Big changes have been happening in the dive industry, and two of the biggest names in scuba gear are right in the middle of it. Aqualung and Apeks have entered a new chapter globally after the Aqualung Group was acquired by HEAD Group, the company behind Mares and SSI. For divers in Thailand, that story now has a local angle too, with 360° Watersports Thailand bringing Aqualung and Apeks into its official line-up alongside other major diving brands. For anyone who follows dive gear, training, or the business side of the industry, this is a pretty interesting move. A big global shake-up The global part of the story happened in 2025, when HEAD Group officially took over the Aqualung Group. That mattered because Aqualung is one of the most historic names in diving, and Apeks is one of the most respected brands for high-performance regulators and technical diving gear. It was not just another business deal. It felt more like a major reshuffle in the dive industry, bringing several huge names under the same wider umbrella. Why Aqualung and Apeks matter so much Aqualung is one of the most recognisable names in scuba history. It has deep roots in the development of diving equipment and is one of those brands almost every diver knows, even if they do not use the gear themselves. Apeks has its own very loyal following too. It is especially respected for regulators and equipment built for tougher conditions, technical diving, and divers who like gear with a strong reputation for reliability. So when these brands moved into a new ownership structure, people noticed. What 360° Watersports Thailand adds to the story In Thailand, the big news is not that 360° Watersports bought the brands. It is that they are now helping bring them to market locally in a much more visible way. 360° Watersports Thailand is now presenting itself as the official Thailand home for Aqualung, Apeks, Mares, SSI, and other watersports brands. That gives the local market a very strong mix of equipment, training, and support all in one place. For divers, that usually means something simple: easier access to gear, better local support, and a clearer brand presence in Thailand. Why this matters for divers Most divers do not spend much time thinking about ownership structures, court rulings, or brand distribution deals. Fair enough. What most people care about is much simpler: Can I still get the gear I like? Will parts and servicing be available? Will these brands still be supported properly? Is this good or bad for the dive industry overall? From a practical point of view, the move looks positive for Thailand. Aqualung and Apeks now seem to have a clearer local platform again, and their presence through 360° Watersports suggests a more organised push into the Thai market. One roof, a lot of major brands One of the more interesting parts of this is seeing Aqualung, Apeks, and Mares being shown together in Thailand under 360° Watersports. These are all major names in dive gear, and in the past many divers would have thought of them as distinct camps or competing lanes. Seeing them connected through one local platform is a sign of how much the industry is changing. It also gives Thai divers and dive centres more choice in one place, which is never a bad thing. What it could mean for service and availability One of the biggest worries after any major acquisition is support. Divers want to know whether regulators can still be serviced, whether spare parts will still be available, and whether the brand will feel stable. That is one reason local representation matters. A strong local distributor or official channel gives people more confidence that gear will not just appear on shelves, but also be backed up properly afterward. That is especially important with brands like Apeks and Aqualung, where people are often buying life-support equipment, not just accessories. A wider shift in the dive industry This move also says something bigger about the direction of the dive industry. Brands are consolidating. Equipment, training, and retail are becoming more connected. Big players are trying to build stronger ecosystems rather than just selling individual products. That does not automatically mean better or worse. But it does mean the dive business is changing, and Thailand is clearly part of that story. For a place like Koh Tao, where training, equipment, and dive travel all come together every day, these industry shifts matter more than people might think. What divers in Thailand should take from this The short version is simple: Aqualung and Apeks are still very much in the game. Their global ownership has changed under HEAD Group. In Thailand, 360° Watersports is now helping give them a strong local presence. That should be good news for divers who like these brands and want to see them properly supported. The new chapter for Aqualung and Apeks is one of those stories. Globally, it marks a major shift in ownership. Locally, it looks like Thailand is becoming an important part of how these brands move forward. And for divers, that usually means one very nice thing: more choice, more support, and more reason to keep an eye on what comes next.