Düsseldorf Bootshow - 2026 Dive Hall Review

Having attended Düsseldorf Boot Show for the first time last year, this year’s edition was once again intense and full of highlights. During the four days I spent at the show, I mainly explored the diving section and had many conversations with industry professionals, yet it still felt like there was never enough time. Below, I’ve tried to summarize this year’s key highlights and the changes compared to the previous edition.

SSI - Mares - Aqualung - Apeks 

Last year, the very first and most striking observation for me was the absence of Aqualung and Apeks from the show floor. Toward the end of the second quarter of 2025, things became clearer when the HEAD Group acquired both Aqualung and Apeks. With HEAD already investing in several sports brands beyond diving, and owning SSI and Mares as well, the natural question became how these brands would be positioned going forward. I was genuinely excited to see some answers to this question at the show; however, I must say that the sense of uncertainty still remains. In fact, it seems quite possible that HEAD may choose not to reposition the brands at all, continuing instead to manage them as separate entities.

Aqualung vs Mares

In one section of the booth, mannequins dressed in Mares and Aqualung wet suits were positioned facing each other. While this gave me the impression of an underlying rivalry between the two brands, I believe the placement was likely coincidental. Although Apeks appears to be positioned more clearly within the technical diving segment compared to the other two, Mares was also showcasing its XR series, which is firmly aimed at technical divers. It is quite evident that Aqualung’s scuba product range and Mares’ offerings are set to compete more directly with each other.

Although I personally still believe that a clearer positioning between these brands will eventually emerge, during his seminar Mares’ Sales and Marketing Director, Dusan Runjajic, stated that the three brands intend to combine their strengths. He illustrated this idea by merging their slogans into a single narrative: “just add water” (Mares) “to explore beyond the expected” (Aqualung) “by being technically inspired” (Apeks).

One of the standout elements at the Mares booth was once again the Apple Watch Ultra dive computer application, which was announced in the second quarter of the year and released for use in the final quarter. Available for download on the Apple Watch Ultra under the name Mares Dive App, the application operates using the well-established Bühlmann ZHL-16 algorithm. Covering all the core features of a scuba dive computer, the app offers Nitrox support (from 21% to 50%), a digital compass, dive logs marked on a map, and a GPS feature that records dive start and end points. With a highly user-friendly interface, the Mares Dive App is accessible via a subscription model priced at TRY 399.99 per month or TRY 2,999.99 per year. While pricing varies by region, for Turkey this positions the app noticeably higher than its competitor Oceanic+, which was released in 2022 and is priced at TRY 119.99 monthly or TRY 1,699 annually.

Mares Dive app for Apple Watch Ultra

rEvo, as expected, once again had its place within a dedicated section of the SSI booth. The Horizon semi-closed circuit rebreather was also displayed in the same area. What caught my attention was seeing rEvo showcased together with a Mares XR wing. My mind immediately went back to the ongoing positioning question: could it be that Mares XR is intended to lean more toward the rebreather segment, while Apeks focuses on open-circuit technical diving? That said, I may also be overthinking what could simply be a practical display choice.

Scuba Brands

Having reviewed the Apeks and Aqualung situation compared to last year, we can now turn our attention to other brands at the show that offer complete end-to-end scuba diving equipment solutions. From my perspective, SEAC stood out the most compared to last year. In its clean yet eye-catching booth, the product Seac chose to highlight was an anti-fog mask. While we have recently seen similar examples from various brands across the industry, this marks the first time such a product has been prominently featured by one of the major mainstream brands. I had the opportunity to obtain this mask at the show, and after testing and using it for a while, I will share my impressions here.

Cressi, Tusa, Scubapro, Dynamic Nord, and Fourth Element were once again present at the show this year, showcasing their latest products. Among them, Fourth Element was arguably the booth that attracted the most attention. With a design language that clearly sets it apart from the others, Fourth Element also presented its new wetsuit model for visitors to explore.

Rebreather (CCR) Diving Systems

As a newly certified JJ Rebreather instructor, it would of course be impossible not to touch upon the rebreather world at the show. JJ continues this year without deviating from its well-established philosophy. Robustness, durability, longevity, and the ability to operate reliably under the harshest conditions remain at the core of its messaging. This year, a small but meaningful update was introduced to the unit: an open/close function was added to the counterlung exhaust valve, making pre-dive positive pressure checks easier. Beyond that, unlike many other rebreather manufacturers, JJ chose to present a single model to visitors. With its “Ready to fly out of the box” narrative, clearly inspired by aviation, JJ also remains cautious when it comes to updates, avoiding the adoption of technologies that have not yet proven themselves, much like in the aviation industry. Simplicity and competence are positioned as the core value proposition of JJ rebreathers, with the company emphasizing that every detail exists for a reason.

