A significant regulatory milestone opens the European market to a new approach to diving
Shearwater Research is proud to announce that the Shearwater Jetpack for Avelo diving has achieved CE marking, enabling the Jetpack to be sold in Europe and marking an important milestone in the expansion of Avelo diving.
Avelo pioneered the original equipment, developed the Avelo System and training methodology. Today, Shearwater is the lead manufacturer of the Jetpack, bringing its experience in dive equipment design, electronics and manufacturing to the evolution of the system.
For both companies, the CE marking of the Shearwater Jetpack represents an important step forward. It marks the successful completion of the applicable European conformity assessment process and opens access to one of the world's largest and most established diving markets.
What the CE Mark Means
The Shearwater Jetpack bears the CE mark in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment. The product was assessed by an EU notified body and successfully completed EU Type-Examination (Module B), demonstrating conformity with EN 250, the European standard for open-circuit self-contained compressed-air diving apparatus.
This is particularly significant because the Jetpack incorporates an onboard air integration transmitter, which provides cylinder pressure information to compatible Shearwater dive computers. The successful completion of the EN 250 conformity assessment, is an important demonstration of the engineering and manufacturing work behind the Jetpack.
For European divers, it means the Jetpack has completed the regulatory process required to enter the European market.
Opening the Door to Europe
Europe is home to one of the world's largest and most established diving communities, with a diverse network of recreational and technical divers, instructors, dive centres, retailers and equipment manufacturers.
Until now, access to the Avelo System has been more limited geographically. CE marking changes that.
European divers can soon purchase the Shearwater Jetpack through authorized channels and experience Avelo for themselves. Dive centres, instructors and retailers can also begin incorporating the system into their businesses and introducing the technology to their customers.
That opportunity is important because new diving technology ultimately has to be experienced in the real world.
Avelo takes a fundamentally different approach to buoyancy control. Readers interested in how the system works can learn more about the Avelo System and the technology behind the Shearwater Jetpack.
Bringing Innovation to a Regulated Market
Introducing a new approach to diving requires more than developing technology that works. It requires building confidence among the people who use, teach, sell and service that technology.
CE marking provides an important foundation for that confidence.
For divers, it means the Jetpack has demonstrated conformity with the applicable European requirements. For dive professionals, it provides a recognized regulatory framework for evaluating the equipment. For retailers and distributors, it enables the Jetpack to be brought to the European market in compliance with the applicable requirements.
For Shearwater, it also represents an important milestone in the company's role as the lead manufacturer of the Jetpack.
The Jetpack combines Avelo's approach to buoyancy with Shearwater's expertise in dive computers, electronics and equipment manufacturing. Its integrated air integration transmitter connects the Jetpack to the broader Shearwater ecosystem, providing divers with access to critical information through compatible Shearwater computers.
The evaluation process, including EN 250 conformity, represents an important milestone in bringing that integrated system to European divers.
A Significant Step for Avelo
Avelo's experience goes beyond the development of the original equipment. As an ISO approved training agency, Avelo has developed the training, education and instructional framework that supports divers learning to use the system.
This past August, Avelo launched Avelo Diver, a new entry-level course for people with no prior diving experience. Avelo Diver meets the ISO 24801-2 autonomous diver training standard. Graduates are qualified to dive with a buddy without direct professional supervision to a maximum depth of 18 m (60 ft), in environments and conditions comparable to those experienced during their training.
CE marking of the Shearwater Jetpack and European market access create an opportunity to bring those elements together for a much broader audience.
The European diving community has a long history of embracing new equipment and approaches while maintaining high expectations for quality, performance and regulatory compliance. Entering this market provides Avelo with the opportunity to build relationships with European divers, instructors, dive centres and retailers.
It also allows the industry to evaluate the technology firsthand.
As more European divers encounter Avelo, the conversation can move beyond explaining what the system is and toward exploring what a different approach to buoyancy can offer.
For more information about Avelo diving, including the system, training and how to become an Avelo diver or Dive Centre, visit the Avelo website.
A Milestone for Shearwater
The Jetpack represents an important expansion of Shearwater's role in diving technology.
Shearwater has built its reputation by developing sophisticated dive computers and electronics designed around reliability, usability and the needs of divers. As the lead manufacturer of the Jetpack, Shearwater is bringing that engineering and manufacturing experience to an entirely different approach to buoyancy.
Achieving CE marking demonstrates that this innovative equipment has completed the applicable European conformity assessment process and can now enter the European market.
For existing Shearwater customers, it represents another example of the company's continued investment in diving innovation. For divers discovering Shearwater through Avelo, it provides an introduction to the quality engineering and manufacturing expertise behind the Jetpack.
The Next Chapter
CE marking signifies the beginning of an important new chapter for the Shearwater Jetpack and Avelo.
Avelo created the foundation for a new approach to diving and continues to provide the training and education that support it. Shearwater is now leading the manufacturing of the Jetpack and bringing its engineering and manufacturing expertise to the system.
This combination is coming to European divers soon, with a CE-marked Jetpack that meets the EN 250 standard.
For Shearwater and Avelo, the next step is simple: put the technology in the hands of more divers and let them experience it for themselves.
A new approach to buoyancy is coming to Europe. And the Shearwater Jetpack is ready.
