Fantastic video! Thank you for being a great buddy during the course, what a blast 😂😂 Happy birthday🎉

As interesting as the concept is, I struggle to see how this could ever become mainstream or "the future of SCUBA diving", for a few reasons: 1. The mere existence of additional failure points--regardless of how minimal or addressable or non-issue they may be--is going to be a sticking point for insurers. This would likely apply to both operators and individuals--liability insurance for operators offering these systems will be higher, DAN individual dive accident insurance will be higher (or simply refuse to cover dives using this system), etc. It would take huge uptake and mountains of safety data to convince actuaries otherwise. Operators--many of whom already run on razor-thin margins--will be hesitant to take up any system that eats into their bottom line. 2. In a similar vein, operators would have to invest in system-specific instructors and technicians. Even with high incentives to gain those certifications, it's a catch-22: you need widespread uptake in order to make certification as appealing as traditional instructor and technician certs, but you also need lots of Avelo instructors and technicians in order to drive widespread uptake. To overcome these hurdles, it would take significant up-front investment/funding that I don't think exists in the dive industry. You have to spend money to make money and achieve a self-sustaining level of uptake. 3. Traditional certification agencies will not touch this, and as you say, an OW cert is required. Given how limited the availability of the system is, what's the incentive to spend literally thousands of dollars to get this certification when an already-not-cheap PADI/NAUI/SSI OW cert is near-universal? 4. Traditional gear manufacturers like Huish or Aqua Lung will likely work to keep their hold on the gear market. This would apply to direct individual sales but more so to contracts with dive operators and retailers--where they really make their money. It's not unreasonable to see a major manufacturer saying, if you offer this system we will end your incentives for purchasing our equipment to use as rental equipment. I would expect them to throw their weight around to stifle upstart competition. 5. The price point. Cheapest option I could find on their website is $3,800 for five days of training + diving, not including travel and lodging. Completely inaccessible to the average diver. If there's to be any chance of strong uptake, certification needs to be just as accesible (from a travel standpoint) as traditional certs, and significantly cheaper to justify adding it on to the cost of a traditional cert. It all comes down to money. Without significant cuts to costs (at all levels), huge investment up front, and greater geographic accessibility, this will remain a niche proof of concept verging on gimmick.

I currently dive a Dive Rite Transpac and I absolutely can't wait to certify and then be able to purchase this system. Working with submarines for 15 years this system is so intuitive to me. Sure wish the Key West event wasn't a one off, I was ready to jump in my Bronco and head there. Was glad that you showed how to hang out at the surface using the SMB. Agreed that is a little awkward, but it works. Thanks for this great review. Your comment regarding running out of gas was spot on! Do admit you had me laughing.

If I ever had the chance to try it, I would! I’d love to go to Maui and have the experience of this system! Shout out to Horizon, I’ll be planting coral with you and diving this August 12th weekend! Happy birthday James!

Clear concise, and you’ve answered many questions. Also, a very happy birthday!🎉 Aloha 🤙🏽

my guess would be: most divers have to travel for being able to dive, this cuts the possible sale amount so much that lease and service agreements with dive centers and possible "avelo-only" dive centers( caused by the possible disruptivenes of avelo (no wear and tear on BCs etc. and minimal seed capital need, could be huge selling point for "avelo-only" dive centers) are the most lucrative ways to keep a long term business through going full 21st century whilst "selling diving as a service". This could explain their refrain to sell individually as revealing their price and maintainance cost could harm well adjusted distributing plans. Just some thoughts greetings from Berlin

Thank you for sharing this. I've been intrigued by Avelo since I first saw the concept. Can they PLEASE make it happen soon?!

