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Mega Sport Srl was an Italian company based in Leinì (Province of Turin, Piedmont), specializing in the manufacture of diving instruments—primarily analog depth gauges, pressure gauges, and compasses. It represents a typical example of a small Italian private (Srl) enterprise which, between the 1970s and 2000s, became one of Europe’s leading OEM manufacturers of diving pressure instruments.
Foundation and Early History (1976–1980s)
The company was founded in 1976 at Via Galileo Galilei 69/71, 10040 Leinì (TO), Italy. Precise information about its founders is not available in open sources—this was a small-scale operation (approximately 11–15 employees), and no formal public biography has survived. One contact name appearing in early catalogues is Enrico Pinna (possibly a manager or co-owner).
From the outset, Mega Sport focused on mechanical diving instruments: depth gauges (profondimetri), pressure/contents gauges, and compasses. During this period, Italian manufacturers such as Cressi, Mares, and Technisub were rapidly expanding the diving market, and Mega Sport emerged as an important OEM supplier—many well-known brands marketed instruments under their own names that were in fact produced by Mega Sport.
Early models (1970s–early 1980s) were large wrist-mounted depth gauges with a distinctive “vintage” design:
These instruments were highly regarded for their accuracy and durability—many examples over 40 years old remain fully functional.
Product Characteristics and Patents
Mega Sport was distinguished by:
In catalogues from 2011–2014, more modern product lines appear:
The marking “Brevetto” on instrument dials refers to Italian patents relating either to the diaphragm mechanism or to case construction (a common practice among Italian manufacturers of the period). While no specific patent number has been identified in open sources, the company repeatedly referenced patent applications concerning lightweight housings and enhanced sensitivity.
Late Period and Product Expansion (2000–2014)
According to the 2014 catalogue, Mega Sport had, by the final stage of its activity, evolved beyond a manufacturer of individual depth gauges into a full developer and supplier of modular diving instrument systems. Alongside traditional profondimetri, the company offered a wide range of pressure gauges with dual bar/psi scales, rated up to 400 bar, featuring mineral glass and individual calibration.
A significant development was the introduction of modular console systems (single, double, and triple), allowing combinations of pressure gauge, depth gauge, and compass within a unified housing. This reflects a broader shift from standalone instruments to integrated solutions aligned with contemporary diving practice.
The catalogue also includes AZIMUTH compasses and updated SIGMA depth gauges, demonstrating an effort to modernize classical mechanical instruments in terms of readability and ergonomics. Particular emphasis was placed on case engineering: the company promoted newly developed lightweight constructions—“40% lighter than brass”—under international patent application, indicating a clear trajectory toward material innovation and weight reduction without compromising structural integrity.
By the 2010s, Mega Sport had effectively become a comprehensive OEM platform for diving instrumentation, supplying not only individual measuring devices but also fully integrated systems for both professional and recreational equipment.
The company continued production into the early 2010s. As of 2014, a catalogue and the website mega-sport.com were still active (now defunct). Its products were distributed through intermediaries (such as United Sterling) and frequently marketed under other brand names.
Closure of the Company
Mega Sport Srl ultimately ceased operations due to bankruptcy (fallimento). The exact date of the proceedings is not specified in public records, but the company is officially marked as cessata (inactive). The registered address and VAT number (Partita IVA 01729770014) correspond to known records. The bankruptcy occurred after 2014, following the last available catalogues. No successors or continuation of the brand under another name have been identified—an outcome typical of small specialized manufacturers in the era of transition to digital dive computers.
Legacy
Today, Mega Sport survives primarily as a collector’s brand. Vintage depth gauges—especially 50–80 m models with original straps—are actively traded on platforms such as eBay and discussed on specialist forums (ScubaBoard, Reddit, BluTime Scuba History). Collectors value them for their reliability and for their distinctly Italian design language of the 1970s–1980s. BluTime Scuba History has documented several models, including Bravo, Metal, Logo, and White Yellow Band.
Unlike major consumer-facing brands such as Cressi or Mares, Mega Sport remained largely invisible to the end user, operating behind the scenes as a quiet but technically competent OEM manufacturer. Its instruments, often anonymous in origin, became embedded in the broader ecosystem of diving equipment—devices built not to proclaim a name, but to perform reliably under pressure. In this sense, Mega Sport’s legacy is not one of branding, but of presence: a hidden infrastructure of precision that outlived the company itself.
