Aqua Lung America
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods, underwater diving equipment manufacturing |
| Predecessor | U.S. Divers Company |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Headquarters | Doral , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Parent | Barings LLC |
Aqualung America—previously known as U.S. Divers Company—is a manufacturer of scuba diving gear based in the United States, with its headquarters located in Doral, Florida. It functions as a subsidiary within the Aqualung Group, which was under the ownership of Air Liquide until 2016, when it was acquired by Montagu Private Equity. In December 2023, control of the company shifted to Barings LLC.
After the transition from U.S. Divers Company to Aqualung America, the U.S. Divers brand continued to be utilized as a trademark specifically for Aqua Lung’s range of snorkeling products. This particular brand was sold in 2024 to Aqua Master Sporting Technology, a firm based in California.
History
The "Aqua-Lung" regulator was developed in 1943 through the collaboration of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan. In 1946, alongside Jean Delorme from Air Liquide, they established La Spirotechnique (currently known as Aqua Lung International) to commercialize the regulator.
In the late 1940s, René Bussoz’s company, René Sporting Goods, situated in Los Angeles, California, obtained exclusive distribution rights for Aqua-Lung equipment on the U.S. West Coast. In 1952, Bussoz renamed his business "U.S. Divers Company" and secured registration of the Aqua-Lung trademark within the United States. He later sold both the company and associated trademarks back to La Spirotechnique in 1957.
Around 2003, following La Spirotechnique’s rebranding as Aqua Lung International, U.S. Divers Company was renamed Aqua Lung America; however, the U.S. Divers name was preserved for use with snorkeling product lines.