Scubapro has launched the latest model in its popular Galileo range of dive computers with a titanium-cased version of its popular Galileo G3 dive computer.

The new Galileo G3 Titanium – G3 Ti – watch-style computer weighs in at around 40 per cent less than the 2023-launched G3.

The G3 Ti retains the high-contrast full-colour display and the scratch-resistant sapphire glass screen of its stablemate, with the same stainless steel rotatable bezel, distinctive deep blue finish and efficient backlight.

The four-button control system to navigate the six dive modes remains unchanged, and both computers provide a choice of algorithms between the Predictive Multi-Gas (PMG) Bühlmann ZHL-16 ADT MB (Microbubble) PMG or the ZHL-16 GF (Gradient Factors) model, and three dive modes – Scuba, Gauge and Freediving.

Scuba mode has settings available for predictive multi-gas, trimix, CCR and sidemount diving; and wireless air integration through the optional Smart+ Pro transmitter monitors tank pressure to provide both true remaining bottom time (RBT) and allow air consumption to be factored into decompression calculations.

The G3 Ti is priced at £529 without an air-integration transmitter, compared to the standard model’s price tag of £449.

However, between now and September 2025, Scubapro is offering discounted bundles for purchasing either of the computers with its Smart+ Pro transmitters, with savings of up to £160 over the usual retail Smart+ Pro retail price of £280.

Related articles

• New Scubapro Galileo G3 dive computer
• Scubapro turns 60 with Anniversary Edition regulator and computer
• New Scubapro S620 Ti titanium-barrelled second stage
• Review | Scubapro G2

Scubapro G3, G3 Ti features:

• Max operating depth: 300 m
• Number of Gases: 8
• Gas Capability: 21-100% Nitrox, Trimix
• Algorithm: Bühlmann ZH-L16 ADT MB PMG; Bühlmann ZH-L16 GF
• Operating Modes: Freediving, CCR, Scuba, Gauge
• Display Type: Colour
• Memory Capacity: 485MB
• Battery: Rechargeable Li
• Control Buttons: 4
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
• Built-In compass: Yes

MSRP:
G3 without transmitter: £ 449 – link
G3 Titanium without transmitter: £ 529 – link
G3 Ti with transmitter: £ 649; G3 with Transmitter: £ 559 – special offer bundle link

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Dive computer tech expert, Shearwater Research Inc, has its expansion into the development and manufacturing of specialised dive equipment with the launch of the Shearwater Jetpack for Avelo diving.

The launch follows the announcement of a strategic research and development partnership between Shearwater and Avelo Labs in late 2024.

For those unfamiliar, the Avelo System is a new take on scuba diving technology which replaces the traditional tank, weights system and BCD with its Hydrotank and Jetpack.

The Hydrotank is a scuba tank with a flexible inner bladder into which compressed air or water can be pumped in order to control a diver’s buoyancy.

The Hydrotank is carried on the Jetpack, a backplate system with a battery-powered pump through which the diver controls the levels of air and water in the Hydrotank.

The result is a system said to be much lighter than the traditional setup, which Avelo says ‘supports optimal buoyancy control while enhancing precision and underwater agility’.

The new Shearwater Jetpack features an onboard gas pressure monitoring system and integrates with Shearwater dive computers that feature the Avelo Mode firmware – such as the 2024 Avelo version of Shearwater’s popular Teric – thus enabling precision gas tracking, buoyancy prediction, and real-time performance analytics.

‘Shearwater was founded with an intense focus to deliver powerful, simple, and reliable solutions for technical divers,’ said Jason Leggatt, CEO of Shearwater Research.

‘Our goal is to truly grow the technical diving community long-term, and to do that the industry needs to deliver better dive experiences so divers are more likely to commit to their diving journey.

‘Shearwater made its first move into recreational diving with the Peregrine and Tern lines, but there has been no transformational innovation in the category—until now.

‘Our collaboration with Avelo is not a departure from our roots; it’s additive. We’re lending Shearwater’s technical capability and commitment to product excellence to help build a simply better dive experience—built better from the very beginning.’

Avelo has gained a foothold in the dive industry in the last couple of years, with a number of dive centres in the US, Bonaire, Spain, Malaysia and Australia offering user- and instructor-level training.

Currently priced at around US$4,500 – $5000 for a complete system, Avelo is a pricey option over traditional gear, but supporters say it may be a game-changer for the future of scuba diving.

‘As someone who grew up on the instructional side of diving, I saw firsthand the frustrations many divers face,’ said Aviad Cahana, CEO of Avelo Labs.

‘I’ve always had an innate mindset of challenging the status quo. I kept asking: Why is scuba gear so heavy? Why can’t we make the experience better?

