NW Dive & Travel Expo Gear Review: Italian Dive Gear Comes to the States
When we were at the Tacoma Dive Show, I became intrigued when I saw the Icaro Tech and Icaro Dive Wing by an Italian dive gear company, founded in 1971, called SEAC. The Icaro line, entirely made in Italy as is all the SEAC gear, is coming to the U.S., to be sold exclusively in dive shops, not online in any way shape or form.
We dive DiveRite Rec Wings and love the freedom and flexibility that a dive wing affords. I dive an 80′ short steel tank, though, and when the wing was set up initially, the top strap barely reached the top of the tank – and that with persistent tugging and prodding to get it down far enough. When I took a look at the Icaro, I noticed that the back plate was much shorter than my dive wing steel plate. Also, the plate looks much lighter. I was informed that it is made of a lightweight naval-aviation alloy. There are also little pads at the top and bottom of the plate to give a little comfort to the back. We dropped the wing over a steel 80 tank and it settled just right, with plenty of room to secure the straps.
Minimalist in design, the Icaro and Icaro Tech have plenty of D-rings and material loops, plus, pouches and pockets are available for purchase. There are 4 dump valves on the Tech wing, making it easy to dump air from any position. The Icaro Tech has a lift capacity of 55lb, while the Icaro Rec wing lifts about 35lb.
Super light at just under 6 lbs, this dive wing makes for easy traveling. With a variety of accessories available, this dive wing could be a practical and comfortable option. Available on May 15 through Blue Steel, dealers are being sought. Contact Bud at Blue Steel LLC if interested in finding out more about the “Italian Alternative.”