Mares

Just Add Water: The Italian Giant

“Just Add Water.” It is one of the most iconic slogans in diving, representing the ethos of a brand founded on passion and innovation. In 1949, in Rapallo, Italy, Ludovico Mares designed his first masks and spearguns. He wasn’t just an engineer; he was an obsessive perfectionist who wanted to share his love for the sea. What started in a small Italian workshop has grown into one of the largest and most influential diving manufacturers in history.

Mares is a brand defined by patents. They don’t just follow trends; they invent them. They revolutionised underwater propulsion with the Channel Thrust technology. By allowing the fin blade to deform and channel water, they mimicked the efficiency of a marine mammal’s flipper. This innovation birthed the Avanti Quattro, arguably the most popular fin in the world. Walk onto any dive boat in the UK, and you will see pairs of yellow Quattros that have been in service for 20 years, still propelling divers through the currents of the Channel.

For the UK diver, Mares offers a vast ecosystem of equipment that balances high performance with Italian flair. From the Abyss regulator, which famously passed the US Navy’s extreme cold water tests, to the Puck Pro computer that made digital logging accessible to millions, Mares gear is ubiquitous because it works. Whether you are a beginner taking your first breaths in a pool or a seasoned pro exploring a wreck, Mares provides the reliability and intuitive design that lets you forget the gear and focus on the dive.