Stephen Frink, The "Atomic Diver"

On a recent trip to Raja Ampat, I happily found myself the “Atomic Diver", diving with mask, regulator, and fins by Atomic Aquatics.

Actually, the mask had been my favorite for quite some time. Once I discovered the comfort the Atomic frameless (black, of course, to block extraneous light hitting the camera’s groundglass) and optical superiority of the UltraClear lenses, I immediately adopted that as my preferred “shooter” mask. However, the regulator and fins were new to me. But once I tried them, they immediately become preferred gear as well.

The T2 regulator's light weight was immediately attractive, as every ounce counts in trying to travel below that magic 70-pound threshold for checked bags. More significantly, the swivel made it extraordinarily comfortable and the way the T2 performed in all the weird positions and contortions we find ourselves in as underwater photographers was impressive. Whether controlled breathing in hard upward angles or overhead environments (where unwanted exhaust bubbles would be an intrusion) or delivering air in the exertion of extreme currents, the T2 is stellar. I hear from other loyal Atomic users that this regulator is very robust and maintenance-resistant, and look forward to giving it a couple years of hard use to test that as well.

As far as fins go, I’ve discovered not all split style fins are the same. Different fin designs are more or less suitable for different tasks. For my typical task load underwater, I was quite pleased to discover that the Atomic SplitFins gave the advantage of efficient propulsion with minimal fatigue and also allowed for the subtle maneuverability required to position myself for the shot without impacting delicate reef structure.

Stephen Frink is the world’s most widely published underwater photographer. With a career spanning over two decades, his photos have appeared in a wide variety of diving journals and magazines world-wide, and he has provided stunning imagery for hundreds of promotional campaigns.

Stephen Frink • www.stephenfrink.com