Way to leave the bad news for last James LOL - I've seen the Avelo Videos before and your Dema and the traveling or the availability have been the big question, the others well you have to adapt to a new system, and if is proven safe like you just did with all the "non-emergency" points you explained then perfect. The point that they are not talking about price might be is cost prohibited and they don't have the funding to make it more mass production or as you said they want to sell or rent the patents, you don't need to sell your idea just let others use it for a price and a period of time.... But as anything in tech it wouldn't be the first time the better tech dies without making it to the masses. Mini Disk was way better than a CDRW in many ways... but who remembers them? Or knows they existed... Great video James. Top notch. Thank you!

1:32 awesome place to put the _octo_

This sounds ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I would love to have a chance to try it. I want to start diving an Avelo now!!!

Happy birthday James. Love your content and always look forward to a new video.

Back in the mid-70s, I dived the old Dacor Nautilus Constant Volume System. Clearly, it had some flaws and was nowhere near the sophistication level of Avelo. But, boy, did I love diving neutrally buoyant throughout an entire dive, making only one adjustment at the beginning. Hat's off to these folks. I've finally lived long enough to see a real breakthrough in scuba technology and can't wait to try one.

Happy Birthday Hannes🥂 Thank you so very much for the great video as always

Thanks for the update!

It looks absolutely incredible, as someone with some back issues I'm looking forward to trying this out at some point.

@jeffconley6366

11 ай бұрын

I have low back issues. I switched my weight to my BC system and it made a dramatic difference. If I still had to wear a weight belt I wouldn't be diving.

@stolfygaming

2 ай бұрын

Theyre very nice and fully set weigh around 14kg (30lbs) less than a traditional single tank setup. Its great for those with bad backs or legs or for shore diving that requires hauling your gear a longer distance

very interesting. looking forward to the next step in the unit rollout. Thanks again

I like the idea. As a diver with back & shoulder injuries anything that could reduce stress on these parts is a benefit. I was happy with the maintenance & failure points you addressed apart from you didn’t mention a pump failure in the on position. There is no system which is 100% fail safe. You’d have a runway adding weight to your system with no way to stop it. A scooter you can let it go or jam a knife into the prop but what do you do with a sealed unit? Apart from that I like the idea. I wonder if it can be developed into a tech system in the future & twinset type diving? Look forward to seeing how it develops.

@badgermoon9229

2 ай бұрын

I suppose there could be some sort of stop switch added for it.

@Tbm-ov5ky

2 күн бұрын

Isn't the purge a manual valve, I would assume you could easily purge faster than it can pump in. I think both would have to fail to make your scenario possible.

This is great, I can see it as great option for weekly beach dives where you don’t have to walk with heavy gear on the beach. When I want to boat dive or travel I just use my current bcd or travel bcd.

I cannot foresee Avelo becoming the next big "deal". You cannot continue to dive in the same location, eventually you need to branch out and travel. For this new product to become available everywhere (dive shops operating in developing countries) it might be a while. The product appears cumbersome to lug on an airplane, all the while when SCUBA tanks are available at every dive shop in the world. I ‘m going on a dive trip tomorrow (Asia) and I’ve packed my SCUBA gear, GoPro w/ accessories and clothes (2 suitcases + backpack). I would need to purchase additional baggage from the airline (3rd bag) just to take Avelo system with me. Is the product good = Yes, but when was the last time you brought a SCUBA tank on an airplane?

@Held_der_Feuer

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely you have to think of this as of a SCUBA tank. But if a big Manufacturer/Distributor buys this or the Licenses than the numbers can go up and the cost down. The capital costs to run a dive shop are high anyways. And if it catches on than you safe space in the luggage because you don't need to pack the BCD.

@rolf-smit

11 ай бұрын

I think this will not become the next big thing due to cost, complexity and maintainabiltiy. For scuba to be successful, things need to be simple and not too expensive. Think about it: a basic BCD basically needs 0 maintenance except for a new spring and some rubber parts every few years + cleaning. This is something almost everyone can do, especially every dive shop with some minimal training.

