Scuba Diving Gear That Has Withstood The Test Of Time

Sometimes, The Old Ways Are Best

At Submersible Wrist, we specialize in just two things: diving and dive watches. While the analog watch’s necessity as a bottom timer has often been superseded by the now ubiquitous dive computer, the rest of a diver’s standard equipment has remained remarkably similar—if not identical—to what it was fifty years ago.

Many of these items, from masks to fins to regulators and knives, are just as appropriate on a dive boat in 2024 as they were in 1974. Looking to military divers and other undersea legends for proof of lasting utility and legitimacy, in this edition of the Dive Log, we’ll identify and discuss examples of scuba diving equipment that prove the latest is not always the greatest under the sea. With the pun being very much intended, let’s dive in.

Aqua Lung Wraparound Mask

A US Navy Diver wearing a Wraparound mask (and a Seiko dive watch) while filming SEALs locking out of the USS Woodrow Wilson in 1991 (Photo Credit: US National Archives)

While the modern frameless low-profile mask has come to dominate the market and sees widespread use among military, commercial, and recreational divers, the historical record is made up of more traditional framed models. Take the U.S. Divers Wraparound mask for example. First introduced in 1967 as their “photographer, professional diver, [and] explorer” model, the Wraparound was favored for its excellent visibility and optional purge valve. Its oval-shaped predecessors, while offering excellent forward visibility, provided little to no information about what surrounded the diver. The Wraparound solved this issue by adding two smaller windows to the left and right of the main plate, reintroducing the diver’s peripheral vision and granting greater awareness of their surroundings underwater.

A US Navy Rescue Swimmer at NAS Key West, FL wears a Wraparound mask as he climbs aboard the shuttle boat after completing helicopter hoist training. (Photo Credit: US Air Force)

This visibility makes it an excellent option for military divers and, in particular search and rescue swimmers. U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers are one example, commonly using the still-issued Wraparound mask in their training and on real-life rescue operations. For those looking for one to call their own, you’re in luck. Aqua Lung still produces the Wraparound, now in silicone, due to stable demand over the last half-century. As this entire article aims to indicate, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Scubapro Jet Fins

Marines of the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion carrying Jet Fins in the 1960s. (Photo Credit: US National Archives)

Whether they’re Scubapro-branded Jet Fins or simply fins that utilize a “jetted” format allowing water to pass through the body of the fin, this design has become synonymous with divers throughout history. Invented by the French firm Beuchat and first featured in Cousteau’s 1964 World Without Sun, documenting his 1962 Conshelf II project, Jet Fins are a staple across recreational and professional diving communities the world over. While their adoption was slow amongst the old guard who preferred their board-stiff Duck Feet fins, the jetted design slowly gained traction as divers found the novel fins excelled at providing fine movement control, moving loads, and propelling divers through current.

A US Navy Diver enters the water wearing Apeks RK3s in 2024. (Photo Credit: US Navy)

The secret was the vents in Beuchat’s original design, contributing to a reduction in drag while offering improved propulsion and reduced fatigue. Earlier fin designs, relied upon stiffness to provide power—resulting in many a tired diver and, ultimately, less speed in the water. In time and across a wide variety of diving scenarios, the new fins usurped the old, and the jetted design became the professional standard. Amphibious members of the US Armed Forces are currently issued Aqua Lung’s Rocket II, a strikingly similar design coming from Scubapro's fiercest competitor, and Apeks RK3s, both of which are modernized grandchildren of the Scubapro Jets used by Navy personnel of yore.

Aqua Lung Conshelf XIV Regulator

A US Navy Diver utilizing a Conshelf regulator (and a G-Shock) in 1995. (Photo Credit: US National Archives)

Utilizing the balanced first stage from 1965’s Royal Aquamaster, the Conshelf series of regulators culminated in its ultimate form in 1977 with the Conshelf XIV. Ubiquitous in the military scuba world, the chromed-brass second stage is also the basis of Kirby Morgan’s Superflow 350, a regulator used in 99% of commercial and military diving helmets. In either case, the Conshelf series of regulators have proven robust and capable of handling serious conditions. Their one limit is a slightly small exhaust valve. The U.S. Navy's Experimental Diving approved the XIV’s precursor, the XII, for service at least as early as 1974. While other versions were produced over the years, the XIV is the variant still manufactured for military and professional divers to this day.

An anonymous USMC Force Recon operator using a Conshelf XIV regulator (and a Rolex Sea-Dweller) at the Marine Combatant Diver Course in 2024.

Many regulators have been approved for use by the military over the years. The Mares Abyss Navy is the most recent of this crop, tested to a grueling standard most divers will never even approach. But the old “Connies”, as many refer to them, have the benefit of sixty years of history and production—they can and have withstood decades of abuse and continue to perform. The sheer number of parts available means divers will be able to rebuild these regulators for decades to come. While they may not be the fanciest or most innovative option on the market, these old Conshelf regs will keep reliably delivering gas for as long as someone is willing to take them diving.

US Navy Divers using the Poseidon XStream regulator in 2023. Still, the legendary Conshelf pervades. (Photo Credit: US Navy)

Rumor has it that the Navy is phasing out the Conshelf in favor of the Poseidon Xstream for many units (excluding NDSTC or the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center). Some divers are upset, believing the Conshelf’s simpler and all-metal build can withstand the rigors of their work better than Poseidon’s jazzier plastic reg. For anyone interested in picking up a US Navy Conshelf, keep an eye out on secondary channels. There may be some deals around the corner.

Aqua Lung Master Dive Knife

A diver wearing an Aqua Lung Master knife (and a Certina DS-2 Super PH500M) while working on Tektite II in 1970. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

The first frogmen, operating in the years before global military organizations adopted SCUBA systems, carried knives largely to counter the risk of underwater entanglement. Today’s frogmen still carry big knives, and while the odds are you’ll never be faced with a great white and need to pull out a knife with a seven-inch blade, knives still represent an essential tool in any diver’s kit.

A US Navy Diver with an Aqua Lung Master knife on his right leg, Jet Fins, and a Conshelf reg in 2016. (Photo Credit: US Navy)

Aqua Lung still sells their “Master” knife, first introduced in 1963, but vintage examples are everywhere for less than half their modern prices. Get yourself one in good shape, throw on a set of new rubber leg straps, and don’t let anyone tell you they aren’t practical—you can easily cut lines with the serrated edge and the chunky metal hilt makes an excellent tank banger in a pinch. There are numerous schools of thought when it comes to diving knives, with some arguing for folders, more compact multi-tools that include blades, or even replacing knives with scissors. We’d recommend ignoring the comments about entanglements with bigger knives. Just don’t lose your new knife in the drink.

Leading By Example

These are just a few examples of dive gear that has been subjected to—and thrived under—the abuse of decades of working divers from both the civilian and military sectors with little to no changes in design. Like watches, certain models are simply tried and true, and many lessons can be learned from looking at the example set by the pros. It stands to reason that if a pair of fins, mask, knife, or regulator is good enough for use by the US Military or other professional divers over decades despite massive technological innovations in many other arenas, that particular piece of equipment is more than likely good enough for the rest of us. If you’re interested in trying any of this equipment, every piece of gear listed in this article is still readily available for the current—and future—generations of divers.

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