geAr BAg

April 2008
scubalab
roundup
A Good Full-sized
gear bag
Akona
AKB156 Progression Roller Bag
AKB188 < 10 pound bag
When it comes to traveling, lighter luggage is always better
and that’s exactly what Akona had in mind with its <10
Pound Roller Bag. The bag weighs just over nine pounds
empty, which is about three pounds lighter than your
average soft dive bag, and it offers lots of no-frills packing
space. It’s basically one very large main compartment
with internal and external straps to keep your load from
shifting. It will easily hold a full complement of travel gear
along with that extra wetsuit or T-shirt you
stuff in at the last minute. The threesided main compartment lid makes
loading and unloading a cinch,
and the zipper overflap provides
protection from the rigors of
baggage handlers and carousels.
A padded lift handle makes it
easier to lift the bag onto inspection tables, and thanks to a nice
locking pull handle with solid
double rods, it wheels like a
champ.
Price: $165. www.akona.com
AKB 754 Dry Duffle
This is a light yet durable dry duffel. Just roll the
top three times, snap the clips and—voila!—the bag
is effectively sealed for any condition this side of a
tropical storm. The 600 denier polyester doublecoated polyurethane is puncture and tear resistant
and seams are made waterproof with thermal fabric
welds. Compression straps and a buckle down top
keep things sealed up tight while double handles make for an easy
carry. This bag will fit all your clothes and a towel with room to spare.
Price: $70. www.akona.com.
SpeciAl Wreck divinG iSSue
!
gear
A good dry bag
April 2008
scubalab
first look
What’s New
in dive gear
by john brumm
t h e m ag a z i n e d i v e r s t ru st
april 2008
• s c u b a d i v i n g . co m
13
Wrecks
WorldClass
an exclusive photo gallery
top 10
bermuda
WreCks
Your take-along
dive map.
hoW to dive
a WreCk
A step-by-step
guide featuring the
Spiegel Grove.
10 accessories
every diver needs
First aid for marine
bites and stings
Win a Tr
to
ip
div
vandene the
berg
See p.
22
As Seen In the
April 2008
Scuba Diving Magazine
A c c e s s o r i e s
E v e r y
D i v e r
n e e d s
At 30 inches tall by 17 inches wide and 13 inches deep,
the Progression is not so big that luggage handlers would
rather kick it than lift it, but it will handle a full set of gear
with ease. The main compartment is padded and offers
great access with a three-sided zipper opening. Mesh
fin sleeves with Velcro straps corral your fins, and
internal compression straps keep big items like
your BC and folded wetsuit in place. It comes with
an Akona Pro Reg Bag you can either carry-on or
slide into one of two custom-fit pouches on the
front of the bag. The rugged 600 denier fabric with
skid rails on the back and reinforced lifting handles
can take plenty of abuse while the all-terrain wheels and twoposition locking handle roll smoothly from baggage claim to boat dock.
Price: $240. www.akona.com
tips for healthy
dive travel
Akona AKB618 Executive Diver
Whether you’re earning frequent flyer miles on a business trip to Cleveland or burning them on a dive trip to the
Cayman Islands, you’ll want the Executive Diver carry-on at your side. Not much larger than a standard laptop bag and
weighing in at only three pounds empty, the Executive Diver sports three zippered compartments, each full of handy pouches,
sleeves and mesh pockets. The main compartment has a padded sleeve for a 15-inch laptop, plus pockets for CDs, a battery
charger and assorted files. There’s ample room for clothes and your personal dive gear—regulator, gauges, dive computer
and even a spare mask. That leaves the smaller compartments for quick access to items like a liquids bag, an iPod, cell
phone and airline tickets. The Executive Diver has a carry handle on top and it comes with a padded shoulder strap. Best of
all: Each compartment is designed to be accessible while the bag stays slung on your shoulder, making it easy to access your
laptop and liquids bag at the security checkpoint without having to set everything down. Price: $75. Contact: www.akona.com.