Hollis — Technical Diving Equipment, Built by a Technical Diver

Bob Hollis was twenty years old in the 1950s, when diving as a sport was barely defined, and he was already building his own equipment to push past what was commercially available. That instinct — build what doesn't exist yet — carried him through founding American Underwater Products in 1972, which became Oceanic, and decades later into launching Hollis as a dedicated technical diving brand. Where Oceanic built out a broad recreational diving line, Hollis was conceived specifically for the tech, cave, and wreck diving community: backplates and wings, harnesses, sidemount systems, regulators engineered for extreme environments, and instrumentation built to survive genuinely demanding dive profiles.

That technical-first design philosophy still defines Hollis today. The brand's products are conceived, engineered, and tested by people who actually dive the configurations they're building — sidemount rigs tested in real cave systems, regulators validated under ice, drysuits built for expedition-grade exposure. Hollis gear is built for technical and cave divers first, but much of the lineup — masks, fins, single-tank BCDs, and recreational-friendly regulators — is equally suited to advancing recreational divers who want technical-grade durability without committing to a full technical configuration.

At DiveCatalog.com, we carry the current Hollis lineup as an authorized dealer: BCDs and backplate/wing systems, drysuits, wetsuits, regulators, masks, fins, and the full range of technical diving accessories.

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The Hollis Product Range

BCDs and Backplate/Wing Systems

Hollis's buoyancy systems span from recreational back-inflate BCDs through full modular technical wing systems. The HD-200 is a heavy-duty back-inflate BCD built for durability. The LTS (Light Travel System) is purpose-built for traveling divers who need to manage baggage weight without sacrificing capability. On the technical side, the HTS 2 (Harness Tech System), Elite 2 harness, and modular ST and DT wing systems (available in multiple lift capacities) let divers configure single-tank, doubles, or travel-optimized rigs around a common harness platform. For sidemount diving, the SMS 75 and SMS Katana 2 represent Hollis's purpose-built sidemount systems, with the Katana developed in collaboration with cave explorer Edd Sorenson.

→ Browse Hollis BCDs

Drysuits

The DX-300X is Hollis's technical expedition-grade drysuit, built for serious cold-water and overhead-environment diving, available with 5mm neoprene socks. The Neotek line bridges wetsuit and drysuit territory with semi-dry construction in multiple thicknesses, including an 8/7/6mm hooded coldwater configuration. Hollis's AUG 450 fleece undergarments (top and bottom, men's and women's) complete a drysuit thermal system.

→ Browse Hollis Drysuits

Wetsuits

The Neotek wetsuit line includes the 4/3 unisex configuration for warmer, recreational-leaning conditions and the V2 semi-dry for divers who want noticeably better thermal performance than a standard wetsuit without moving to a full drysuit.

→ Browse Hollis Wetsuits

Regulators

Hollis regulators carry the brand's technical diving DNA directly — "every feature and detail provides the confidence of decades of manufacturing life support systems," as Hollis puts it. The lineup spans entry first stages (DC1, DC3, DCX, DC7) through second stages built for serious conditions, including the distinctive 500SE side-breathing second stage that can be used from the left or right side and even upside down. The HO2 is Hollis's oxygen-clean first stage, purpose-built for nitrox and technical gas configurations. Full service kits are available for every major first and second stage.

→ Browse Hollis Regulators

Masks

The M-1 is Hollis's single-lens, low-volume mask, a long-running favorite particularly popular in Australia. The M3 dual-lens and M4 frameless low-volume masks round out the standard lineup, while the MOD-1 is a modular full-face diving mask for technical and commercial-style configurations.

→ Browse Hollis Masks

Fins

The F1 heavy-duty open-heel fin is one of Hollis's most iconic products — known for power, durability, and excellent buoyancy characteristics, and a long-standing choice among wreck and cave divers. The F1 LT is a vented-blade variant for reduced kick effort.

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Who Is Hollis For?

Diver Type	Recommended Hollis Gear	Key Reason
Recreational divers wanting technical-grade durability	HD-200 BCD, M-1 mask, F1 fins, 200LX regulator	Built to technical-diving standards but fully usable for recreational diving
Technical and cave divers	HTS 2 / Elite 2 harness, ST or DT wing system, 500SE regulator	Modular, configurable systems purpose-built for overhead environments
Sidemount divers	SMS 75 or SMS Katana 2	Purpose-built sidemount systems, including cave-explorer-developed Katana
Expedition and serious cold-water divers	DX-300X drysuit + AUG 450 undergarments	Expedition-grade construction for genuinely demanding cold-water diving
Traveling divers	LTS Light Travel System BCD	Purpose-built to minimize travel weight without sacrificing capability

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Why Buy Hollis from DiveCatalog.com?

• Authorized Hollis dealer — genuine products, full manufacturer warranty
• Full technical diving range — BCDs, drysuits, wetsuits, regulators, masks, fins, and accessories
• Expert configuration advice — our team can help you build the right technical or recreational setup
• Fast shipping — in-stock items ship within one business day
• Financing available — for premium drysuits and technical wing systems
• Rewards program — earn points on every purchase

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Frequently Asked Questions — Hollis

Who founded Hollis and when?

Hollis was founded by Bob Hollis, who began building his own diving equipment in the 1950s as the sport was still in its infancy. He founded American Underwater Products (which became Oceanic) in 1972, and Hollis emerged as a dedicated technical diving brand under the same parent company — now part of Huish Outdoors.

Is Hollis only for technical divers?

No. While Hollis's design philosophy and most demanding products (sidemount systems, modular wing rigs, expedition drysuits) are built for technical diving, much of the lineup — masks, fins, recreational back-inflate BCDs, and many regulators — works equally well for advancing recreational divers who want technical-grade durability and engineering.

What is the 500SE regulator known for?

The 500SE is a side-breathing second stage that can be used from the left or right side of the mouth, and even upside down — a configuration valued by technical and sidemount divers for its flexibility in different gas-routing setups.

What is the difference between the SMS 75 and SMS Katana 2?

Both are purpose-built sidemount systems. The Katana 2 was developed in collaboration with cave explorer Edd Sorenson and uses a distinctive Quick Fit System; the SMS 75 is Hollis's lighter sidemount option suited to travel and warmer-water sidemount diving with smaller cylinders.

What is the F1 fin known for?

The F1 heavy-duty open-heel fin is one of Hollis's most recognized products, valued by wreck and cave divers for its power, durability, and buoyancy characteristics. The F1 LT is a vented-blade variant designed to reduce kick effort while maintaining propulsion.

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Browse the full Hollis collection above, or navigate to a specific category — BCDs, drysuits, wetsuits, regulators, or masks. Reach out if you'd like help configuring a technical or recreational Hollis setup.