Features - AirBuddy

One or two divers

Share the fun, share the load, share the costs. Unlike some other recreational SSBA units on the market, any AirBuddy can be used by one or two divers. To change the set-up, simply plug-in either one "Single Diver Hose" or two "Buddy Diver Hoses" to the float.

Stability
on water

Capsize protection to about 110 degree tilt with the weight mass in the lower section acting as a keel and a position sensor to minimise the risk of water ingress.

Emergency air

16L compressed air inside the float prevents immediate loss of air supply in case of an emergency. It can provide about 4-5 breaths at depth to about 12-15 breaths close to the surface for a safe ascent or until you reach for an egressor.

Low battery
notification

Underwater siren alerts the diver(s) to ascend about 10 minutes before the battery depletes, after about 55 min of diving time.

High performance
compressor

World's most powerful compressor in its weight and size category. Our water- cooled, oilless, reciprocating compressor delivers air at 75 lpm (2.65 cfm). Al2O3 cylinder hard coat reduces wear and prolongs piston life.

Secure magnetic
switch

Turn AirBuddy ON and OFF with a detachable magnetic key in order to prevent tampering by anyone other than the diver.

Recoil hose

Recoil hose stays organised, keeps AirBuddy at a closer perimeter to the diver and acts like a suspension to smoothen out any tugging caused by swell or your swimming. Made from strong polyurethane for abrasion and kink resistance.

LiFePO4 battery

LiFePO4 cells provide optimal balance of safety, high power and long life span (over 80% of its original capacity even after 1500 cycles). Internal BMS with balancing, over- current, under-voltage and temperature protection.

Founder

"AirBuddy combines 200-year old diving principle with the latest technologies, materials and innovations. We created a compact, user-friendly unit that provides maximum performance, comfort,and safety at the minimum weight and size."

Jan Kadlec

Safety | Performance | Value

Swipe left to reveal the comparison table

		airbuddy	Other (A)	Other (B)	Other (C)	Other (D)	Other (E)

DIVERS ㅤ ㅤ	Options ㅤ ㅤ	One or Two	One ㅤ X	One ㅤ X	One or Two	One or Two	Two to Four
MAX DEPTH	@ 1 diver	12 m (40 ft)	4.6 m (15 ft)	9 m (30 ft)	12 m (40 ft)	7.6 m (25 ft)	X
ㅤ	@ 2 diver	6 m (20 ft)	X	X	6 m (20 ft)	7.6 m (25 ft)	18 m (60 ft)
RUN TIME	Bottom time	55 min	35 - 40 min	45 - 60 min	45 - 60 min	60 min	120 - 180 min
	Safe ascent time	+10 min	X	X	X	X	X
SAFETY	Emergency air	16 L (4.2 gal)	X	X	11 L (2.9 gal)	?	9.5 L (2.5 gal)
	Battery warning	Alarm	X	X	X	X	X
	Secure switch	Magnetic	El. regulator	El. regulator	X	X	X
	Position sensor	Off, Alarm	X	X	X	X	X
MOBILITY	Size	S	XS	S	XL	XL	XXL
	Weight	11.8 kg (26.1 lbs)	5.4 kg (12 lbs)	8.2 kg (18 lbs)	35 kg (77 lbs)	31 kg (68 lbs)	34 kg (75 lbs)
PRICE	Base model	US$ 1,595	US$ 1,649	US$ 2,199	US$ 2,590	US$ 3,489	US$ 6,895