@cavediver2579

11 ай бұрын

You are not bringing a scuba cylinder on an airplane without removing the valve. I have brought a 2L O2 cylinder with me but had to pull the valve off it, and had to go thru the BS of getting it O2 cleaned at the opposite end before the dive operator would fill it. I have travelled extensively with my rebreather and this thing doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies at all.

@1972adrianm

11 ай бұрын

I believe the plan is for the cylinders to be available everywhere like 80 aluminum cylinders are available everywhere now. All you have to bring is the back plate assembly with the pump and battery. That takes up less space than most BC’s today.

@mgancarzjr

11 ай бұрын

People look at you funny when your carry-on is a skydiving rig.

James - all the same questions I asked Aviad at DEMA this past year. And still the same unsatisfying answers. Lol. Jealous you got to dive it...congrats! Cannot wait until this opportunity is available again in Florida. Happy Birthday! Cheers!

Thank you. Great video with lots of proper info!

Looks cool, the hose routing and all that can be fixed as they go along. The actual technology looks like it could be the future

I think Avelo will be amazing. But you missed the issue with the pump failing/running out of battery. With Avelo, you eventually become positively buoyant as you cosume air, requiring more water to be added by the pump. Without the pump you have NO way of adding weight and becoming neutral. This means you will begin to ascend and have no way of stopping that ascent, no safety stop unless you continously swim down for 3 minutes to fight the positive buoyancy. This is a safety issue. Avelo claims to solve uncontrolled ascents, which they do. But if the pump fails, Avelo will lead to uncontrolled ascent. With normal scuba, you can always manually add or remove air from bcd, it just requires effort.

@Held_der_Feuer

11 ай бұрын

With a SAC rate of 20 L/min your mass changes by approximately 30 g/min. That's approximately 0.3 N/min in buoyancy. Given that a Swimmstroke without finns produces about 100 N this shoud be easy to compansate. Or change the breathing Volume by 30 mL.

@ee02108

11 ай бұрын

You cannot add weight but nothing will happen quickly. When you notice battery is dead just go up, if necessary swim a little bit down to maintain the 5m at safety stop.

@ericcartman9594

11 ай бұрын

I thnik that the bcd and the alveolo are diferent systems

I saw the boat off loaded with those “very cool tanks” on Thursday. I can believe I missed the opportunity to say hello you u in person😢! Happy Birthday! Susan Wilkins

@user-pp3gt1xx7n

11 ай бұрын

It’s wasn’t Thursday it was Wednesday

this sounds amazing, i am definitely all for this

So, the pressure reading changes as you add water for buoyancy and this is marketed to, essentially, new divers to solve a "problem" related to not good enough training and lack of desire to be a better diver, a solution looking for a problem. Now, we expect the same divers to understand rule of thirds at the start of their dive and do basic math underwater to figure out when they should turn the dive and head up with appropriate reserve? Anyone here who has crewed on a dive boat before knows that new divers running out of air and busting their NDL is far more common than one would think. I'm in tech and appreciate new technology, what I have never been a fan of are inventions which turn out to merely be a solution looking for a problem and secretive technology thay cant be purchased, only leased/licensed. Most shops don't want a recurring cost, its smarter to capitalize the equipment and get depreciation over time, not have a constant cost that never goes down, likely may increase with time, and also still front the cost of maintenance and repair. In difficult and slow times most shops look to trim recurring costs as fast as possible to weather a storm, this isn't the case with this system, as of yet. It'll be interesting to follow them, but as of right now I'm not coming to a conclusion, but I always remain skeptical at first, approach cautiously, and wait for something to mature because, especially in Tech, things come and go.

Great video, thanks! Happy birthday🤙

Looks like a clever system, only query I have and something I didn't see being addressed, is what if the pump sticks on and just adds max water continuously - this could cause overweighting and descending too deep. Is there any mechanism for that or do you just open the water dump and abort? Thanks for the video, definitely an interesting approach!

