Real Stories. Real Lives Saved.

For over 45 years, Spare Air and HEED have been there when it matters most

💚 Your Story Could Save a Life

Have a Spare Air or HEED story to share? We'd love to hear it! Your experience could inspire others to dive safer and be prepared for emergencies. Submit your testimonial below or email us at info@submersiblesystems.com

Note: These testimonials have been lightly edited for clarity and privacy, but the experiences are authentic and unaltered. Names and locations are included with permission.

"On 6/6/1990 I was a crewman aboard an SH-60B Helicopter (BONO 162343) which experienced catastrophic loss of tail rotor thrust & subsequently ditched at sea. Your product, Helicopter Emergency Egress Device (HEED) was instrumental to my safe egress that day. I'm not certain I would be here today if it were not for your device."

— Steven D., San Diego, CA

"I had the distinct luck to be wearing a 'HEED' bottle on the night that my helicopter experienced a material failure and crashed at sea. As with most pilots, I completed all training, but never expected to use your equipment because my aircraft would never fail me! I guess my luck ran out on this night.

My wife and I thank you for your superior product and wish your corporation success in this tough economic economy that still lies ahead.

I have no doubt that without your product this letter would have never been written! God Bless,"

— LCDR James R., San Diego, CA

"The aircraft entered the water while in a near level attitude (right wing low). The PIC inflated the floats as the aircraft rolled inverted to the right. The co-pilot (left seat) egressed without delay. The pilot (right seat) and flight mechanic activated personal HEED bottles located in their survival vests and successfully egressed from the wreckage."

— ASTCM Keith J., Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Program Manager, USCG

"On February 12, 2002 myself and two other divers from my rescue company responded to a single motor vehicle accident that ended in a water rescue and subsequent recovery effort by our dive crew. Without notice the aft most heaving cable broke loose from its turnbuckle and like a pendulum struck my tank just above the valve stem shearing the 1st stage regulator from the tank valve and pinning me against one of the dock pilings between the van.

I managed to wrestle my spare air bottle free. We carry our Spare Air bottles in a piggyback sleeve mounted on our tank closest to our back. Not knowing where my partner was due to disorientation and shear terror of the blow and quick trip through the murky water and no communication possible without my mask in place, I decided to head up in case the second shackle let loose and pinned me to the bottom. Being @ more than 100 feet, I didn't know what my air supply would be like for my assent and I was breathing like a vacuum cleaner, sucking back air like a rookie!

Despite a couple of bruised ribs, stitches and minor concussion, I came though this ordeal relatively unharmed and ALIVE!

I am living proof the little Spare Air bottles we carry are true Heroes. 2 weeks ago we made Spare Air a standard piece of equipment to carry even though the 6 of us have been carrying our own bottles for years. I owe my life to my Spare Air, without it making the accent would have been fatal. It goes to prove that even really big guys (firefighter/rugby player) can get out of a fatal situation with the use of a little Spare Air.

I am here Today because of your product. Thank You From the Bottom of my Heart."

— T.R., Firefighter/Rescue Diver, British Columbia, Canada

"In reference to your report on the SPARE AIR system, we have tested it and find it to be a very good system. Our dive team performs rescues and recoveries in zero visibility where even momentary loss of contact with your dive partner can be disastrous in an emergency, even with constant contact it is extremely difficult to relay messages by touch alone.

We have found that the use of the Spare Air system for each diver would be a great safety factor. The filling systems that attach to the SCUBA bottles are of great help to us in the idea that we can refill the systems on the scene from our own air bottles. When our service obtains some more funding we are anticipating the purchase of more systems. We thank you again for your help and contributions."

— Jeffrey R., Director, Daviess County Search and Rescue Service, Inc.

"I train for the unpredictable; I wear Spare Air for the impossible!!!"

"After a failed attempt to ride inside the tube on a 20 foot wave. I found myself being pushed through the water as if the hand of God were dragging me. I train for this sort of thing. Like a firefighter, ready, yet waiting for something he hopes never happens."

— Manny C., Big Wave Surfer, Jaws Beach Maui, Hawaii

"We had to use two of the Spare Air devises during our last race of the year in Lorian, OH. Our sister boat Team Bandet flipped over in front of us in the last leg of the race. Water conditions were 4-5 feet. My son Scott, and my mechanic Joe Allen dove in and helped pull them from the boat. We then used the Spare Air bottles for Scott to dive back under the boat and turn off the electrical system, which had been pumping 40 psi of fuel into the water causing a very dangerous problem."

— Bob M., Team Believer D-58, Powerboat Racing

"I was recently on a dive vacation in Cozumel and I would like to relay a story to you in recognition of your product, SPARE AIR. I apparently had some type of malfunction in my equipment and it required me to use the SPARE AIR in an emergency ascent. To this day I do not know what happened, but I believe strongly in the SPARE AIR.

I have carried a SPARE AIR with me as standard equipment for two years, but this is the first time I have had to use it in an emergency situation. If I had an Octopus only, I've often wondered what would have happened. When you have only a few seconds time to react because of an out-of-air situation, no questions asked, you should have a SPARE AIR within reach so you don't have to think twice about what you should do."

— Joyce R., Yuba City, CA

"I am writing this letter to thank you for making a product that helped me save a life. We were at approximately 120 feet when my one friend signaled he was low on air. I checked my PSG and noted I had approximately 1500 psi of air left in my cylinder. I proceeded to initiate the low on air procedure, which is sharing air with my Octopus regulator.

I noticed my other diving buddy signaling he was having problems with his air supply. We noticed he had a partial opening of his DIN valve. I now was faced with two problems; the first was a diver with less than 300 psi in his cylinder, and another diver with an intermittent supply of air.

I made a very easy decision, I gave the second diver my primary regulator and I took out my SPARE AIR. We immediately began our ascent at a normal rate of 60 ft. per minute and we were able to make the surface with no problem. I will always dive with my SPARE AIR due to this situation and along with the confidence that I can make a safe ascent from normal sport diving depths."

— Donald E. N., PADI Instructor, Logansport, IN

Why These Stories Matter

Every testimonial represents a life saved, an injury prevented, or a mission accomplished safely. These aren't marketing messages – they're real people who faced real emergencies and survived because they had reliable backup air.

Your story could be next. Dive prepared. Dive safe.

Submit Your Testimonial

Fill out the form below to share your experience. All submissions are reviewed before publishing. We respect your privacy and will only publish testimonials with your permission.

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