In the rebreather segment, one of the most anticipated products at the show was undoubtedly Halcyon’s new chest-mounted rebreather. Equipped with its own proprietary electronics, the Halcyon rebreather appears poised to become a top choice among chest-mount units, particularly in Europe. While it may serve as an alternative to Dive Rite’s Choptima in the United States, I strongly believe that in Europe and other markets it will significantly challenge the current dominance of the Triton chest-mounted rebreather.

As in the previous year, the Kiss Sidewinder was displayed at the show alongside XDeep products. The Scuba Force rebreather, SF2, on the other hand, felt somewhat overshadowed at the Scuba Force booth. With Scuba Force’s other products and sales activity sharing the stand with Shearwater, the SF2 seemed to remain slightly out of the spotlight. The Shark rebreather was introduced to visitors from the SDI–TDI Europe office booth, together with Shams Diving Center.

At the show, I also came across several smaller-scale rebreather brands that are relatively new to the market and still in development. Among them, the one that caught my attention the most was Vadaa, a Serbian brand presenting a unit that, quite frankly, resembles a modified version of a JJ. Although it has not yet undergone CE testing or similar certifications, the company claims the unit is designed specifically for cave and wreck diving. Vadaa also features a unique canister design, which they state offers a significantly longer scrubber duration and reduced work of breathing. The fact that this non-electronic (mCCR) model operates using Divesoft oxygen sensors is another interesting detail.

Speaking of Divesoft, I personally found it disappointing that Divesoft once again did not have a booth at the show this year. Given the company’s strong investments in research and development, marketing, and communication within the rebreather space, I would have expected to see them present. AP Valves, which was present at the show last year, was also notably absent this year. Akuana, as in the previous edition, did display its rebreather at the show, but it has yet to achieve any meaningful market presence. Additionally, another Far Eastern manufacturer, similar to Akuana, brought a chest-mounted rebreather prototype to the show, which is still in its early development stage.

Underwater Imaging Fails, but DiveVolk

Unfortunately, underwater imaging brands still do not seem to place much importance on this show. Major players such as Nauticam, Marelux, Ikelite, and Sea Frogs were once again absent this year. Sea&Sea was sharing a single booth with two brands offering distinctly different product lines, which felt somewhat disjointed. SeaCam was another brand present at the show, exhibiting its housings and related products. Easydive, as in the previous year, was once again in attendance; in addition to its electronic housings, the company also showcased its smartphone housings this year.

Speaking of smartphone housings, it would be impossible not to mention one of the busiest booths at the show, where Atlantis was promoting and selling DiveVolk. As is well known, DiveVolk was one of the first smartphone housings on the market, and it allows full use of a phone’s touchscreen functionality underwater. This year, DiveVolk introduced a few minor updates to the product, most notably the addition of an action camera mounting bracket on the housing, which appears to be a very practical enhancement.

Another standout product in this category was the SeaLink Underwater Smartphone Data Transmitter, announced by DiveVolk in the final quarter of 2025. With SeaLink, the DiveVolk housing is connected via cable to a surface buoy, enabling mobile phone signal access underwater. When combined with a full-face mask, this setup even makes it possible to talk on the phone and conduct live broadcasts from underwater.

The group known as “Behind the Mask,” made up of ocean enthusiasts and well known for their underwater films, also had a booth at the show this year. In addition to filmmaking, the group organizes underwater diving trips that are clearly focused on underwater imaging and high-quality experiences. Some of their trips planned for 2027 and 2028 are already fully booked. At the show, they presented both their ongoing projects and their upcoming dive expeditions, while also hosting various film screenings and seminars on underwater filming techniques. Roger Horrocks, who shot the footage for the Netflix documentary “My Octopus Teacher,” also shared insights at the booth together with the Behind the Mask team. In the show’s Live Podcast area, members of the group were featured among a diverse lineup of speakers. The group also operates commercially, providing professional underwater imaging services.

Insta360 drew attention with several show-specific discounts. As in the previous year, there were numerous underwater video light manufacturers at the show, ranging from smaller brands to more established names such as XTAR and DivePro. BigBlue Lights, which I believe was not present last year, stood out this year with a particularly engaging booth. The company made a clear effort to showcase its full product range to visitors, from underwater video lights to models designed for technical diving.

Drysuits, Undergarments, Heating Systems; what ever needed not to get cold...

This year, Santi felt even more prominent compared to its competitors. The Polish brand, which continues to gain wider recognition in the drysuit segment, unveiled a new model from its Avatar series at the show. Known for its strong design language, Santi also appeared to have one of the largest booths at the exhibition. The new Avatar suit is certainly worth a closer look. Santi also dedicated significant space on its stand to undersuits this year, and the combinations of undersuits with heating systems looked particularly well thought out and effective.

