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    • Home
    • About
      • How to Join the Crew
      • What We Do
      • Our Team
    • Boat & Gear
      • The Boat
      • Gear Concierge
      • Products We Use
    • Expeditions
      • 2025 Expeditions
      • 2026 Expeditions
    • Training/Certifications
    • Experiences
      • Downwinders
      • Professional Resets
      • Surf
      • Underwater
      • Liveaboard Introduction
      • Bluewater Passagemaking
    • Shop
      • SV Indie Sky Swag
    • Blog
  • Home
  • About
    • How to Join the Crew
    • What We Do
    • Our Team
  • Boat & Gear
    • The Boat
    • Gear Concierge
    • Products We Use
  • Expeditions
    • 2025 Expeditions
    • 2026 Expeditions
  • Training/Certifications
  • Experiences
    • Downwinders
    • Professional Resets
    • Surf
    • Underwater
    • Liveaboard Introduction
    • Bluewater Passagemaking
  • Shop
    • SV Indie Sky Swag
  • Blog

Gear we Use

Under water Gear

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Mares Viper Mask

🥽 Overview

Designed in collaboration with freediving champions, the Mares Viper Mask promises ultra-low volume, high hydrodynamics, and comfort for serious underwater exploration. We tested it extensively aboard SV Indie Sky, across dives in the Med, North Africa, the Canaries, Cape Verde, and across the. Caribbean.


What We Liked

🔹 Low Volume = Easy Equalization

The Viper’s ultra-low internal volume makes it effortless to equalize — a huge plus for freedivers or scuba divers who descend quickly. On deeper freedives, we noticed a significant reduction in mask squeeze compared to traditional masks.

🔹 Matte Finish Reduces Glare

The anti-reflective, matte silicone not only looks sleek but also cuts down on glare — helpful for scanning under bright conditions.

🔹 Wide Field of Vision

Despite the compact frame, the Viper offers a surprisingly wide field of view. It doesn't feel claustrophobic, and situational awareness is excellent — whether you're checking your dive buddy or tracking a passing ray.

🔹 Snug, Hydrodynamic Fit

No wobble, no drag. This mask stays planted even in heavy current or on aggressive kicks. That said…


What We Didn't Love

🔸 Fit Can Be Tricky

This mask is designed for a very snug seal. Divers with wider faces or facial hair may find it prone to leaking. Test fit before buying — not everyone gets a perfect seal.


Who It's For

  • Freedivers and spearos: Absolutely.
  • Scuba divers: Yes, if you prefer low-volume masks.
  • Casual snorkelers: Maybe not — the fit can be unforgiving for general recreation.
     

Final Verdict: 🌊🌊🌊🌊☆ (4/5)

The Mares Viper is a high-performance mask with a distinct purpose: serious underwater missions where every breath and ounce of drag matters. If it fits your face, it’s a fantastic tool. But for all-day comfort or casual snorkels, you may want something more forgiving.


Get it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dMOiU5

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Above Water Gear

Soft Top Surf Fun

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🏄‍♀️ Wavestorm 8' Soft Top Surfboard

“The board that gets people standing—and smiling—fast.”

🌀 The Quick Take

At SV Indie Sky, we’ve taught dozens of new surfers how to catch their first wave using Wavestorms. Why? Because they’re simple, safe, nearly indestructible, and they just work.

They’re not flashy. They’re not technical. But they are dependable. And when you’re anchored off a remote reef break with limited storage, no surf shop nearby, and a crew full of stoked beginners—that’s exactly what you want.


✅ Why We Keep Them Aboard

  • Bulletproof for Boat Life
    Wavestorms live in our gear rack, stay leashed off the sugarscoops and bang harmlessly against the hulls they get dragged over sand, reef, and dinghy tubes—and keep coming back for more. No ding repairs. No delicate handling. No worries.
  • No Wax, No Fuss
    The textured deck pad means we don’t need to mess with surf wax onboard, which is a blessing in the tropics. No melting wax on cushions or in dry bags—just grab, surf, rinse, repeat.
  • Confidence-Builder for First-Timers
    The 8-foot length and huge volume make these boards super stable. We’ve watched hesitant adults and fearless 10-year-olds go from “no way” to standing and carving little peelers in a single session.
  • Safe for the Lineup—and the Crew
    Soft rails and foam construction mean fewer bruises and less risk of injury during wipeouts. It’s the only board we’re 100% comfortable handing to a total novice on a rolling foredeck.


🛟 SV Indie Sky Verdict

This is the board we hand to new surfers every time. It's easy, it’s safe, and it helps people fall in love with surfing—not just stay afloat. For a boat-based surf program, there’s nothing more practical.

They’re like flip-flops for the surf: you don’t baby them, you don’t cry if one floats off, and somehow they always do the job.

Rating: ★★★★☆
(They lose one star for performance, but earn it back in stoke.) 

Get one on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jMQUTn

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Fish Gear

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Under construction like a DIY electrical panel—expect sparks of brilliance soon, or at least something that won’t void your warranty

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