More details

		airbuddy	Other (A)	Other (B)	Other (C)	Other (D)	Other (E)
FLOAT	Puncture resistant	Y	X	X	X	X	X
	Volume	16 L (4.2 gal)	?	X	?	?	?
	Foldable	X	Y	X	Y	Y	Y
AIR DELIVERY	Comfort	Balanced air	Pulsing air	Pulsing air	Balanced air	Balanced air	Balanced air
	Baffled noise	Y	X	X	Y	Y	Y
HOSE	Exchangeable	2 Options	X	X	2 Options	2 Options	3 Options
	Anti-tugging	Y - Recoil	X	X	X	X	X
	Cut resistant	Y - TPU	X	X	Y - Reinforced PVC	Y - Reinforced PVC	Y - Reinforced PVC
	Food grade	Y	?	?	Y	Y	Y
	Self-organising	Y - Recoil	X	X	X	X	X
COMPRESSOR	Type	Piston	Diaphragm	Diaphragm	Diaphragm	Diaphragm	Piston
	Cooling	Water	Water	Water	Air	Air	Air
	System pressure	38 psi	?	?	25 psi	12 - 20 psi	50 psi
	Air flow at 0 psi	2.7 cfm	?	?	4 cfm	3.2 cfm	6 cfm
	Air flow at X psi	2.1 cfm @ 35psi	? @ ?psi	? @ ?psi	2.2 cfm @ 15 psi	2.2 cfm @ 15 psi	3.5 cfm @ 50 psi
BATTERY	Chemistry	LiFePO4	Li-Ion	Li-Ion	AGM	AGM	Li-Ion
	Voltage	6+6 VDC	14.4 VDC	28.8 VDC	12 VDC	12 VDC	24 VDC
	Capacity	26 Ah	6 Ah	5 Ah	? Ah	35 Ah	63.8 Ah
	Weight	3.0 kg	? kg	1.4 kg	? kg	10.4 kg	8.5 kg
	Charging time	3.5 h	3 h	3 h	? h	? h	6 h
	Air travel friendly	Y	Y	Y	X	X	X
CHARGER	Home - AC input	100 - 240 VAC	100 - 240 VAC	100 - 240 VAC	240 VAC	? VAC	100 - 240 VAC
	Travel - DC input	12 - 24 VDC	X	X	X	X	X

		airbuddy	Other (A)	Other (B)	Other (C)	Other (D)	Other (E)
		ㅤ	ㅤ	ㅤ	ㅤ	ㅤ	ㅤ
DIVERS ㅤ ㅤ	Options ㅤ ㅤ	One or Two	One ㅤ X	One ㅤ X	One or Two	One or Two	Two to Four
MAX DEPTH ㅤ ㅤ	@ 1 diver ㅤ @ 2 divers	12 m (40 ft) ㅤ 6 m (20 ft)	4.6 m (15 ft) ㅤ X	9 m (30 ft) ㅤ X	12 m (40 ft) ㅤ 6 m (20 ft)	7.6 m (25ft) ㅤ 7.6 m (25ft)	X ㅤ 18 m (60ft)
RUN TIME ㅤ ㅤ	Bottom time ㅤ Safe ascent time	55 min ㅤ +10 min	35 - 40 min ㅤ X	45 - 60 min ㅤ X	45 - 60 min ㅤ X	60 min ㅤ X	120 - 180 min ㅤ X
SAFETY ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ	Emergency air ㅤ Battery warning ㅤ Secure switch ㅤ Position sensor	16 L (4.2 gal) ㅤ Alarm ㅤ Magnetic ㅤ Off, Alarm	X ㅤ X ㅤ El. regulator ㅤ X	X ㅤ X ㅤ El. regulator ㅤ X	11 L (2.9 gal) ㅤ X ㅤ X ㅤ X	? ㅤ X ㅤ X ㅤ X	9.5 L (2.5 gal) ㅤ X ㅤ X ㅤ X
PORTABILITY ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ	Size ㅤ Weight ㅤ	S ㅤ 11.8 kg (26.1 lbs)	XS ㅤ 5.4 kg (12 lbs)	S ㅤ 8.2 kg (18 lbs)	XL ㅤ 35 kg (77 lbs)	XL ㅤ 31 kg (68 lbs)	XXL ㅤ 34 kg (75 lbs)
PRICE	Base model	US$ 1,595	US$ 1,649	US$ 2,199	US$ 2,590	US$ 3,489	US$ 6,895

