Florida-based company Blu3 has come up with what it claims is the smallest, lightest and cheapest personal dive system available. Called Nemo, it consists of a battery-powered, surface-supplied air (SSA) system that lets users dive to 10 ft (3 m) below the surface for about 60 minutes – no bulky tanks or lengthy SCUBA training required.
Eight years ago, we wrote about the VS335 Third Lung diving system from a company called Brownie’s. The VS335 could support three divers for about an hour, or one for three hours, and it cost US$4,145. Now, through sister company Blu3, a super-compact single-diver version is available for less than a tenth of that price.
The Nemo weighs just 10 lb (4.5 kg) and packs up into a small backpack (optional, for an extra $50) to give you a very portable dive system you can take with you anywhere, without a SCUBA license.
Not really impressed. They could’ve streamlined it … it looks like if you’re “going places” you’re dragging a floating brick. Further, 10’ isn’t very Deep most decent reef snorkeling is 15’ to 35’ Deep.
For $400 it’s a toy I don’t see being used but once or twice and then being tossed aside.
There may be some actual usefulness to it … like if you’re working on the hull of your boat in the water but … even then …