‘Those questions drove the invention of the Avelo System. Our partnership with Shearwater is the next step in realising that vision.’

Shearwater says that it aims to partner with Avelo grow the diving community ‘by improving first-time experiences, increasing accessibility, and advancing diver performance through cutting-edge technology.’

Concept demonstrator units of the Shearwater Jetpack made their debut at the Long Beach Scuba Show, held between 31 May and 1 June 2025, with the final configuration and full feature set scheduled to be announced at DEMA Show 2025, which will take place in Orlando, Florida between 11-14 November.

Related articles

• Shearwater Research and Avelo Labs announce ‘revolutionary’ scuba diving partnership
• Shearwater Research announces Avelo mode for Teric dive computer
• DAN Europe and Azoth Systems’ microbubble study
• Divers discover an 8,000-year-old skeleton in Mexican cenote
• New boat mooring system sees seagrass meadows bloom

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Shearwater Research has announced the latest in its Journeys series of dive computers with the debut of the Perdix 2 Journeys Edition.

Following the successful 2022 launch of its Teric Journeys Edition, the new computer continues to draw inspiration from the history of diving helmets and tools, with the flagship Perdix 2 now available with a bronze-coloured titanium bezel.

The computer will be shipped with a custom-designed sleeve that Sheawater says will ‘invite divers into a world of underwater exploration’, and will be supported by a marketing campaign that celebrates legendary dive destinations including the Red Sea, Malta, Iceland, and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

More from Shearwater

• Shearwater partners with Japanese distributor Kinugawa
• Shearwater Research and Avelo Labs announce partnership
• Shearwater Research announces Avelo mode for Teric dive computer
• Shearwater officially releases Tern and Tern TX

‘We know that divers value choice when it comes to colours and finishes,’ said Josh Horoshok, VP Sales and Marketing at Shearwater Research. ‘After the success of the Teric Journeys Edition, it made perfect sense to bring the bronze titanium bezel to our highly popular flagship model, the Perdix 2.’

The Perdix 2 Journeys Edition will make its global debut at the 22-25 May TDEX Dive Show in Bangkok, Thailand, and began shipping on 20 May, in plenty of time for the Scuba Show in Long Beach, California, between 31 May – 1 June. 

‘This is an homage to the original Teric Journeys Edition, but more importantly, it offers a new option for our technical diving community,’ added Horoshok. ‘The campaign celebrates iconic dive sites — ideal environments for technical divers to explore, test their skills, and connect with diving’s adventurous spirit.’

MSRP Perdix 2 Journeys Edition: $1165 USD / $1140 CAD / €1050 EUR

www.shearwater.com/pages/perdix-2-journeys-edition

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Like most scuba gear, breathing air compressors for filling scuba tanks come in a range of different shapes and sizes with plenty of options for added extras to boot.

There comes a point when owning your own breathing air compressor is more cost-effective (and less logistically challenging) than taking your tanks to be filled elsewhere, but it’s still a big up-front investment – even bigger if you buy the wrong one – so choosing the right compressor for your needs comes with a few caveats.

Whether you’re thinking of setting up shop or just wanting to fill your own tanks at weekends, here are a few tips to get you started in making the right choice.

• Types, sizes, and capacities of cylinders to be filled
• Number and frequency of cylinder refills
• Power requirements and available supply
• Other key features
• A note about nitrox

Type, size and capacity of cylinders

Most compressors are rated to either 232 bar (3,365 psi) or 300 bar (4,350 psi).

The standard 12l/80cuft aluminium tanks which are used around the world – and virtually exclusively in tropical diving destinations – have a working pressure of between 200-230 bar (2,901 – 3,336 psi).

If that is your only market, or you plan to use only recreational aluminium tanks for personal use or with a small group of buddies, then the 232 bar compressor will be more than sufficient.

Stronger steel cylinders, however – which are the mainstay of UK diving, for example – have a working capacity of 300 bar (4,350 psi), so a higher-pressure model of compressor is required to get the biggest possible fills.

If you’re planning to go into business anywhere that steel tanks are in regular use, it makes sense to invest in a higher-pressure model so that all your customers can get their preferred fills – even if you don’t offer the use of steel tanks yourself.

Be aware that the different pressure ratings require different fittings for the tank-filling hoses (also known as ‘whips’). 232 bar compressor whips usually have INT fittings – the same as the standard A-clamp regulators – but 300-bar compressors are DIN only, which – like DIN regulators – screw into the tank valve, not over it.

Neither fitting is a major issue, you just need to have a supply of proper adapters to make sure you can fill both types of tank.

