Behind the Scenes: 2014 ScubaLab BC Tests
This spring ScubaLab packed up the van, rounded up our test team of divers, and headed for north-central Florida's Blue Grotto cavern to test the latest crop of 16 BCs, including jacket-style, travel, tec and sidemount. Here's a peek behind the scenes; look for the BC reviews in Scuba Diving magazine's June issue, on newsstands May 20, and during the month of June at scubadiving.com.
View our dive to the base of the cavern: Diving the Blue Grotto Cavern [Video]
This spring ScubaLab packed up the van, rounded up our test team of divers, and headed for north-central Florida's Blue Grotto cavern to test the latest crop of 16 BCs, including jacket-style, travel, tec and sidemount. Here's a peek behind the scenes; look for the BC reviews in Scuba Diving magazine's June issue, on newsstands May 20, and during the month of June at scubadiving.com.
View our dive to the base of the cavern: Diving the Blue Grotto Cavern [Video]
Jon WhittleA hand-painted sign outside Blue Grotto's office shows a cutaway of the cavern.
Jon WhittleScubaLab director emeritus John Brumm unloads BCs at Blue Grotto.
Jon WhittleTanks and BCs are lined up for test-team divers at Blue Grotto.
Jon WhittleScubaLab test team divers swapping out BCs at Blue Grotto.
Jon WhittleScubaLab test team divers dived 16 BCs in two days of testing at Florida's Blue Grotto.
Jon WhittleTanks wait for test team divers.
Jon WhittleThe test team supervisor's work area.
Jon WhittleScubaLab test-team divers record notes and scores on waterproof paper attached to slates.
Jon WhittleA ScubaLab test-team diver enters the water at Blue Grotto.
Jon WhittleTest-team diver Eric Michael, former editor of both Scuba Diving and Sport Diver magazines.
Jon WhittleTest-team diver Roger Roy is the director of ScubaLab.
Jon WhittleScubaLab director emeritus John Brumm, right, reviews scores with test-team supervisor Alex Bean.
Jon WhittleScores and notes are transferred from test-team sheets.
Jon WhittleLunch is a DIY affair.
Jon WhittleFlorida's Blue Grotto cavern is a popular spot for dive training. Test-team divers shared the bowl with many other divers throughout the test days.
Jon WhittleBlue Grotto recently has opened a new entrance to its cave system, on the opposite side of the bowl from the cavern, forbidden to all except certified cave divers.
Jon WhittleFlorida's Blue Grotto has recently been substantially renovated by new ownership, including new multilevel platforms, dive-friendly picnic shelters, cabins, a swimming pool, and a new dive shop, coming soon.
Jon WhittleTest-team divers put BCs through a series of underwater tests.
Jon WhittleA ScubaLab test-team diver performs BC tests at the surface at Blue Grotto.
Jon WhittleTest-team divers make adjustments to a BC.
Jon WhittleScubaLab director Roger Roy examines a BC inflator.
Jon WhittleA few of ScubaLab's team of test divers, including, from left: ScubaLab director emeritus John Brumm, test-team supervisor Alex Bean, test-team diver Eric Michael, Scuba Diving magazine deputy editor Mary Frances Emmons and ScubaLab director Roger Roy.
