In 1959, Aquastar filed a patent for what would become one of the most significant advancements in analogue diving technology – the Aquastar Navigator. Released in 1960, this innovative tool marked a major leap forward in the world of professional diving.

The Navigator was the first of its kind, combining five critical diving tools into a single, wearable unit. Worn on the wrist, the Navigator provided divers with all the information needed to perform a safe dive, at a time when such comprehensive devices, especially the digital solutions that we see today, were unheard of.

A Groundbreaking Set of Tools

The Aquastar Navigator was an integrated system consisting of:

1. Aquastar model 60 dive watch: the main tool for timing the dive and no Deco stops according the attached French Marine non-decompresssion table
2. Depth Gauge: Essential for monitoring dive depth and ensuring safe exploration.
3. Thermometer: Providing critical data about water temperature, a key factor in dive planning.
4. Compass: Mounted on the panel with a wide bezel, allowing divers to navigate with ease.
5. Diving Guard: A safety feature designed to protect divers in varying underwater conditions.
6. Waterproof Radiant Card: A key feature, it displayed a French marine decompression table, ensuring divers had immediate access to vital decompression data.

The First Analog Dive Computer

The Navigator was, in effect, the first analog dive computer – combining mechanical and analog technologies to provide divers with essential dive metrics, something that had never been achieved before. Prior to this, divers had to rely on separate tools for each data point, often requiring them to memorize important figures or carry additional, bulky, equipment.

The Navigator integrated these tools into a compact, easy-to-use format, significantly improving safety and efficiency in underwater exploration.

Aquastar Paved The Path For Tool Dive Watches

The Navigator solidifed Aquastar as not merely a watch company –  but as a pioneer in dive instrumentation. By introducing this multi-functional system, Aquastar became the first company to design tools specifically for professional divers.

This commitment to functional, reliable diving tools continued with the later introduction of the Aquastar Model 60, which evolved into the Deepstar. The Deepstar added additional a Multi-no-decompression dive calculator to the bezel, taking the tool dive watch to an entirely new level.

Aquastar’s Role in Shaping Dive Safety

With the Navigator, Aquastar established itself as the innovator of the tool dive watch. This set the stage for future innovations in diving technology, and today, the legacy of Aquastar remains synonymous with precision, reliability, and a dedication to diver safety. The Navigator was a key development that helped shape the modern era of diving, setting the standard for the integration of essential tools and data in the field.

Aquastar’s contributions to diving history cannot be overstated. From the Navigator to the Deepstar, Aquastar remains at the forefront of dive watch innovation, continuing to build upon its legacy of designing functional, life-saving instruments for underwater explorers.