For almost 60 years Mares has been recognized as an international manufacturer of high quality scuba diving gear. Mares scuba gear is sold everywhere in the world where diving takes place, and is as popular in the UK, USA, Australia and Japan as it is in France from where the company originates.
Mares scuba gear includes all aspects of diving equipment, from regulators and buoyancy jackets to masks and wet suits. Mares scuba gear is targeted firmly at the sport and recreational diver, not at the technical diver or professional scuba practitioner. Dive instructors on the other hand are happy to use Mares gear as a result of its dependency and quality.
I have used a number of different items of Mares scuba gear over the years and consider the equipment to be extremely good. In particular I have also bought Mares gear for my daughter which must show the trust that I place in the brand! The items that I have had experience with are as follows:
1. A Mares Abyss regulator. This is not the most expensive regulator that they make but is certainly more than mid-range. What I liked about it was the sturdy metal case and a confidence accordingly that it was unlikely ever to free flow. Both the first and second stages felt and looked solid, without being big or clumsy and in any way heavy. My Abyss has been around the world and bashed about in many hard dive boats and ribs. It has been trailed behind a cylinder, dragged along a concrete quayside and trodden on while struggling to change out of a dry suit! Yes my Mares Abyss has given me hundreds of dives and is still going strong after around 8 years.
2. I bought my daughter a cheaper Mares regulator – this has a plastic body to the 2nd stage and has not seen as much use. Nevertheless it has worked without fault for a couple of years and I also use it as a pony regulator from time to time.
3. I have used a Mares mask without problem for the past five years – alternating it with an Oceanic Big Eyes that I also favour. No complaints with either mask.
4. I have a Seaquest buoyancy jacket and a Halcyon buoyancy wing and have no complaints about either of these makes. However, the Mares Kalia stab jacket I bought for my daughter seems to be an ideal fit for a lady’s frame – especially a small frame like my daughter. The straps seem to be in the right place and the quality ‘feel’ of the jacket overall is impressive. A top quality piece of Mares scuba gear for a very reasonable price when comparing it to other leading makes on sale.
There is no doubt that Mares ranks alongside Scubapro, Aqualung and Apeks as a manufacturer of high quality, wide range of scuba diving equipment. Mares scuba gear will continue to figure in my dive bag for the foreseeable future!