Forty Years of Dive Rite: 1984-2024

By Grace Lambert for Dive Rite. Lead image: Lamar and Jared Hires in Ginnie Springs, FL in March 2024. It was the last picture of them diving together. Photo courtesy of Fan Ping.

Dive Rite has been outfitting underwater explorers since the very beginning. In the early 1980s, you couldn’t just walk into a store and buy exploration-grade dive equipment. Lamar Hires and Mark Leonard changed that when they began producing high-quality dive gear out of a small workshop. Since then, Dive Rite’s equipment line has expanded from thirteen tools for cave exploration to recreational and technical equipment lines that include over 200 products sold worldwide.

Lamar Hires has created or improved upon many of the first versions of the dive equipment we use today, taught many of the dive industry’s leaders, and was active in many influential exploration projects.

1984 – Dive Rite is Established!

Lamar Hires and his dive buddies established Dive Rite in 1984. In the 1970s and early 1980s, technical diving gear was virtually nonexistent, and this group of active underwater cave explorers and cave diving instructors decided to do something about it. Lamar was already creating his own equipment and adapting open water gear to suit the cave environment, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to create the first technical diving equipment company. Dive Rite pioneered some of the very first products designed for underwater cave and wreck exploration, including the Classic doubles wing. Dive Rite was also the first to make canister lights and backplates available commercially.

1986 – Classic Wing

Cave divers and wreck divers alike faced the difficulty of buoyancy control in restricted environments. Conventional “jacket style” BCDs placed the lift high on the front of a diver’s body. This style tended to put divers in a “head-up” position, which is unfavorable for overhead environments with silty conditions. As a result, Dive Rite developed the Classic Wing with 60 pounds of lift. This was more than enough to support double 104s (the popular tank configuration for technical divers of the day) and enable divers to maintain comfortable horizontal trim.

1987 – BC Junior/Exploring Wakulla

By the late ’80s, much of the “larger” cave passages in North Florida had been discovered and pushed. Explorers had to start squeezing themselves into progressively smaller and smaller passages to find virgin cave. Sidemount had yet to be refined, but Dive Rite’s development of the BC Jr (later renamed the Trek Wing) was a direct response to the demands of those at the forefront of cave exploration at the time. 

Lamar originally designed the BC Jr for Lee Ann to dive singles/doubles with a backplate and her Al 80’s. It featured a shorter bladder so it couldn’t get trapped under the weight belt when worn under a webbing harness to control the wing, and was the first wing designed to be used with metal backplates and single tanks. He later discovered that this wing was a better fit for sidemount. 

Drawn by the challenges of depth and virgin cave, Bill Stone assembled an extraordinary team to push technology, gear, and nerve to their limits on two separate expeditions into Wakulla Spring. Stone’s U.S. Deep Cave Diving Team safely made over 400 dives into Wakulla Spring in 1987 using diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) and an underwater habitat for the excruciatingly long decompression obligations. During this project, the team mapped 3,310 feet of new passage and collected a wealth of scientific information that pushed technical diving to a whole new level. Dive Rite made significant contributions to the new habitat technology, including pouring all of the lead ballast for the unwieldy structure.

1993 – First “Tek” Conference

Michael Menduno published aquaCORPS magazine in the 1990s. aquaCORPS was a top diving and technology magazine that served as a literary hub of information for technical divers, keeping the community updated on topics such as deep diving, underwater cave exploration, and cutting-edge marine technologies. It was the first publication of its kind dedicated to this unique cross-section of exploration and research. Dive Rite became a charter advertiser of aquaCORPS and secured the back cover from aquaCORPS #5 BENT through aquaCORPS’ final issue, #13 O₂N₂.

Menduno also hosted the first “Tek” conference in conjunction with DEMA in 1993. With all of the dive industry’s leaders in one place, Menduno and Dr. RW Bill Hamilton brainstormed together and encouraged discussion on the definition of technical diving. Dive Rite’s Lamar Hires stated his belief that having to “change regulators during a dive,” i.e., managing multiple gases clearly defined a technical dive.

1994 – The First Tech Computer, “The Bridge”

Along with the increased availability and use of nitrox came an increased demand for a reliable means of calculating decompression obligations while using mixed gas on a dive. Using Bühlmann’s work as a building block, Dive Rite developed the first nitrox programmable computer for the consumer market: “The Bridge.” Worn on the wrist like a watch, this technology was a monumental step forward in safe technical diving. Used by cave and wreck divers alike, the Bridge was the hot ticket in technical diving equipment in the early ’90s. Dive Rite later introduced the NiTek He, one of the first dive computers that could be used with helium mixtures, before discontinuing their computer products. Because of this computer, the whole body oxygen clock was developed by Dr. Bill Hamilton and Randy Bohrer for Seiko Epson.