Number of fills, frequency and flow/charge rate

If you’re looking to buy a compressor for personal use, diving at weekends or some weekday evenings, then a smaller compressor such as the Coltri Icon provides a relatively inexpensive solution, typically taking around 20-25 minutes to fill a standard 12l tank.

For dive centres or clubs, however, you would need a compressor designed for commercial use, such as Coltri’s Smart, Ergo or Mark III ranges, which are capable of filling two tanks at a time, and will fill a tank from empty in 10-15 minutes, depending on whether or not you’re filling to 200 or 300 bar, or using the 210 or 315 litre/min model.

The amount of air that a compressor can pump is known as its flow rate – or charge rate – measured in litres/min (cuft/min or cfm in the US). The bigger the flow rate, the faster your fills.

To put some tank-fill timing into context: filling twenty 12l aluminium tanks from empty to 200 bar would probably take around 3-4 hours using a 210 l/m compressor, and between 2-3 hours for refills after a diving day, depending on how much air your divers chomp through. Add at least another hour to each for 300 bar fills and 15 litre tanks.

Double the number of tanks means double the fill time, so a business using 40 tanks per diving day on a mid-range compressor would need 6-8 hours just for refills, in which case you either need to look at a compressor with a faster flow rate, such as the 315 l/m charge rate of the Coltri Ergo 315 or Mark III 315 ( and invest in a 3-phase power supply to run it) – or be prepared to clock up some serious overtime.

If the scale of your operation requires more than 40 tanks per diving day, then dual compressor systems, air banks (compressed air storage facilities) or industrial-scale compressors are on the cards, and you need expert advice.

Power supply considerations

Electric breathing air compressors are often preferred for filling scuba tanks as they are quieter and require less maintenance than petrol or diesel compressors; plus, there’s no risk of exhaust fumes being pumped into the tanks.

On the downside, they are obviously not very portable, and if you only have a single-phase electricity supply – which is the global standard for most homes and businesses – then you will be limited to a smaller compressor and slower tank fills.

Larger compressors with bigger flow/charge rates require a three-phase power supply, which is usually only found in commercial premises, and which in the UK can cost anywhere between £3,000-£15,000 to fit, depending on your location.

Petrol (and sometimes diesel) compressors for scuba tank fills are a much better alternative in terms of portability, especially for boats and in places where power supplies are less-than-reliable.

They are noisier than electric compressors, and the engines will require regular care and maintenance, but basic servicing is simpler than it is for their electrical counterparts.

One of the most important considerations for petrol engines is their exhaust fumes – especially carbon monoxide (CO), which is deadly if breathed under pressure. Proper compressor filtration systems, replaced at regular intervals, and an exhaust routed as far away from the air intake as possible are essential.

Additional air-quality monitoring devices are also a good idea, especially in locations where there is heavy road traffic or other industrial discharge into the atmosphere.

Other key features to consider

Filtration system

Breathing air compressors for scuba tank filling require chemical filters to remove moisture, oil residue and other contaminants from the air intake to prevent divers from breathing them and to reduce the risk of damage and corrosion inside the tank.

Filters are usually purchased as cartridges for easy removal and replacement from the compressor, and are often specific to the model of compressor in use, and the type of power the compressor is using.

All breathing air compressor filters require a ‘molecular sieve’ which removes moisture from the air, and activated carbon, which removes oil and unpleasant odours. It is highly recommended that filters for petrol and diesel compressors also contain a CO-catalyst to remove carbon dioxide.

Automatic condensate drainage

Moisture is a by-product of compressing atmospheric air and is dangerous if it makes its way into divers’ tanks. The condensate created during the filling process needs to be regularly drained from the compressor’s separator units when filling tanks – every 5 to 10 minutes, depending on local humidity.

The draining is usually done by a hand-operated valve, and although it is not difficult, it does require that you pay attention to draining the system during the filling process to make sure the condensate is removed from the compressor.

Automatic condensate draining is often available as standard on some top-end commercial models of compressor, and an optional extra on smaller models.

It’s a luxury rather than a necessity, but it does make the arduous task of tank filling and compressor maintenance that little bit easier.

Air quality monitoring

Moisture, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are all potentially serious – even fatal – problems for scuba divers, should they be mistakenly pumped into a tank.

Air quality measuring devices which can monitor all three can be an important consideration, especially in places with high humidity, inner-city areas and locations where there is heavy road traffic and other potential air quality issues.

A note about Nitrox

Nitrox blending – creating gas mixtures with a different oxygen content than that of regular air – requires an article all to itself. It can be mixed using a standard breathing air compressor, but doing so requires a significant investment in other equipment.

