Wireless data, text messaging and iTunes are now
being found underwater. Manufacturers are putting these
latest high-tech innovations into dive gear.
Initially designed for U.S. Special Forces, the
Datamask from Oceanic Worldwide is touted as the first
“heads up” display mask for recreational divers. It gives
an instant visual display of dive information, sent from a
wireless transmitter attached to the diver’s tank. Inside
the mask is a miniature LCD panel that shows the diver’s
depth, tank pressure, and dive time elapsed and remaining.
So it doesn’t distract from the underwater views, the
display has an adjustable backlight that can be set on the
surface or underwater. But this advanced product also
comes with an advanced price tag – expect to pay $1,500
for the Datamask. (www.oceanicworldwide.com)
To replace underwater hand signals and the dive slate
is the UDI, the first underwater text-messaging device. Divers can strap it onto their arms and use it to send
SOS alerts up to 3,000 feet away, and text other divers
and boats from 1,600 feet away. Up to 56 divers at a time
can use it at once (the UDI has four channels accommodating
14 divers on each one). Manufactured by Israel’s
Underwater Technology Center, the UDI is scheduled to
be for sale this spring. (www.utc-digital.com)
For divers not content with underwater sounds while
diving, there’s now the Waterproof Scuba MP3 Player by
Frontgate for listening to favorite tunes among the fish.
A waterproof case encloses an iRiver player that goes
down to 200 feet, and waterproof headset speakers have a
built-in amplifier and a clip that attaches to a dive mask.
At $99, it’s cheaper than a Mini iPod but unfortunately it
has less memory – 128 megabytes is only good enough for
30 songs maximum. (www.frontgate.com)