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

Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...

, France, by Georges Beuchat, 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 Diving mode, mode of underwater diving whereby divers use Scuba set, breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface breathing gas supply, and therefore has a limited but variable endurance. The word ''scub ...

recreational diving Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasur ...

professional diving Professional diving is underwater diving where the divers are paid for their work. Occupational diving has a similar meaning and applications. The diving procedures, procedures are often regulated by legislation and codes of practice as it is an ...

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 disp ...

, *

Spearfishing Spearfishing is fishing using handheld elongated, sharp-pointed tools such as a spear, gig, or harpoon, to impale the fish in the body. It was one of the earliest fishing techniques used by mankind, and has been deployed in artisanal fishi ...

and

freediving Freediving, free-diving, free diving, breath-hold diving, or skin diving, is a mode 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 breat ...

, *

Snorkeling Snorkeling (American and British English spelling differences#Doubled in British English, British and Commonwealth English spelling: snorkelling) is the practice of human swimming, swimming face down on or through a body of water while breathing ...

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 (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 fishing using handheld elongated, sharp-pointed tools such as a spear, gig, or harpoon, to impale the fish in the body. It was one of the earliest fishing techniques used by mankind, and has been deployed in artisanal fishi ...

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 millio ...

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 Underwater diving equipment manufacturers Manufacturing companies based in Marseille Military diving equipment French brands Underwater diving engineering French companies established in 1934