1995 – The TransPac

The original TransPac design was inspired by remote dive exploration in Japan. Divers had to hike heavy gear through dry portions of the cave to get to the underwater sumps. Explorers needed the versatility of switching their equipment configuration from back mount to sidemount to single tank, which the traditional backplate did not offer. Designed like a mountaineer’s backpack, the TransPac dispersed weight across the hips and back, which minimized shoulder strain. Adjustable straps that could adapt to a wide variety of exposure suits allowed for easy donning and doffing. Technical divers stateside quickly saw the advantages of this versatile new harness, and it caught on rapidly.

1995 – Dive Rite Goes to Hollywood

Dive Rite made its movie debut in the original Jumanji! A magical board game unleashes a jungle adventure in this film starring Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, and Bradley Pierce. Thrilling sequences were enhanced by Dive Rite’s reliable diving technology, used in the department store chase scene.

1996 – Supporting Exploration Through Karst Underwater Research (KUR)

Since its’ inception in 1996, Dive Rite has sponsored KUR with gear, guidance, and gas fills. KUR is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to collecting and reporting on valuable scientific data from underwater karst environments that scientists are unable to go and providing this information to the public so future generations can better understand and protect our unique natural resources. Dive Rite and KUR share a belief in the importance of exploration, conservation, and education. Dive Rite employees remain active in exploration projects with KUR today as they have since the start.

1997 – Taking Dive Rite Global

In 1997, Lamar and Lee Ann Hires bought out their partner Mark Leonard, and began aggressively expanding the product line. Already the pioneering technical dive equipment manufacturer in the industry, they took the company international and continued to build upon Dive Rite’s reputation for gear innovations, taking technical divers further into caves and wrecks and deeper into the depths of the world’s oceans.

1998 – Outfitting the film Sphere

When an alien spaceship is discovered on the ocean floor, a team of experts is called to investigate. In 1998, Dive Rite gear was used in the underwater sci-fi thriller “Sphere,” featuring a crew led by Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, and Samuel L. Jackson. The movie showcased cutting-edge diving technology of the time, including Dive Rite’s equipment, which helped bring the suspenseful underwater exploration scenes to life.

1999 – Wakulla 2

A second major push to extend the known passage of Wakulla Spring was launched in 1998 by Bill Stone’s U.S. Deep Cave Diving Team. The primary goal of Wakulla 2 was to produce a 3D virtual reality map of the underwater cave system that feeds Wakulla Springs. The project was a rousing success, taking mapping capabilities to an incredible new level. Dive Rite was proud to be among the project’s valued supporters.

2000 – Changes in Lighting/IMAX

Lighting options had vastly improved since the inception of the dim three-watt lights first used to dive into the depths, but technical divers were really in hog heaven when the smallest and brightest lights ever manufactured hit the market in 2000. Dive Rite introduced its 10-watt HID light to the technical diving community to a rousing thumbs up. This compact new light had an adjustable reflector that could change focus from a wide flood to a tight spot, making it suitable for exploration, underwater video, and digital still photography. With 500 lumens of illumination, the H10 was powered by a 12V 9000 mA NiMH battery that provided eight hours of burn time and was depth rated to 122 m/400 ft.

Cave diving really hit the big screen when the IMAX film, “Journey Into Amazing Caves” highlighted the magnificence of both dry and water-filled caves to the world. With diving support from well-known cave divers Dan Lins and Tom Morris, Wes Skiles shot the underwater footage for this masterpiece. Dive Rite was a proud supplier of technical diving equipment for this film.

2001 – Antarctica Expedition/Australia

In 2000, an iceberg so large that it changed the earth’s rotation as it moved broke off the Ross Ice Shelf. Sponsored by National Geographic and Karst Productions, with Dive Rite supporting the divers, filmmaker Wes Skiles, Paul and Jill Heinerth, and a special team from the New England Aquarium spent weeks traveling through treacherous ice and violent seas to explore the behemoth. Unarguably one of the most inhospitable environments in the world for diving, Skiles and the Heinerths were the first to dive inside an iceberg to find an unearthly realm of fantastic new discoveries.

Nowadays, North Florida cave divers can drive or walk up to almost any dive site. Not so “Down Under” in 2001! Lamar Hires traveled for two days by plane, two days by car, 300 feet down on foot and with ladders, and often hiked hundreds of feet to the water just to begin his dives. It was all worth it to experience some of Australia’s finest cave diving, and Lamar was even the first American to sign the register for the Rock Pile room in Cocklebiddy Cave.

