Bob Hollis appoints Mike Hollis as CEO of Oceanic, AERIS, LavaCore & Oceanpro.

After more than 40 years of leadership in the SCUBA industry Bob Hollis has decided to step down as CEO of Oceanic, AERIS, LavaCore & Oceanpro but remain Chairman of the Board of AUP, the globe spanning empire he built from the ground up. Bob Hollis will cease oversight of the day-to-day operations and devote his time exclusively to product development and research moving forward. “It’s time for me to stop worrying about inventory and concentrate on doing what I love - creating great products. I know I don’t need to worry about the business because Mike has been unofficially doing it for years already”, said Bob about his decision.

President and Chief Operating Officer, Dan Emke stated “We respect Bob’s decision. He has been and continues to be an inspiration for me and everyone that knows him. He built AUP from a little light housing company in his dive shop into a multinational entity with five unique and strong brands. AUP stands alone among the competition and will remain there by following the course Bob has charted from the beginning - Innovation. We look forward to the leadership and experience that Mike brings to the table as he assumes the post of CEO. This is not a changing of the guard. It’s an acknowledgment of the next obvious step for this successful family run business. He’s a proven hands on leader with the ability to take AUP forward while maintaining effective oversight of the day-to-day details. I look forward to continuing our close working relationship.”

Mike Hollis stated “Given the team and the resources I have to work with here at AUP I feel fortunate to have this opportunity. My top priority is to continue AUP’s proud tradition of industry leadership and innovation. This is the legacy my father has left us all with here at AUP. I want to thank him for all that he has done and will continue to do for the industry and growth of this magnificent company. Looking forward, AUP’s brands are set to launch new products in 2013 and beyond that will further set us apart from the competition through the relentless pursuit of innovation and reliability we build into every product we make. As the dive industry recovers from the latest economic down turn so too will we grow stronger and expand our reach by maintaining our relationship with the dealers who keep this industry alive.”

Mike Hollis has been intimately involved in AUP from the beginning. As a young man he started out building strobes for his father’s fledgling underwater photography equipment company - Oceanic. He went on to become a certified commercial diver doing stints in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. He then headed back to the bay area to start Pelagic Pressure Systems, a manufacturer of underwater instrumentation for the dive industry. Since then Mike has been the driving force behind some of AUP’s most acclaimed products. Mike’s proudest personal contributions to the dive industry have been his work on the OC1, Datamask HUD (Heads up display mask) as well as the Veo line of gauges. Over the years his team’s products have won numerous awards in the diving industry and have helped AUP remain among the top players in the SCUBA industry.

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AUP’s worldwide headquarters is in San Leandro, California in a 120,000 square foot building that houses one of the most innovative and technologically advanced life-support equipment manufacturing facilities in the world. AUP’s team of engineers, product designers, and manufacturing experts are dedicated to the philosophy of excellence. One distinguishing attribute that separates AUP from other manufacturers is the commitment to vertical integration. The vast majority of AUP products are designed, developed, manufactured, and tested in its own facilities. NO other dive company can make that statement.

AERIS' highest performing regulator was recently chosen as 2012 Testers' Choice by Scubalab! Compact form. Pneumatically Balanced demand valve. Responsive design. High volume airflow with the slightest inhalation effort... at any depth.

Check out all the specs on the Ion product page and the full review over at ScubaDiving.com!

The new AERIS Biojac BC is now shipping and ready for purchase online and at Authorized AERIS Dealers across the country. The all purpose jacket-style BC utilizes our Patented Bioflex super stretch material.

Click here to find out more about the new Biojac BC!

The new AERIS A300 is designed with a simple premise – using a dive computer doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, despite offering a wide range of features and options, some divers need only take the A300 out of the box and get it the water – it’s that easy to use! 

Doug Krause, Vice President of AERIS, “Our research has shown that some divers want complete simplicity in their dive computers - just get in and dive. At the same time, other divers want to be able to customize every display and detail in their computer. The A300 satisfies BOTH of those divers, and just about everyone in between.” 

AERIS was founded with a line of unique, feature-rich dive equipment; a legacy that AERIS staff takes very seriously. In coming months, we will be unveiling a series of new products designed specifically to meet the ever-changing demands of today’s diver. The A300 is an excellent example of this commitment, but it’s just the start.  

Let’s take a closer look at the A300:

● The A300 boasts a high resolution Tissue Loading bar graph which allows for at-a-glance feedback that lets you control your dive on the fly and regulate your dynamic conservative factor. The bright Green/Yellow/Red indicators make it easy to monitor your dive. It displays only essential information during the dive in large easy-to-read digits so you know how deep you are and how long you can stay there. 

● The A300 separates itself from the competition with the use of NORM and TECH modes. NORM mode is selected by default as an out-of-the-box solution that provides all the necessary settings and information for divers who just want to get in the water. When switched into TECH mode, the advanced features and fine-tuning become available that will satisfy any experienced diver.

Go here to learn more!

In making this announcement, Bob Hollis, President of AUP said, “As AUP pursues its role as a significant competitor in the diving industry, we believe it can only achieve its corporate goals if each marketing brand contributes equally towards this objective. We believe that Doug’s many years of experience with our company and in the diving industry has prepared him to take on this challenging and demanding role.”

Krause has been part of the AUP family since 1993. He has more than 25 years of experience in the recreational scuba diving industry. Krause has held a variety of positions in the industry including retail management, resort operations, marketing and promotions and product development. He was also highly instrumental in the creation and introduction of Oceanic’s series of highly-acclaimed interactive online training programs.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of AUP and to take on the challenging role of leading the AERIS line,” Krause says. “With the start of the summer dive season already here, we’re hitting the ground running with several new products and marketing programs. Stay tuned – the best is yet to come.” 

The ATMOS offers multiple adjustment and attachment points, allowing customization of the BC specific to the divers needs. The ATMOS is weight-integrated with a combination of dumpable (20 lbs.) and non-dumpable (10 lbs.) weight pockets.

• Large, uniquely shaped rear-inflation bladder - Provides maximum amount of lift
• Wrap-around air lobes on each side allow for an upright position when on the surface
• Integrated Weight System accommodates up to 20 lbs. plus dual 5 lbs. trim weight pouches on the back for improved in-water positioning
• Padded Backplate featuring a carry handle and extended lumbar support to transfer tank weight onto hips, relieving stress on shoulders
• Easily adjustable and replaceable depth compensating cummerbund
• Tank positioning strap
• Three (3) over pressure relief valves optimize buoyancy control
• Stainless Steel pre-bent D-rings prevents fumbling for attachment points
• Dual adjust sternum with dual positioning to evenly distribute weight
• Two D-rings located on pocket panel, one on the front and one near the rear
• Large zippered pockets on both sides
• Left and right pocket knife mount
• Bottom front pocket grommets for retractor mounting
• Elastic utilized to maintain a low-profile when BC is inflated
• Adjustable harness system
• Adjustable quick release buckle shoulder