DIVEVOLK SeaLink: Real-Time Internet Access from 100 Feet Below

DÜSSELDORF, Germany – December 29, 2025 – The vast, silent world beneath the waves is on the verge of becoming a lot more connected. DIVEVOLK, a company already recognized for its pioneering underwater technology, has once again captured the industry's attention. Its latest innovation, the SeaLink Underwater Smartphone Data Transmitter, has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2026 Boot Dive Innovation Award, with public voting now underway.

This nomination comes just two years after the company secured the same award in 2024 for its SeaTouch 4 Max underwater touchscreen housing, cementing its reputation as a leader in bridging the gap between our digital lives and the aquatic realm. The SeaLink system, however, promises a leap forward of a different magnitude: providing full, real-time internet access to a standard smartphone at depths of up to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet). This breakthrough could fundamentally reshape everything from casual dive vlogging to critical scientific research and underwater rescue operations.

Bridging the Digital Divide Beneath the Waves

For decades, effective underwater communication has been the "final frontier" of mobile connectivity. Radio waves, the backbone of our surface-based wireless world, are rapidly absorbed by water, rendering them useless beyond a few feet. The industry has long relied on acoustic waves, but this method is plagued by limitations: low bandwidth, significant delays, and susceptibility to environmental interference. These challenges have historically confined real-time data transfer to expensive, specialized equipment used in military and industrial sectors.

The SeaLink system ingeniously bypasses these obstacles with a three-part solution. It begins with a floating central processor on the water's surface, which contains a SIM card and captures standard 4G/5G mobile network signals. This signal is then transmitted through a specialized, 30-meter lightweight data cable designed with a Smart-Lock Retractable Wheel to prevent tangles and manage solo diver use. Finally, an underwater communication terminal, which houses the diver's smartphone in a waterproof case like the SeaTouch 4 Max, receives the data and broadcasts a local 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal.

The result is revolutionary simplicity. A diver's smartphone, safely enclosed in its housing, connects to this Wi-Fi signal and gains full, unrestricted internet access. This allows a user to operate their device, as one industry expert noted, "as if you were on the surface." With a 60-hour battery life and a portable design, the system is engineered for practical field use, breaking down barriers that have long isolated underwater explorers from their digital tools.

A New Era for Underwater Exploration and Content Creation

The most immediate and visible impact of this technology will likely be in the hands of recreational divers, underwater photographers, and content creators. The ability to live stream a dive, conduct a video call from a coral reef, or post photos to social media during a safety stop transforms the diving experience from a solitary activity to a shareable, real-time event.

While existing underwater housings from various manufacturers have enabled high-quality photography and videography by allowing Bluetooth-based camera control, they have kept the smartphone isolated from its primary function: communication. SeaLink shatters this limitation. A vlogger can now interact with their online audience live from the seafloor, answering questions and providing commentary as events unfold. A diver could use an app to instantly identify a mysterious fish or check weather and tide conditions without surfacing.

This capability is being widely hailed as a "game-changer" for underwater storytelling. It moves beyond passive documentation to active, live interaction. For the growing community of underwater explorers who share their passion online, SeaLink offers a tool to create more engaging, immediate, and immersive content than ever before, potentially inspiring a new generation of ocean enthusiasts.

Revolutionizing Professional and Scientific Operations

Beyond the recreational sphere, the SeaLink system holds profound implications for professional, scientific, and public safety sectors. The global market for underwater communication, valued in the billions and projected to grow significantly, has been eagerly awaiting a versatile and accessible solution for real-time data transfer.

For marine biologists and researchers, the technology is transformative. In a recent demonstration, DIVEVOLK partnered with the conservation NGO DiveForLove to live stream coral spawning events in Shenzhen. This allowed scientists worldwide to observe the critical ecological event in real-time, a feat previously impossible with standard gear. The ability to transmit live video and sensor data from underwater drones or diver-held instruments to surface labs or global collaborators dramatically accelerates the pace of research and discovery.

In commercial industries, such as offshore energy and aquaculture, the applications are equally compelling. A commercial diver inspecting underwater infrastructure, like a pipeline or a wind turbine foundation, can now stream live video to an engineering team on shore. This allows for immediate expert consultation, faster decision-making, and enhanced safety, as potential issues can be diagnosed and addressed without delay.

For public safety and rescue teams, the benefits are life-saving. Underwater search and rescue operations can be coordinated with unprecedented efficiency, with divers providing a live video feed to a surface command center. This real-time situational awareness is critical in complex and often dangerous underwater environments, improving the safety of the divers and the effectiveness of the mission.

Innovation with Purpose: Technology Meets Marine Conservation

The significance of DIVEVOLK's work is further amplified by its strategic partnership with Aquatil, an international non-profit focused on underwater education and environmental research. In a testament to this synergy, Aquatil has also been nominated for a 2026 Boot Dive Award, in the Climate category. This dual nomination highlights a powerful narrative: that cutting-edge technology and dedicated conservation efforts are increasingly intertwined.

Aquatil, a founding member of the EU4Ocean platform, works to connect scientists, educators, and the public to promote the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. The organization champions the use of technology to advance environmental protection, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SeaLink directly empowers this mission. By enabling live, high-quality video streams from below the surface, the technology serves as a powerful tool for education and advocacy. It can bring the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems, from coral reefs to kelp forests, into classrooms and living rooms around the world. For citizen science initiatives, it allows volunteers to instantly upload observations and data, contributing to a broader understanding of ocean health. This partnership demonstrates a commitment not just to innovating for its own sake, but to developing tools that serve a greater purpose in protecting our planet's most vital and vulnerable environments. As the public voting for the Boot Dive Award opens, the global diving community has the opportunity to support not only a technological leap forward but also the collaborative spirit that aims to safeguard the future of our oceans.