Beuchat International, better known as Beuchat, is a company that designs, manufactures and markets underwater equipment. It was established in 1934 in

Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...

, France, by

Georges Beuchat Georges Beuchat (11 February 1910 – 20 October 1991) was a French inventor, underwater diver, businessman and emblematic pioneer of underwater activities and founder of Beuchat. Throughout his lifetime, Beuchat never ceased developing produ ...

, who descended from a Swiss watchmaking family. Georges Beuchat was an underwater pioneer who co-founded the French Underwater Federation in 1948. During its 75-year history, the company has deployed several different brand names, among them: "Pêche Sport", "Tarzan", "Beuchat", "Beuchat Sub" and "Beuchat International". Georges Beuchat sold the company in 1982 to the Alvarez de Toledo family. The firm is now owned by the Margnat family, who took over in 2002. Beuchat is an international company. From the outset, Georges Beuchat extended his operations beyond the borders of France, selling his products worldwide. In the 1970s, he created the Beuchat swordfish logo, which can still be found on every product.

Business

Beuchat currently has 3 core ranges: *

Scuba diving Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving whereby divers use breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface air supply. The name "scuba", an acronym for "Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus", was coined by Chris ...

recreational diving Recreational diving or sport diving is diving for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment, usually when using scuba equipment. The term "recreational diving" may also be used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of r ...

professional diving Professional diving is underwater diving where the divers are paid for their work. The procedures are often regulated by legislation and codes of practice as it is an inherently hazardous occupation and the diver works as a member of a team. Du ...

and

military diving Underwater divers may be employed in any branch of an armed force, including the navy, army, marines, air force and coast guard. Scope of operations includes: search and recovery, search and rescue, hydrographic survey, explosive ordnance disposa ...

, *

Spearfishing Spearfishing is a method of fishing that involves impaling the fish with a straight pointed object such as a spear, gig or harpoon. It has been deployed in artisanal fishing throughout the world for millennia. Early civilisations were familia ...

and

freediving Freediving, free-diving, free diving, breath-hold diving, or skin diving is a form of underwater diving that relies on breath-holding until resurfacing rather than the use of breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. Besides the limits of breath-h ...

, *

Snorkeling Snorkeling ( British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped breathing tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a ...

Chronology

*1934: Company founded in Marseille. *1947: Tarzan Speargun *1948: Surface Buoy *1950: Tarzan camera housing *1950: Tarzan calf sheath for diving knife. *1953: 1st Isothermic wetsuit. *1954: Split strap for diving mask. *1958: Compensator (single-window mask). *1959: Tarzan fin grips (3-way straps securing closed-heel fins on feet) *1960: Espadon Record fins with blades featuring parallel longitudinal ribs *1961: Export Award. Club subaquatique toulousain catalogue of Tarzan-Espadon equipment. *1963: Tarzan wetsuit *1964:

Jetfins Swimfins, swim fins, diving fins, or flippers are finlike accessories worn on the feet, legs or hands and made from rubber, plastic, carbon fiber or combinations of these materials, to aid movement through the water in water sports activities su ...

(1st vented fins. 100,000 units sold in the first few years). Souplair regulator release. *Mid-1960s: Pêche Sport catalogue. *Late 1960s: Beuchat & Co. catalogue. *1975: Marlin speargun *1978: Atmos regulator *1985: Lyfty ruff buoy *1986: Aladin computer distribution *1990: Cavalero purchasing *1993: Oceane buoy *1998: CX1, 1st French diving computer (Comex Algorithm, French Labor Ministry certified) *2001: Mundial Spearfishing fins *2007: Focea Comfort II wetsuit. Power Jet fins. *2008: BCD Masterlift Voyager *2009: VR 200 Evolution regulator. 75th brand anniversary. Anniversary wetsuit limited edition release. *2010: Marlin Revolution speargun - roller gun

Spearfishing

Ever since the company was established, Beuchat has manufactured

spearfishing Spearfishing is a method of fishing that involves impaling the fish with a straight pointed object such as a spear, gig or harpoon. It has been deployed in artisanal fishing throughout the world for millennia. Early civilisations were familia ...

equipment, enabling spearfishers such as Pedro Carbonell, Sylvain Pioch, Pierre Roy, Ghislain Guillou and Vladimir Dokuchajev to gain numerous national and international titles.

Various

The

Scubapro Johnson Outdoors Inc. () produces outdoor recreational products such as watercraft, diving equipment, camping gear, and outdoor clothing. It has operations in 24 locations worldwide, employs 1,400 people and reports sales of more than $315 million ...

logo: "S" was adapted from the Beuchat "Souplair" regulator.

References

External links

Corporate website

SpearoTek, Inc. - U.S. Distributor
{{Underwater diving, divequ Manufacturing companies established in 1934 Diving equipment manufacturers Manufacturing companies based in Marseille Military diving equipment French brands Diving engineering French companies established in 1934