Right next to Santi, we once again saw the German drysuit manufacturer Kallweit. Waterproof, Fourth Element, Scubapro, and Ursuit were among the other brands presenting their drysuits at the show.

One of the two products that stood out to me in this category was DiveSystem’s new “Solo N Dyneema” model. Made from 1 mm neoprene fabric, this drysuit claims to be as light as a trilaminate suit while offering durability comparable to neoprene suits. It also appeared to be highly flexible, using what DiveSystem calls Hybrid Sealing Technology for its seals. The overall flexibility of the suit was particularly impressive. Naturally, DiveSystem representatives spoke very highly of the product, but I would say it is a suit I would seriously consider after reviewing some real-world user feedback.

The second product that caught my attention was a drysuit from SF Tech, largely constructed from Kevlar material. I had previously seen this suit during dives in Dahab last November within the XR Explorers group. Thanks to its Kevlar construction, the suit offers high resistance to punctures while still appearing quite flexible. At first, I wasn’t particularly fond of its aesthetics, but the design seems to grow on you over time. Note: SF Tech has no affiliation with Scuba Force :)

The Venture Heat heated vest also stood out among heating systems as a differentiated product. Using integrated titanium mesh elements to generate warmth, the vest can be worn either under a drysuit or over a wetsuit. It is essentially a simple, vest-style solution that is easy to put on and take off.

Mola Mola undersuits were another Poland-backed brand present at the show. Across several Polish-supported brands, including Santi, the phrase “Poland Business Forward” was visible on their stands. Mola Mola claims to produce some of the world’s most flexible and warm undersuits. I would definitely recommend that anyone considering an undersuit for drysuit diving take a closer look at their products.

Dive Computers and What is going on with Suunto?

We already touched upon several dive computer brands above, particularly the Apple Watch Ultra application developed by SSI–Mares. While Shearwater was present at the show together with Scuba Force, Garmin had one of the strongest and most prominent booths in this category. Ratio, as expected, was positioned right across from the DiveSystem booth, showcasing its full lineup of dive computers, with the ix3M 2 taking center stage.

That brings us to Suunto. On the first day, it felt as though their booth was still in the process of being set up. And by “booth,” I really mean a few cocktail tables placed in a corner, displaying several dive computers. Suunto, whose long-standing dominance in the dive computer market was first challenged by Garmin’s entry and later further eroded by more feature-rich brands in the technical diving segment, seems determined not to step away from this competition easily. The fact that they continue to release new products and features supports this view, although I wish this determination had been reflected more clearly in their booth design.

The Nautic model, which replaces the Suunto EON Steel, was one of the wrist-mounted dive computers highlighted at the show. Featuring an AMOLED display and offering up to 120 hours of dive time on a single charge, it has also transitioned to the Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm, a move that Suunto has not emphasized heavily in its messaging. The era in which Suunto stood out primarily through its RGBM algorithm is clearly behind us, and the company has ultimately aligned itself with the ZHL-16C Bühlmann algorithm that is widely preferred among technical divers. While the Nautic model is rated for depths of up to 200 meters, it does not yet include a CCR (rebreather) mode. One feature that Suunto could have highlighted much more strongly, in my opinion, is its underwater route mapping capability. By combining gyroscope and compass data with GPS coordinates recorded at entry and exit points, the system allows for route planning and tracking underwater.

Growing Interest in Technical Diving in Gallipoli and Turkey

Compared to last year, there was noticeably higher interest at the booth of the Gallipoli Historical Site Presidency. I believe the region’s promotional efforts throughout the year have played a significant role in this increased attention. Both the international underwater photography competition held in early September and the seminars delivered throughout the show by Alex Dawson, Rıza Birkan, and Murathan Yıldız clearly helped draw visitors to the stand. As İsmail Kaşdemir, President of the Gallipoli Historical Site, stated, the region continues to develop day by day and has now secured an important position on the global diving stage.

The availability of technical diving in the region has naturally become one of the strongest attractions for international diving tourists. Without technical diving disciplines, it is unfortunately not possible to dive some of the most remarkable wrecks in the area. At the same time, the Historical Site Presidency is investing significant effort into protecting these wrecks, many of which are over a hundred years old.

Until We Meet Again, Düsseldorf

Once again this year, I am leaving Düsseldorf Boot Show with wonderful memories. It is a show that anyone interested in diving, boating, surfing, or the sea in general would thoroughly enjoy.

I hope to have the opportunity to attend this valuable exhibition again next year, where we reconnect with friends from around the world, exchange ideas, discover new products, and try to better understand where the diving industry is heading.