More details

		airbuddy	Other (A)	Other (B)	Other (C)	Other (D)	Other (E)
FLOAT ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ	Puncture resistant ㅤ Volume ㅤ Foldable	Y ㅤ 16 L (4.2 gal) ㅤ X	X ㅤ ? ㅤ Y	X ㅤ X ㅤ X	X ㅤ ? ㅤ Y	X ㅤ ? ㅤ Y	X ㅤ ? ㅤ Y
AIR DELIVERY ㅤ ㅤ	Comfort ㅤ Baffled noise	Balanced air ㅤ Y	Pulsing air ㅤ X	Pulsing air ㅤ X	Balanced air ㅤ Y	Balanced air ㅤ Y	Balanced air ㅤ Y
HOSE ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ	Exchangeable ㅤ Anti-tugging ㅤ Cut resistant ㅤ Food grade ㅤ Self-organising	2 Options ㅤ Y - Recoil ㅤ Y - TPU ㅤ Y ㅤ Y - Recoil	X ㅤ X ㅤ X ㅤ ? ㅤ X	X ㅤ X ㅤ X ㅤ ? ㅤ X	2 Options ㅤ X ㅤ Y - Reinforced PVC ㅤ Y ㅤ X	2 Options ㅤ X ㅤ Y - Reinforced PVC ㅤ Y ㅤ X	3 Options ㅤ X ㅤ Y - Reinforced PVC ㅤ Y ㅤ X
COMPRESSOR ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ	Type ㅤ Cooling ㅤ System pressure ㅤ Air flow at 0 psi ㅤ Air flow at X psi ㅤ	Piston ㅤ Water ㅤ 38 psi ㅤ 2.7 cfm ㅤ 2.1 cfm @ 35psi	Diaphragm ㅤ Water ㅤ ? ㅤ ? ㅤ ? @ ?psi	Diaphragm ㅤ Water ㅤ ? ㅤ ? ㅤ ? @ ?psi	Diaphragm ㅤ Air ㅤ 25 psi ㅤ 4 cfm ㅤ 2.2 cfm @ 15 psi	Diaphragm ㅤ Air ㅤ 12 - 20 psi ㅤ 3.2 cfm ㅤ 2.2 cfm @ 15 psi	Piston ㅤ Air ㅤ 50 psi ㅤ 6 cfm ㅤ 3.5 cfm @ 50 psi
BATTERY ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ	Chemistry ㅤ Voltage ㅤ Capacity ㅤ Weight ㅤ Charging time ㅤ Air travel friendly	LiFePO4 ㅤ 6+6 VDC ㅤ 26 Ah ㅤ 3.0 kg ㅤ 3.5 h ㅤ Y	Li-Ion ㅤ 14.4 VDC ㅤ 6 Ah ㅤ ? kg ㅤ 3 h ㅤ Y	Li-Ion ㅤ 28.8 VDC ㅤ 5 Ah ㅤ 1.4 kg ㅤ 3 h ㅤ Y	AGM ㅤ 12 VDC ㅤ ? Ah ㅤ ? kg ㅤ ? h ㅤ X	AGM ㅤ 12 VDC ㅤ 35 Ah ㅤ 10.4 kg ㅤ ? h ㅤ X	Li-Ion ㅤ 24 VDC ㅤ 63.8 Ah ㅤ 8.5 kg ㅤ 6 h ㅤ X
CHARGER ㅤ ㅤ	Home - AC input ㅤ Travel - DC input	100 - 240 VAC ㅤ 12 - 24 VDC	100 - 240 VAC ㅤ X	100 - 240 VAC ㅤ X	240 VAC ㅤ X	? VAC ㅤ X	100 - 240 VAC ㅤ X

Laboratory tested to US, EU

and Australian standards

AirBuddy holds the CE, FCC, C-Tick, UN38.3 (battery), EN250 (regulator), various IEC, EMC, RoHS, C-Tick, UL (charger) and UN Packaging Approval (DG packaging). The air quality meets AS/NZ2299.1-1999, AS1715 and AS1716. FDA approved plastics are used for the airways.

Pushing the limits of

production technology

The combination of safety, performance and design requirements was impossible to achieve with conventional production technologies. During the R&D, we worked closely with the STU - University of Technology, leading plasticians, and molders to develop specialised tooling and custom blend plastic resin.

100% QC with our in-house
developed "RoboDiver"

We make AirBuddy in Sydney, Australia from 220 (mostly custom-made) components that we source from reputable suppliers locally, and internationally. Every finished AirBuddy undergoes a comprehensive testing program (takes about 1.5 hour), including a simulated dive using our "RoboDiver" - a device that breathes like a diver and logs various data every second.

Study of human respiration at
the core of AirBuddy design

AirBuddy is a result of 4 years of R&D and many generations of working prototypes that we tested in the ocean. In the beginning, we studied various aspects of the diving theory and human anatomy with respect to air consumption, pressure and air flow, that we translated into functional, technical and safety requirements.