@wesjackson1023

9 ай бұрын

I would imagine it would entail a pressure switch that activates if the pressure in the gas bladder exceeds a certain pressure and either cuts power to pump or opens a dump valve for the water that bleeds at the max rate of the pump. Just a thought.

@davidbright8978

9 ай бұрын

​@wesjackson1023 so a failure results in a uncontrollable raise to the surface?

Thanks for this nice review of the Avelo system! I have to check it out next time I'm in the US (if it's available). Best regards from Hamburg/Germany

The thought of not having to mess with your BCD to stay neutrally boyant would be amazing. Hope to get to try it some day. Happy Birthday James🎉

This is so awesome! Would love to take this course 🥳

Thank you for all the information. I would love to see this catch on.

Thank you for the review James ! I recently just started Rebreather Diving. Maybe you can do a video about Rebreather comparison if you have the knowledge about differnt models. Sending you all the best wishes from germany. Björn

Looks Great! Love to try it. Look forward to when you are offering training on it...someday...in the future...who knows when!

Seems like a great innovation and with most innovations it needs incremental improvement over time. I would have two concerns: 1. The tank looks long. For a short person this could be annoying when your legs constantly hit the tank. 2. Floating on water may be solved with the dsmb but surely an inflateable vest could be integrated for added comfort and safety. Like most other comments, I also believe it will be years before holiday divers can use this system.

This is interesting. I look forward to trying it some day.

Sounds like a Magical experience🎉

Happy (belated?) James! Can't wait to find out more about the system!

Happy Birthday! I thoroughly enjoyed the video!

While watching this the thought that kept returning to me was diving more like the old days. No BC's. This is going to sound like I am a dangerous diver. I ran into a group of vintage divers. I went diving with them, rigged like they dive. I don't own a double hose regulator so I dove a single hose regulator rigged like their equipment (Just first stage, second stage and pressure gauge) and no BC. Note, this was in an area in a quarry were the max. depth was 40' and we still had buddies. Weighting is far more important and more exacting. Note, I wouldn't do this in the open ocean or dives where my depth was varying largely through out the dive. Why all this, I have never felt so free and unencumbered diving as when I dove with them. I suspect diving the Avelo system might feel more like that then our current equipment configurations. Another possible reason for leasing. The units are very expensive. Chugging Guiness what a waste. Happy Birthday James🥮🎊

Very cool. Thanks for sharing James

Leasing to DC is actually a smart idea from the business side. ---- Happy Birthday James.🥳🥳

Great information & Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳

Just to be accurate DOT has had 2 composite cylinders approved for scuba for years, one made by Interspiro, the other by Luxfer.

Appreciate the information on this Interesting topic. Well done video.

Wow! Genuinely impressed! Would love to try it!

Looks awesome, biggest problem would be distribution. I get trained now and it not be anywhere I dive for the next 5 or 10 years…will I remember everything and what changes will they have made in that time? Will I have to be retrained every time due to changes taking up my valuable vacation time? If you live where you dive and can buy your own kit it would definitely be awesome.

Happy birthday James. Have a good one buddy

Love it!

If the battery dies and I'm wearing a wetsuit, I need to decrease buoyancy as I ascend and my wetsuit expands. Is there a solution for this very realistic possibility?

Keep up the good work

@DiversReady

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Alan! Will do!

Happy Birthday James!

This is like going to an auto show and salivating over a concept car. It will be years (if ever) before it is available to common recreational diver.

Happy birthday James! 🍺

Happy birthday James🎉

When you went over failure points, I wonder about one scenario that wasn't addressed: What if the purge valve fails and the fluid in the tank is being forced out by the gas pressure while still at depth? Wouldn't that result in an uncontrolled ascent?

Happy Birthday!!! 🎉

Is there a Screen on the Intake to the Pump? Reason I asking is from my OW Dive. There was Lots of Debris in the water.