2002 – Water’s Journey/Dive Rite goes to Antarctica

In keeping with the spirit of exploration, education, and conservation, Dive Rite supported Karst Production’s “Water’s Journey.” Water’s Journey is an award-winning series of films created to build a greater understanding of the journey of water on our planet. In 2002, Wes Skiles, Jill Heinerth, Tom Morris, and a talented crew of divers and scientists traveled through the underground rivers of Florida to help bring home the message about the perilously close relationship between man’s actions and the health of the water we drink. These films were seen around the world on PBS and in classrooms across the country.

It wasn’t uncommon for Lamar Hires to mix business and pleasure. Since he had made his life’s passion his work, it wasn’t unusual for Lamar to take the afternoon off to go test a new piece of equipment at a nearby spring or cave. 

In 2002, he took it to the next level when he answered the call to determine if Dive Rite equipment could withstand the harshest diving conditions on the planet – Antarctica. He mounted a 7-day expedition to put his gear to the test in -2°C water temperatures, in pitching waves and plunging icebergs, with overly friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly!) leopard seals, box jellyfish, and 27-foot seas. This trip was the beginning of many more Team Dive Rite expeditions to keep the gear and team members on the cutting edge of the industry.

2004 – O2ptima/Creature Feature (Dive Rite goes to Hollywood!)

Built on the advances of two centuries of rebreather technology and geared towards the modern diver, Dive Rite designed the O2ptima Closed Circuit Rebreather in late 2004. Exploration needs were even more rigorous than ever before, with explorers starting to explore thousands of feet back in caves. For this type of advanced exploration, the conventional open circuit required too much setup and too much risk. Rebreathers were the solution to both of these problems. Rebreathers were becoming more and more commonplace in other types of technical diving, as wreck divers were taking them to the ocean’s depths for longer dives with larger safety margins. Versatility was the benchmark for divers at the time, and the O2ptima delivered.

Dive Rite went to Hollywood in the feature film, “The Cave” in 2005! As Wes Skiles shot remarkable underwater footage in high definition, and many well-known cave divers doubled for actors and actresses on the big screen, Dive Rite provided all of the gear for the underwater scenes.

2006 – The Progression of Commercial Sidemount

A lot had changed since the early 1980s when North Florida sidemount cave divers were modifying jacket BCs and building their own homemade sidemount rigs. These early sidemount systems worked just fine for diving smaller steel 72 or aluminum 80 cylinders but more lift was needed for larger tanks. Dive Rite’s Nomad XT Sidemount System has 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of lift, allowing divers to dive steel 95s, 104s, and 120s using a wetsuit or drysuit. Divers use the Nomad XT not only for cave diving but also to create a low-profile rig for side-mounting stage bottles and bailout bottles on rebreathers.

2007 – Broken Record by Paul Heinerth

In July of 2007, Paul Heinerth, diving the Dive Rite O2ptima rebreather with support from Karst Underwater Research, dove to 400 feet in Weeki Wachee, making it the deepest cave in the U.S. Connections and ongoing exploration such as this are critical for scientists and conservationists seeking to learn more about this unique and fragile environment and get it the protection it deserves.

2008 – Fool’s Gold

Treasure hunting took center stage in “Fool’s Gold,” and Dive Rite was there for the adventure. In 2008, Dive Rite’s gear was featured in the film starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. The movie follows treasure hunter Ben Finnegan as he searches for the legendary Queen’s Dowry, dragging his ex-wife Tess and a billionaire into the mix. The climatic underwater ending relied on Dive Rite’s advanced diving equipment.

2009 – LEDs

2009 brought forth even further progress in lighting technology with the introduction of LEDs in dive lights. Dive Rite continued with the spirit of innovation by incorporating this latest technology into their lighting product line.

2010: The TravelPac

In 2010, Dive Rite really dove into the warm water market with the release of the TravelPac BCD. Designed for divers who wanted the comfort of a backplate system without the bulk, the TravelPac was lightweight and streamlined, making it an ideal choice for traveling divers. Its minimalist approach retained the quality and reliability Dive Rite was known for, giving divers a simple yet effective solution for warm water adventures. The TravelPac turned into the Hydro Lite BCD, which is one of Dive Rite’s flagship products today.

2011: Bonaire TeK Week

Dive Rite has been sponsoring Bonaire TeK Week with Buddy Dive since it started out in 2011. Bonaire TeK is an annual event that brings together technical divers from around the world for a week of diving, training, and community in the beautiful blue waters of Bonaire.

