Ludovico Mares

Italy

Ludovico Mares (1898–1989) was an inventor and entrepreneur whose innovations helped shape the modern scuba diving industry. Born in Pula in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Mares developed an early fascination with the sea while growing up in a naval port city.

During World War I he served as a naval diver, gaining firsthand experience with underwater operations and salvage work. After the war he began experimenting with diving equipment, constructing one of his earliest masks using rubber tubing and glass lenses. The design significantly improved underwater visibility and quickly became popular among fishermen and early divers.

After relocating to Italy following World War II, Mares founded Mares Sub in 1949. The company introduced innovative fins, spearguns, and breathing equipment that soon became widely used by divers around the world. His inventions and patents helped establish design standards that influenced modern recreational diving equipment.

Today the Mares brand remains one of the most recognized names in dive equipment. Ludovico Mares’ pioneering work helped make underwater exploration safer and more accessible for generations of divers.