Cousteau vintage mask

[falco]

I'm a big fan of Jacques Cousteau... and I've been trying to find one of his "rectangular" looking black and silver mask that his team use since 1967 .... I think that, actually they're still using it on these days.... any info of the model and where to find it?

[sea.explorer]

The mask you are asking about is the Aquarama. It has an interesting history. The mask was produced by Technisub in Italy. It also caries the Spirotecnique and US Divers lables all on the same mask. The mask was chosen by Cousteau because it offered the least restrictive view of the divers face. This was preferred when adding the human element to the films. The mask did apear in one US divers Catalog in the 1960's. I forget the specific year. Technisub continued to produce the mask for the Cousteau Society for many years. In the late 1980's or early 90's Technisub produced a final run of 200 masks for the Cousteau Society and then gave them the molds. As far as I know no more units were ever produced. If you wish to find one you have your work cut out for you. I have had contacts in Europe looking as well with no luck. I managed to find one after two years of searching but it came directly from the former chief diver of the Cousteau Society. I did manage to find the closest relative to the Aquarama, the Equinaso, on ebay last year. It is identical to the Aquarama with the addition of finger pockets for esier equalization. I payed only $10. In conclusion it is a great mask my favorite in my collection, and I wish they were more common. I will post a photo later on. -Ryan

[falco]

Thanks for your info Ryan! You definitively have a great knowledge of Cousteau diving history!!!... I may end up getting just a simple oval mask...but again...very interesting the whole story behind.... thanks a lot!!!! - Falco.

[sea.explorer]

This is about as close as you can come in a mask that is easy to come by and incedentaly they were used by some members of the Cousteau team during the Amazon expedition. It is the same as the older ones only in silicone.

www.aqualung.com/products/atlantis.html

There is a mask out of Japan that is closer but I have not found a US distrubuter. But I'm looking.

www.seadweller.co.jp/sale/aa/0012.html

-Ryan

[JES]

rndboulder said:

... There is a mask out of Japan that is closer but I have not found a US distributer. But I'm looking.

www.seadweller.co.jp/sale/aa/0012.html

-Ryan

In case anyone was wondering, the cost of this mask (5,800 Yen) = @$48.71 US Dollars.

[sea.explorer]

Here is the Aquarama.



-Ryan

[falco]

I have to tell you... the mask on the japanese website...is almost exacly to the Aquamara.... let me see... maybe they sell this out of Japan... let me figure out how to order....thanks for the link!

[sea.explorer]

Let me know what you find out about a source for the Japanese masks. I sent an e-mail yesterday to a person that may be able to get them. There are a lot of sites that sell them in Japan but none of the sites are in English and I have not contacted them directly. I have not had the time. -Ryan

[DavidRitchieWilson]

There is a picture of two different colour versions of the Gull Basara mask at

www.compjang.co.kr/MASK/BASARA.htm

which is, of course, a Korean site. I don't know of any other site that offers a modern-day rubber dive mask in a colour other than black. Gull's original Japanese site is at

www.gull-msc.co.jp

Gull still manfactures a broad range of rubber masks and fins. I have tried to purchase a pair of their Mew or Warp fins, which come in a number of colours (e.g. white) not offered by other diving equipment manfacturers. When I emailed several retailers in Japan, I sadly received no reply to my messages. If anybody manages to locate a dealer who is ready and willing to import Gull diving gear into Europe, I would be very interested to hear about it.

[falco]

I just sent an email to the people of Gull...in Spanish...who knows...maybe they have a spanish speaker with some sympathy for me...I'll let you know ...if it's work...we could make a big order for everybody who's interested. - Harry.

[mancorna]

Mar 11, 2006 8:15:35 GMT -8 sea.explorer said:

The mask you are asking about is the Aquarama. It has an interesting history. The mask was produced by Technisub in Italy. It also caries the Spirotecnique and US Divers lables all on the same mask. The mask was chosen by Cousteau because it offered the least restrictive view of the divers face. This was preferred when adding the human element to the films. The mask did apear in one US divers Catalog in the 1960's. I forget the specific year. Technisub continued to produce the mask for the Cousteau Society for many years. In the late 1980's or early 90's Technisub produced a final run of 200 masks for the Cousteau Society and then gave them the molds. As far as I know no more units were ever produced. If you wish to find one you have your work cut out for you. I have had contacts in Europe looking as well with no luck. I managed to find one after two years of searching but it came directly from the former chief diver of the Cousteau Society. I did manage to find the closest relative to the Aquarama, the Equinaso, on ebay last year. It is identical to the Aquarama with the addition of finger pockets for esier equalization. I payed only $10. In conclusion it is a great mask my favorite in my collection, and I wish they were more common. I will post a photo later on. -Ryan

[noneedforaname]

I have one that I dive with. actually it's my only mask right now it's missing the original strap and kinda rough but I dive with it a lot it is just a mask to me so
I'd trade for any big oval one in the same condition if anyone is interested I will figure out how to post pics