The term ‘nitrox’ refers to any mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, but the ‘enriched air nitrox’ for recreational divers is a gas mixture containing more oxygen than the 21% found in regular air, up to a maximum of 40%, but most commonly 32% or 36%.

There are three main methods for nitrox blending:

• Partial pressure blending: This is essential for the precise nitrox mixtures, and mixtures containing helium (eg trimix) used by technical divers. Partial pressure blending typically involves putting pure oxygen into a tank and topping it up with air from a regular breathing air compressor passed through an additional filtration system to ensure the air is ‘oxygen clean’.
• Continuous blending: made famous by the ‘Nitrox Stik’, continuous blending mixes medical-grade oxygen from a separate tank with air from a regular breathing air compressor to create nitrox mixtures up to 40%.
• Membrane system: Air from a regular compressor is ‘filtered’ through a membrane to remove nitrogen and create mixtures up to 40%

All three are possible using a standard, unmodified breathing air compressor, but will require a significant investment in additional equipment, and may be affected by your location.

In many countries, local regulations stipulate that anything up to 40% enriched air nitrox can be treated like regular air, and does not require any specialist equipment or filling technique.

In the UK and Europe, however, any mixture containing more than the 21% oxygen content of regular air requires that tanks and filling equipment are ‘oxygen clean’ and compatible for use with pure O₂, making the process a lot more complicated and a lot more expensive.

Specialist nitrox compressors are also available, which function using a membrane system to deliver nitrox in a self-contained system – but they come with a heavy price tag.

Regardless of what type of gases you’re planning on mixing, if it’s not normal air, you need specialist advice!

Buying the right compressor

There are plenty of things to consider when purchasing a compressor – and many dive professionals will have had to deal with the impact of working for dive centres that didn’t plan their system properly, or take into account future growth of the business or the different requirements of their customers.

While this article is a good guide to get you started, it’s important to discuss your plans with professionals who can give their sound advice before you part with a significant quantity of your hard-earned cash.

For more information or to investigate a potential purchase, it’s worth contacting a company such as CompressorShop UK, specialists in the world-leading Coltri brand of high-quality breathing air compressors for scuba diving.

The post Choosing the right breathing air compressor for scuba diving appeared first on DIVE Magazine.

The Aqualung Group – owner of Aqualung, Apeks and Aquasphere – has announced it is in takeover talks with HEAD Group – the owner of Mares – just over a year after the company was acquired by Barings.

A statement published by Aqualung said that HEAD Group company has ‘entered into exclusive discussions regarding the potential acquisition of 100 per cent of Aqualung Group.’

The proposal is subject to regulatory approvals and due legal process, but would be a significnat expansion of HEAD’s already voluminous catalogue.

HEAD was originally founded in the US in 1947 as a skiing equipment company by Howard Head, who designed the first metal skis. The brand became a household name in the 1970s as a manufacturer of the first aluminium tennis racquets.

Today, the company is based in Kennelbach, Austria, and has expanded to include a number of major international scuba diving brands, including MARES, which it acquired in 1971 and the SSI training organisation in 2014. HEAD Group also owns rEVo Rebreathers and the international scuba travel company liveaboard.com.

Aqualung Group has struggled financially since the completion of its acquisition by Barings in December 2023. Despite selling the US Divers brand in April 2024 and Stohlquist watersports the following month, there have been supply issues leading to customers missing out on their orders.

An Aqualung employee who reached out anonymously to the scuba diving media said they were ‘excited that, with Head, we will have the money to pay to get inventory.’

‘We do not like what Barings and Montagu did to our business, since they took over we have struggled to do anything and the business has been getting harder and harder,’ continued the source. ‘They did not put more money into the business when we needed it, so we can not grow and only get smaller.

‘Last week we had to tell our customers we could not supply them with many items as we do not have the money to pay suppliers and many customers are quite angry about it, so hopefully, this will stop now and we can get back to protecting our customers.’

Aqualung, founded in 1943 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan, was the first company to successfully produce a commercially available open-circuit demand valve – the forerunner of the modern scuba diving regulator.

Its products are popular with scuba divers and the company also has a strong military division. A spokesperson for HEAD Group said that the company intensts to maintain and develop both Aqualung’s sport and military operations.

HEAD also says that it plans ‘to build on Aqualung Group’s production capabilities to support the global production and distribution of premium products. The combined expertise of the two companies would generate strong synergies, accelerate market leadership, and open new opportunities to broaden access to water sports worldwide’

Related articles

• Aqualung, Apeks sold to Barings investment
• Barings completes acquisition of Aqualung group
• Aqualung Group sells Stohlquist to Sport Dimension Inc.
• Aqualung Group sells US Divers brand
• Aqualung i330 dive computer recall

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