It looks a fantastic system and well worth try, unfortunately they have been affected by the fire in lahaina. They are safe but the lead school has been destroyed I hope they are all well and am looking forward to the roll out

Happy birthday James! All the best from blighty 😊

Excellent video. I must learn more about this system.

Failure points don't matter. Redundancy is important. I go mostly diving on a dual 7l sidemount setup for recreational diving with air. I wouldn't care if a regulator, 1st stage or diving computer fails. If I can't fix it, I'll abort the dive and go through the regular ascend procedure. Going solo, a failure of the Avelo system would pose a serious risk. So currently, it would be a nogo for me. If they make a redundant one, I'd look into it. Maybe then it would also be available for purchase. I'm also unsure if enough buoyancy could be lost without weight to actually submerge with a drysuit fitted for cold water diving. There is a reason carbon tanks never caught on and people prefer steel tanks to reduce the amount of lead required. "Rule of thirds" is crap, it means you increase the reserve amount of air if you use a bigger tank - doesn't make sense.

Great to see all the HD gang in the water!

Happy birthday sir!

Honestly James I'm open mind and when I did see it last year's I thought 💭🤔, woe‼️ probably will change our approach to dive in near future, so I guess it's a great change to our dive system for good 👍🏻

I'd love to play around with it, the idea of not needing to adjust your BCD every so often is really enticing. (deffo if you consider I'm only a starting diver with only about 15 dives atm, so suffice to say I'm playing around with it a lot to get my buoyancy right xP) but honestly... on the easy replacement for starting divers... I like the current training schedule better. cause if new people start out on avelo, they won't know how to properly trim when they actually have to go back to manual for some reason, so it prolly needs a lot of time to become more commonplace before it can be a good replacement. If a new diver wants to go straight for avelo, then they'll either need to buy and take it everywhere (and hope that airport peeps don't break it, cause let's be honest they love breaking shit...) or be stuck as halfassed divers that can't use a bcd if there's no avelo center nearby. meaning that they're limited to the spread of avelo. obviously leading to a bit of a chicken and egg problem. its viability as a full replacement is linked to how widespread it is, and it'll only become more commonplace after it becomes more widespread. So honestly, I think that looking for a buy-out by a big company is their best option. growth will be fairly slow to start off with, and will be hard to speed it up without investing in spreading it to a lot of the typical diving holiday locations. So I like their idea of kickstarting by setting up a bunch of local avelo divecenters. but that also needs a massive investment to get everything started out, for which they'd need a lot of money. If an apeks, mares, aqualung,cressi,... would pick this up and invest into spreading it, then it could easily become the next big thing in the diving world. but then they'd need to do a lot of math to check the viability, buying out a company and then investing into manufacturing the product and spreading it across the globe is gonna cost millions. and they need to have an idea on the ROI, so it's probably best if Avelo focuses on marketing right now and gets their name out, go on tours to big tourist locations etc. if the interest peaks, then the big ones will get a feel for the market, make them an offer and get this thing rolling :p

Happy bday james 🎉

This looks amazing. However, if the 'exit strategy' theory is correct, let's hope that this technology would not get buried by any of the major players who bought it up. I would love to try this and could see this taking off in a big way given the right approach to the market. Oh, and Happy Birthday James.🍺

@JonStrater

11 ай бұрын

I think the major players will chomp at the bit to sell something new to the dive community. The trick will be 1) marketing, but that’s historically not been a problem, 2) distributing it sufficiently so it can be trained and supported successful.

For this Avelo system, is it possible that tank mount on our existing BCD system?

Very interesting. Happy birthday!

They've got Avelo here in Sydney Australia, and they're a sweet unit from what i've seen at our local shop and at sites. Just a matter of time and money before i get certed one one because the weight difference is super nice especially for shore diving that often includes long walks and/or lots of stairs.

@Emberlight-TS

Ай бұрын

I'm about to do mine with them in a week. Makes the climb back up at the steps a heap easier!

