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Lifehacker
When I go on my diving vacation at the end of this month, I won't be bringing this video mask. Why anyone would like to attach dumb headlights to vital diving gear is beyond me.
Golden Shellback started circulating videos of their extraordinary gadget waterproofing treatment in action way back in July, and it took us a while (and a live demo) to really believe that it works. Well, it does, and now you can buy it. That is, if you're willing to send the company your gadget to be treated with their mysterious "vacuum deposited film." All of the coatings come with a warranty, but its modest 30 day duration raises some concerns about the coating's durability. But really, warranties? Longetivity? Whatever, tell me about it on my underwater BlackBerry. Amphibian-able gadget list, with prices, after the jump. [OhGizmo]
A Swiss company called BKW has launched 'Project Goldfish', with the goal of developing a solar-powered submarine for civilian use by 2012. The vessel would generate continuous power via the monstrous floating island / solar array pictured above. The sub itself would be tethered to the array, allowing it to stay underwater indefinitely. Sound pointless? Well, it certainly would be if your are trying to travel undetected. I suppose it could have applications on sightseeing or exploratory missions, but the whole idea of travelling in a tiny underwater tomb is daunting enough without knowing that the only thing separating you from a gruesome death at the hands of Davy Jones are solar panels and some flimsy cables.
Apparently the military has been working with West Florida's Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) for several years trying to develop an underwater exoskeleton that would improve a soldier's speed and endurance underwater. Much like early pioneers of flight, IHMC has looked to nature to provide answers. So far, the project known as Performance Improving Self Contained Exoskeleton for Swimming ("PISCES") has investigated how dolphins, sea turtles and penguins move through the water. Not surprisingly, the results have been...a little odd.
Sony's XDV-W600 is no 60-inch high-contrast plasma TV, for sure: no, it'll sell for a different reason... it's waterproof. In fact, it meets IPX 7 and IPX 6 specs, and can safely go three feet under for half an hour. Clearly designed to go in the bathroom, it looks a smidge like a bar of soap, and has a 4-inch screen, recording function to its own 2GB internal memory, and runs for 23 hours from its own batteries supplemented by AAs. Bathing TV fans may be disappointed though: it's a oneseg digital unit, so we're unlikely to see this weirdness in the US. [AVWatch and Akihabaranews]
Hammacher Schlemmer's Digital Camera Swim Mask integrates an underwater digital camera into a swim mask--two things that have belonged together ever since Man decided that Woman should wear little to no clothing when they're in the water. The on-board 5-megapixel camera goes down to 15 feet and can take up to 30 pictures in its 16MB memory. You can expand that with a microSD card (no size limitation specified) in order to record more than 52 seconds of video as well. There's an LED inside the mask that tells you which mode you're in, but the whole thing requires two AAA batteries to operate. It's only US$99, and can be used in snorkeling or just at the pool. You can bet your arse we're testing one soon. [Hammacher]
I had the perfect backdrop to review this Pentax W60 waterproof camera while vacationing in Hawaii last week. It's 10mp, has a 5x zoom, and does HD level video, but the only reason to buy such a point and shoot is that it's rated to 4 metres of underwater depth for two hours, and is the smallest waterproof camera of its kind. It would prove to be a fortuitous addition to my travel gear, catching some great shots of some of my first surf lessons and some rare aquatic life while other tourists fumbled with crappy disposable film cams.
Tao Xiangli may only have an elementary school education, but he built his own 20-foot, 1.8-ton submarine from some metal barrels and miscellaneous parts he could scrap together. Fitting only himself, the interior also houses pressure meters, oxygen tanks, headlights, video cameras and a TV monitor. The entire submarine cost Xiangli US$4,366, or about one year's pay. Its maximum cruising depth is 10 metres. [Ananova via Gearfuse]
The swimming pool was really the only place left on Earth where extreme pogo stick users couldn't rip mad tricks. Until now. "The Only Underwater Pogo Stick" was designed for use in the pool, and allows you to easily "perform a variety of waterborne stunts as you bounce off walls or bottoms." Instead of a traditional spring (which is for landlubbing amateurs), a rigid ball filled with water fits into the footrest, and lets you bounce about in shallow water or "bound powerfully" in the deep end. Works with in-ground pools only for US$60. [Hammacher Schlemmer]
The Nereus is a kite-powered watercraft which looks like the product of an orgy between a hammerhead, a manta ray, a Japanese bike and a Storm Trooper. Inspired by kite-surfing, the designers of this water pod racer say that it will "achieve relatively high speeds on and under water." We don't know how high speed diving can be possible with the sea dragging you, but we know how you make it work.
