. That includes Rags, whose been working at Coconut Tree Divers for three years, Monty our resident commercial diver gone recreational and tec dive instructor and myself. I switched from an Oceanic Shadow as it kept tearing right under the nose. The silicone from the Oceanic is very thin. Perhaps that's why the three Shadows in my doesn't work anymore suitcase all have the same tear. I loved my shadow, but it was becoming quite pricey to keep replacing it every six months. I decided to go for an alternate brand. Based on Monty's feedback, I gave the OMS a shot. The price was right. The issue was, as usual, having to order online and wait for the item to arrive.

On several occasions new Open Water students can't seem to find a mask that fits their face. While I'm not claiming that this will fit everyone, it works for just about everyone I've let borrow. It's easily adjusted and quite comfortable. El Tipo, Tim, one of our seasonal instructors who comes down every year around Christmas time brings down some of these masks to use with his students. They've worked reliably.

I've had my OMS mask for over a year. 

Bottom Line: Double OKs for this mask.