UWIS dive equipment company provides gear for underwater navigation
UWIS Oy
Founded in 2014, UWIS Oy specializes in the development of innovative scuba diving equipment and systems for underwater navigation, tracking, and communication. The UWIS system enables real-time tracking and coordination of large dive groups, enhancing safety and efficiency in underwater operations.
The UWIS System
The UWIS (UnderWater Information Systems) system provides real-time 3D location data during dives, sharing it simultaneously with all dive members both on the surface and underwater.
Key features include:
- Real-time positioning for divers to locate themselves and their buddies.
- Communication capabilities between divers and surface teams.
- Navigation using pre-set waypoints and Points of Interest (POIs).
- Comprehensive dive data recording for post-dive analysis.
The UWIS story
The UWIS system was specifically developed to support underwater search and rescue missions. It addresses a critical need for divers: the ability to accurately pinpoint their own location as well as their target's position underwater. By enabling precise navigation, UWIS helps divers operate methodically, efficiently cover search areas, and record comprehensive dive data for analysis and reporting.
It all started in Utö, Finland
The idea for UWIS originated in the mid-1990s on the island of Utö, Finland. Esko Jukkala, the system's inventor, observed local search and rescue divers working in murky waters where their only navigation aid was a guideline. This experience sparked the realization of the need for a better underwater location system, a thought that would stay with Jukkala for years.
The idea lives on
In 2012, the idea resurfaced when Jukkala watched a television report about divers in Spain searching for the body of a Finnish sports diver. This inspired him to develop a system that would allow divers to efficiently cover an entire search area.
Image: An early sketch of the UWIS system concept.
From concept to prototype
The initial goal was clear: divers should always know their position and the locations of their team members. Drawing from his earlier experiments with ultrasound for underwater communication, Jukkala refined the concept into a triangulation-based positioning system. By 2015, the first UWIS prototypes were developed and tested successfully.
Image: The first UWIS prototype during field testing.
From prototype to market
After extensive testing and refinement, the UWIS system was piloted by customers in 2018. Its official launch took place at the DEMA Show in Las Vegas in November 2018. Since then, UWIS has been adopted globally, with a focus on professional and scientific diving applications.
image: Dave Gration
Why UWIS matters
UWIS was created to address the real challenges of underwater search and rescue operations. The system empowers divers to pinpoint their own and their targets' locations underwater, enabling methodical search patterns and comprehensive dive data recording. Today, UWIS is trusted worldwide for its innovative solutions that enhance both safety and operational efficiency in underwater environments.