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Many people have heard the phrase “red tide,” but we’ve found that there aren’t a ton of folks who really know what the phenomenon actually is. Marked by an often blood-red appearance, red tides are actually oceanic algal blooms — large concentrations of sea-borne microorganisms, like phytoplankton — triggered by nutrients that have been stirred up from the ocean floor. Historically, this is an event that occurs as a result of massive storms or other, similar natural events. Unfortunately, human technology and manmade disasters can also cause this event to occur and, sometimes, with great harm to the delicate ocean ecosystem, due to a wealth of toxins created in the process. Even worse, events like this are happening with more frequency than ever before — shedding light on the greater imbalance of nature as the result of human progress. So it is with great urgency and concern that we’ve drawn inspiration from these red tides for this week’s everyday carry. And it’s more than just in appearance; all of this gear was made to handle exposure to water, as well.
Oris Aquis Date Relief Dive Watch
Oris makes a wide variety of water-resistant watches, but their latest — the Aquis Date Relief automatic dive watch — was made specifically with the ocean in mind. In fact, on top of its stainless steel case (with a unidirectional dive timer bezel) and 300m water-resistance, the matte-gray colorway of the bezel and dial were designed to mimic the appearance of stormy seas. To prove its durability and raise awareness about threats to the global water supply, they’re even giving one to Swiss swim legend Ernst Bromeis to wear during his ‘Blue Miracle’ campaign while he swims across the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal.
Opinel No. 8 Outdoor Survival Knife
Opinel probably didn’t have ocean travels in mind when they designed their No. 8 Survival Knife, but that doesn’t mean it can’t handle it. In fact, this knife is water- and corrosion-resistant, can withstand extreme temperature changes, and is even shockproof. Pair that with a Virobloc safety ring locking mechanism, an integrated 110-decibel emergency whistle, and a partially serrated blade and you could do a lot worse than this knife in just about any emergency or survival situation on or off the water.
Bellroy All-Conditions Essentials Pocket
Your average wallet is not going to protect any of its contents from exposure to water. In fact, most of them probably won’t survive a dunk themselves. That’s not an issue with the Bellroy All-Conditions Essentials Pocket, however. This handsome hauler is built from water-resistant premium leather, has five internal pockets for all your gear — including up to 12 cards, an included micro travel pen, pocket-size tech, and more — and even comes with a water-resistant YKK zipper. And yes, that also means it protects from mud, snow, dirt, dust, and whatever else you can throw at it.
Dive Rite LX20 Diving Flashlight
There are a lot of everyday carry flashlights on the market, but few of them are water-resistant, least of all dive-ready. But the Dive Rite LX20 is capable of withstanding depths as deep as 500 feet without incident. It’s also small enough to stash in your pocket, has a simple rotary on/off switch for easy operation, and offers an impressive amount of brightness. It’s even rechargeable and can run for up to 36 hours straight. And it is made proudly in the USA.