It will be interesting to see if the ballast system will make it into other systems

Its a good product, now to wait and see if they solve the production, distribution and training problems

🤩♥️ she hurries up and waits…impatiently. 🙈How dreamy. Thanks for sharing and making us salivate. ☺️

This is how you drink a pint! Happy Birthday!!!

Hey , I saw one of the diver with the xt4 regs. What is your opinion? Avid fan of your channel but I couldn't find any videos about them

I think the biggest hurdle, maybe getting dive shops to fill the cylinders. Believing the flexible membrane can handle the pressure. Many shops will not fill the older aluminum cylinders.

Awesome video !!!

Now this is some cool stuff. I just hope at my age I get the chance to try it, maybe buy one or teach the use of it before I have to quit instructing or diving. That's the part that sucks about getting old is thinking about the next great thing you will not be able to miss. Kind of like going back to old school diving with less gear but better.

@graememckay9972

11 ай бұрын

Don't know how old you are but I wouldn't worry. The guy who started my club in 1973 is still a very regular diver and instructor (Scotland and drysuit) He is 79 years young.

One of the main problems will be getting small dive shops to purchase the systems. When I travel to the Caribbean the shops have some rental gear and a lot of tanks. With purchasing this system they have to look at inital costs vs how long it will take to pay off. Also they would have to keep some older style cylinders for people who are not trained on the newer system. I love the idea of innovation but believe this first company is more of a proof of concept. Now a larger manufacture needs to pick it up. Lastly if your open water scuba trained you do not need additional training to dive rental gear at your vacation destination. I would not want to pay an additional cost just to dive something at a resort when I can bring my gear minus led and tanks with me and use my gear I use at home.

this is so cool

awesome vid! i love your honest humor :))))

Does this work with standard yoke and or DIN first stages? This could be a game changer for those who struggle with the weight of our current systems

Nice one James

what material is the bladder made of and what material is the outer shell made of?

Hahaha, Redcoat 🤣Love it!

Assuming appropriate maintenance how long will it last? I have scuba cylinders that are over 20 years and still happily passing tests.

I dive in cold water with a 7mm suit that adds a lot of buoyancy. Is the idea that I would add weight enough for neutral buoyancy at the surface for my wetsuit and this controls like a bcd from there, or can I compinsate for some of the suit buoyancy with this device? Looks really cool, here's hoping it gets to market soon.

What an awesome presentation. I love new technology, and I am excited to see where this ends up going. Definitely would rather be diving sidemount set up than single tank any day, but I’m sure the day will come when this technology transitions over to other configurations and indications. Thank you much for sharing!

Horses were fine, now we have cars. 😂😂😂 nicely put.

Ok, I am officially stoked. Do you know if there's any plan to expand to Europe? Would love to give this a test... And I really dig the way you are dealing with questions, @James, even the ones others would just delete. 😝

Thank you. Sidemount was going to be my question.

WOW awesome video quality crazy good

Nice Review James

Hi Jeff!

It might work out in the Americas and closer areas. You'd have to convince so many dive centres and operators to take it up and have so many different hubs and service centers around the world. I mean, I work in the Maldives, I can't see it picking up here unless Avelo themselves open up a big hub here. It doesn't make sense. You are probably right in saying that they are looking to sell to a major manufacturer. Not a naysayer, I think the product is interesting and while I might not want it now, it hopefully pushes the industry to innovate a bit more. I just don't see it working out with dive centers(worldwide)

I’d give it a try but I think best to wait and see how it propagates.

Happy birthday 🎉

I'd be really interested to see how well this works with drysuits in cold water. Really interested concept.

@rolf-smit

11 ай бұрын

It will work, except that you still need to manage your dry suit bouyancy manually anyways... Which completely destroys the main selling point. Also in case of a flooded dry suit, will this provide enough lift? I kinda doubt it.

I am sorry that I am not going back to the previous video. Why is the special tank needed? I don't see why the systems can't be separated