2011: Sanctum

In 2011, Dive Rite played a crucial role in the gripping underwater thriller “Sanctum.” The film, starring Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield, and Ioan Gruffudd, follows expert diver Frank McGuire and his team as they explore the treacherous Esa-ala Caves. When a flash flood traps them, the divers must navigate the dangerous labyrinth to find a way out. Dive Rite’s cutting-edge equipment was used in the movie’s intense underwater scenes, adding authenticity and reliability to the dramatic story. The film highlighted Dive Rite’s expertise in deep cave exploration, showcasing their gear’s resilience under the most challenging conditions.

2014: Integration with Shearwater Electronics

Dive Rite began collaborating with Shearwater Research in 2014, integrating Shearwater’s advanced electronics into our rebreathers. This partnership allowed divers to benefit from Shearwater’s intuitive user interface and reliable monitoring systems, enhancing the safety and performance of Dive Rite rebreathers. The combination of Dive Rite engineering with Shearwater’s innovative electronics created a powerful synergy that continues to set the standard for technical diving.

2016-Today – “Beyond the Sump” Expeditions

Dive Rite supported the original expeditions to Hautala in Mexico, where Bill Stone continued to push the limits of deep sump exploration. Dive Rite continued to assist explorers in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on Beyond the Sump’s expeditions to the Hautala Resurgence in 2016, 2017, and 2022, the Peña Colorada in 2018, the Rio Ulupan in 2019, and the Cueva Catana Matias (the deepest sump in the Dominican Republic) in 2023. The Beyond the Sump team headed back to the Rio Ulupan in 2024 for some unfinished business, still supported by Dive Rite!

2020 – The O2ptima Evolution Continues...

In the interest of innovation and continuous improvement, Dive Rite released the O2ptima CM rebreather, as an even more versatile tool for underwater exploration. Weighing only 14.4 pounds, the simplicity of the “ChO2ptima” results in limitless possibilities of use. The O2ptima CM is fully compatible with whatever open-circuit system you’re currently diving: sidemount, back mounted doubles, or a single tank. The chest-mounted design easily attaches to almost any harness using four bolt snaps. The possibilities are endless and the ChO2ptima has been used for cutting edge exploration and world class expeditions all over the globe.

2022 – Nomad Ray/Avatar

The evolution of sidemount continues today with the introduction of the Nomad Ray Sidemount System. The Nomad Ray is Dive Rite’s flagship sidemount harness released in April 2023. The Nomad Ray is the result of multiple iterations and years of design, development, testing, and feedback from leading sidemount divers and instructors.

Dive Rite is proud to have supported the filming of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. In addition to designing custom in-water safety equipment, Dive Rite provided a wide range of scuba equipment for cast and crew.

2023: Reel Revamp

In 2023, Dive Rite continued in its mission to innovate rather than replicate by releasing two improved reel designs: the Azimuth and the Slide Lock 2. The Azimuth was designed from the ground up to be a precision tool for the true underwater explorer. Innovative design features, top quality components, and tight manufacturing tolerances separate the Azimuth from the pack. The Slide Lock 2 features the tight tolerances and innovative features of the Azimuth series of reels while maintaining the simple, one-handed operation of the dependable Slide Lock series of reels.

2024: The Legacy Continues

This year, Dive Rite celebrated 40 years of excellence in diving—four decades of pioneering gear and setting industry standards. Since our founding in 1984, we’ve remained committed to innovation, reliability, and the spirit of exploration, empowering divers around the world to push their boundaries and discover the world beneath the surface. A product line that started as 13 products tailored for cave diving has become over 200 products catering to all types of diving, from enjoying shallow reefs to deep cave exploration to public safety. There are several projects currently in development with both design and testing done by staff who are active divers, instructors and explorers.

Sadly, Dive Rite also lost one of our own this year. Jared Hires embodied the spirit of Dive Rite, pouring his passion into every aspect of diving and leading our team with an unwavering commitment to excellence. A lifelong diver, Jared dedicated himself to exploring the underwater world, sharing his love for adventure and pushing the boundaries of innovation. His genuine warmth, infectious enthusiasm, and the high standard he held for himself and those around him inspired us all to be better. Jared was not just Dive Rite’s general manager. He was a friend, a mentor, a son, a father, a husband, and a true force for good in our community. The team at Dive Rite is committed to honoring his legacy by continuing the pursuit of excellence and keeping his spirit alive in everything we do.

Dive Rite will continue to outfit underwater explorers for the next 40 years and beyond, not just following trends, but setting them.

DIVE DEEPER

40th Anniversary Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5VPO1WXVnU

Dive Rite Website: https://www.diverite.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diverite84/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diverite84/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@diverite84

TDI/SDI: BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME (CAVE DIVING): AN INTERVIEW WITH CONSUMMATE UNDERGROUND GEARHEAD LAMAR HIRES by Michael Menduno

InDEPTH: Whole Lotta CHO2ptima Going On: Interview with Jared Hires by Michael Menduno