A Freediving Float Ball That Even Its Designer Wants to Own — Waterman Freediving Buoy

Waterman Freediving is led by 廖宏偉, a product designer with over 10 years of experience and a PADI (certification agency) freediving instructor trainer.

As someone deeply passionate about both freediving and design, he could never find a float ball on the market that truly suited him — and so the design journey for the buoy began.

For freedivers, a float ball is an essential piece of gear. It serves as a stable platform and provides functions related to freediving such as instruction, rest, carrying equipment, and safety signaling.

The Birth of the Buoy — How It All Started!

Waterman Freediving spent a full year discussing countless possibilities for the float ball. Just about every wild idea imaginable was on the table — short of making it fly.

Once the design was confirmed, we ran into major challenges during the prototyping process. We were fortunate enough, however, to find a manufacturer willing to produce prototypes and take the product into production.

The very first float ball was red and white, and had no outer mesh pocket. Through repeated rounds of testing, we refined the design one detail at a time — functionality, color, and everything in between. A year later, we finalized the current version of the buoy.

Design philosophy: lightweight, portable, multi-functional, durable, and stylish.

Waterman Freediving Buoy — Key Features

Weight: A compact 1.47 kg — light enough for a woman to carry with one hand effortlessly.

Mouth-inflation design for travel convenience: Traditional mouth-inflation float balls often suffer from difficulty inflating and air leaks. We redesigned the inflation valve as a large-diameter one-way air inlet, allowing the float to be inflated quickly by mouth. A quick-release deflation valve is still included for fast pack-up.

Multi-functionality: Serves as both a float ball and an equipment bag, so you don't have to haul multiple bags when heading out.

Backpack strap design: Dual shoulder straps distribute weight evenly for maximum comfort. The dual straps also serve a carrying function in the water — getting in and out of the ocean becomes a breeze. No more worrying about dragging and tearing the float ball, or straining your shoulders.

Durable and abrasion-resistant: BCD bladder materials are used for the float's air chamber, providing excellent abrasion resistance and durability. The handles are stitched with industrial-grade thread using box stitching, further reinforced with Bartack stitching for added load-bearing strength. Plastic resin zippers significantly reduce the aging issues associated with metal zippers.

Thoughtful mesh pocket: Stores valuable camera gear or small items that are easy to lose. No more fishing around blindly inside the float ball.

Gear and lifestyle object in one: Available in three colorways — black, white, and fluorescent — aligned with contemporary trends and the colors favored by leading sportswear brands in recent years. Easy to style, easy to love; the buoy is designed to be your companion beyond just the ocean.

**As for visibility at sea, drone footage actually reveals that black is the most visible of all three colors!!**

Dive flag and high-pitch whistle: Maritime regulations require a dive flag to be raised to alert passing vessels. We've included one — even though you almost never see anyone use it, it's something that should always be displayed at sea. The high-pitch whistle serves as an emergency distress signal.

After everything we've shared, we hope this design truly resonates with ocean lovers and fits seamlessly into their everyday lives. Under normal use, the buoy is built to be your companion for at least 3 years. The inner bladder is also marked with a batch number, so that in the event of any anomaly, we can trace the batch and materials immediately.

A great designer cares not just about aesthetics, but also about durability. A product that lasts longer is, in itself, an act of caring for the environment and our planet.

Here are a few ways to purchase or check out the buoy in person:

1. Waterman Freediving physical store: No. 41, Lane 165, Section 1, Xinsheng South Road, Da'an District, Taipei City

2. 海人選品 Online Shop ⟸ Click here to visit

3. 潛水貨倉 (Dive Warehouse): B1, No. 20, Alley 1, Lane 768, Section 4, Bade Road, Taipei City

And great news for those in the north — you can also rent the buoy at "揪潛水"!!!

揪潛水: No. 43-2, Lane 369, Beining Road, Keelung City

揪潛水 Facebook Page ⟸ Book a rental trial now

Everyone is welcome to rent one — at a fair price — and experience the buoy for yourself.

Retail price: NT$4,980

Related links:

• Waterman Freediving

• 揪潛水 Fan Page

• Being a Respectful Freediver — Notes on Setting Up a Bottom Weight for Your Float Ball