Suunto was founded in 1936 by Finnish adventurer Tuomas Vohlonen with his creation of a liquid filled compass with a steadier, more accurate needle and never got lost again.
However it wasn’t until 1965 that they began to manufacture diving equipment, after a British sports diver realised his Suunto compass still worked underwater. Shortly after this the first underwater compass, the SK-4 was released by Suunto. Tested in the harshest conditions that are the norm in Finland, Suunto’s products are given high demands and designed to survive anything. The SK-4 was even owned by Jacques Cousteau.
In 1987 Suunto released their first dive computer, the SME-ML, one of the first commercially available dive computers, eliminating the need to rely on dive computers helping to make diving safer and more accessible.
10 years later, in 1997, the world’s first watch sized dive computer, the Suunto Spyder was released, a multi level and high quality dive computer. The first in Suunto’s popular D range of computers was the D9, released in 2004. It was the first computer from Suunto that incorporated a compass that they had originally become known for, with computer and wireless air integration technologies. Developments continued and in 2009 Suunto launched the HelO2, their first computer with full capabilities for mixed gases for technical divers using trimix.
The next big step for Suunto was in 2013 the release of the DX, a computer with mixed gas and CCR capabilities. The next generation of dive computers began with the EON Steel in 2015 and EON Core in 2017, completely redesigning their computers with a large rectangular colour screen for ease of reading, and customisable display for your diving needs and preferences.
The Suunto D5, released in 2019 has all of the capabilities of the EON Steel and customisable options but is back to watch style and size. Many of these computers remain popular to this day, with Suunto offering everything from a basic computer for beginner divers to more technically advanced models capable of gas mixing and CCR technical diving.
Suunto is also part of Mission 2020, the initiative to make the diving industry more sustainable, minimising single use plastics and using durable materials for a longer life span for your products.
