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Christmas Shopping for the Millennium Diver
By Bonnie J. Cardone
The diver in the photo, circa 1975, is me. I was certified two years earlier, in 1973. My first big purchase after I received my C-card was a horsecollar BC. Note the power inflator. Although these are standard on BCs today, they were relatively new and optional then. My wonderful BC also had a CO2 inflator (note the cord with the attached ball extending from a grommet in the pocket). Since CO2 inflator assemblies tended to rust and thus didn't always work when needed, they were gradually phased out over the years.
 In 1975, few recreational divers knew what a rebreather was. Used by the military, they were unheard of for recreational divers. The Millennium Diver can choose from a variety of rebreathers, including the incredible Cis-Lunar MK-5P, a top of the line, state of the art, electronically controlled closed circuit mixed gas rebreather that sells for $17,500. In order to buy one, however, the user must complete and pass an authorized training program and sign a waiver of liability agreement. The unit can be used to 165 feet upon completion of the first training level, but it's only upon completion of all three training levels that the MK-5P can be used to its maximum depth of 375 feet. The user can remain at any depth down to the maximum for six to twelve hours. Needless to say, this super breathing machine, which weighs 80 pounds, is dedicated to its owner and utilizes such features as an LED heads up display and custom DCAP decompression algorithm, was designed for professional divers-scientists, explorers and filmmakers, for instance. For more information, contact Cis-Lunar in Massachusetts at (978) 368-0771 or visit the web site at www.cis-lunar.com.
 Twenty-five years ago, I wore a round facemask with a black rubber skirt. Because of its high volume, it was hard to clear. When it started to age, it left a black ring on my face after a dive. Silicone masks such as the Genesis Islander are a vast improvement. No more ring around the face no matter how old they get! The Islander is lightweight and super low volume (it's very easy
to clear). The frame comes in eight colours. Inserts of clear plastic on the sides of the frame offer panoramic peripheral vision. There is a soft, comfortable double edged skirt. The crystal silicone lets light into the face so it's great for photo models. (Photographers can get the mask with a black frame and black silicone skirt.) The straps are easy to adjust and have numbered ridges, which help you retain the setting that suits you. The Islander will be introduced at the dive industry's DEMA Show next month.
For more information visit the Genesis web site at www.genesisscuba.com.
In the days of old, my snorkel was a basic black rubber number with a snorkel keeper that had to be wrestled up and down the sturdy polycarbonate barrel. Check out the Cressi-sub Alpha. Not only does it have an easy to use, adjustable keeper, kept secure by ridges on the barrel, but a wave guard to minimize water  entry and an exhaust valve that allows any water that does come in to drain into a large reservoir beneath the mouthpiece and then out of the snorkel. There's a flexible corrugated section connecting the mouthpiece to the large bore, oval barrel and a replaceable silicone mouthpiece that's angled to prevent waterflow back into the mouth. The Alpha comes in several colours and with either a black or clear mouthpiece. The Alpha I drops out of the way when not in use; the Alpha II is the traditional J-shape. For more information visit the web site at divemar.com or send e-mail to info@divemar.com
 The Millennium Diver may not always want to fin hither and yon and, with the Reef Ranger wet submarine, he or she won't have to. The Reef Ranger isn't brand new, it has been around for 30 years (one of these subs was used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me; two appeared in License to Kill. The Reef Ranger has a top speed of three and a half knots, a maximum depth of 120 feet and a range of 20 miles. It carries up to three divers and has a canopy that can be closed to reduce wind chill or prevent encounters with undesirable marine life (we're talking such things as jellyfish here). Made of aluminum and fibreglass, the Reef Ranger weighs 1,550 pounds, is just less than 16 feet long, 44 inches wide and 54 inches tall. It is powered by a 48 volt, 220 amp hours battery that charges in six to 10 hours and provides a running time of 300 minutes at medium speed. The Reef Ranger is designed for the Millennium Diver with Big Bucks, it sells for $40,000 US! For more information contact Submersible Systems Technology in Florida at (561) 863-6001.
 Is there an underwater photographer on your Christmas list? He or she would probably love Ikelite's Substrobe 200. With 200 watt-seconds of power and a very fast recycle time of 1.6 seconds, it's a powerhouse. Features include TTL and four manual power modes, a beam angle of 100 degrees, a colour temperature of 4800°K, a built-in aiming light bright enough to be used for night diving, 160 flashes on full power and an industrial grade rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery. The 200 can be mounted on either side of the camera and has a detachable synch cord. It weighs 3.9 pounds and retails for $900. For more information, send e-mail to ikelite@ikelite.net or visit the web site at www.ikelite.com.
 Last but not least, let's talk knives for the Millennium Diver. I still have my first dive knife but I haven't used it for years. Nearly the length of my lower leg, it is 13 1/2 inches long and weighs a pound and a half. The blade is made of such soft stainless steel that it won't cut much of anything (but it doesn't rust). The depth compensating rubber straps didn't and the sheath fell apart decades ago. Perhaps that's why I'm so enchanted with TUSA's FK-10 and FK-11 Mini-Knives. Their sturdy plastic sheathes are made of the same material as the knife handles. Either knife easily fits into a BC pocket or can be attached to the outside of the BC via the stainless steel clip on the back. There is also an optional adapter that allows you to attach the knife to a regulator hose. The Mini-Knives are only 6 3/8 inches long and have 304 series stainless steel blades only 2 7/8 inches long. The FK 10 has a pointed tip, the FK-11, a blunt tip. Each has both a sharp (really!) and a serrated edge, the FK-11 also has a line cutter. For more information contact TUSA at (604) 273-0030 fax (604) 273-0201.
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Is there a person on your Christmas shopping list who'll be diving in the New Millennium? (Perhaps that person is you!) Following are gift suggestions for the Y2K diver. This is a special year for DIVER, it is the magazine's 25th anniversary. So, along with suggestions for Christmas gifts, we provide a glimpse of the pastThe Way We Were in 1975, when the magazine began publication. Because some of you like to dream, we've included some of the most advanced (and expensive) gear available. For those who live within their meanshowever limitedwe've also included less pricey items.
The Millennium Diver might well use the Mares H.U.B. (Human Underwater Breathing), as different from my 1975 BC as night from day. Due on the market in May 2000, this is a combination BC/regulator system. The regulator is complete with octopus and gauge console containing both SPG and computer. The H.U.B. BC organizes and controls all of your hoses and instruments. The second stage and high pressure hoses are routed under the arms and through the BC; each tucks into its own zippered pocket. The octopus hose goes under the right arm and is secured near the bottom of the BC, where it's easy to see and use. The power inflator is mounted on the left side of the BC. The H.U.B. is so new a price for it had not yet been decided at press time, but Mares says it will be comparable to the price of any quality BC and regulator combo. For more information, contact Mares America Corp., 800-874-3236 or send e-mail to