OUR STORY RUNS DEEP
THE HISTORY OF IST
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FOUNDED 1976
Company founded in Taiwan. Siblings Irene, Stanley and Tony Lin join together to form IST. Named after their combined initials, the company symbolized a community effort to work together toward a better future.
When IST was first established, their primary products were windsurfing boards. As more connections to the diving community began to emerge, boundless opportunities within this new market opened up. IST began manufacturing diving boots as an introduction into the scuba diving industry.
IST began releasing a broader range of diving equipment, including masks, snorkels and fins. As a pioneer in the market, they produced great quality at more affordable prices, earning high praise from their new customer base. -
1987
"IST Proline" and the iconic IST dolphin logo were both established and IST continued to broaden their production of diving equipment. In the same year, the California branch was set up, marking their entrance into the U.S. diving market.
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1988
Manufactured IST's first regulator and BCD in the U.S.
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1989
Released the M37 Pegasus for cold-water and commercial diving.
Released the F12 Sea Diver rubber fin.
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1991
Opened a wetsuit manufacturing factory in China.
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1992
Partnered with Sea&Sea to open IST U.K.
Introduced the first sneaker-sole boot to the diving market.
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1992
Opened IST Germany.
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1993
Opened IST Japan.
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1996
Manufactured IST's first dive computer in Finland.
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1997
Manufactured IST's first dry suit in U.K.
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1999
Co-invented the underwater Sonic Seeker in Australia.
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2000
Collaborated with Nature's Wing to introduce the F2 Talaria fin and Pegasus F10 to the market.
Developed and patented the ProEar dive mask.
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2005
Introduced camouflage patterns and the 3-piece wetsuit.
Introduced aluminum-frame mask.
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2008
Opened Dolphin Tech and began producing technical diving equipment.
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2012
Released a broad range of commercial diving equipment under Dolphin Tech.
Developed line of freediving equipment.
Became a U.S. distributor for Submersible System (Spare Air).
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2015
Introduced side-mount BCD under Dolphin Tech.
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2016
Became a U.S. distributor for Riptide BCD line.
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2018
IST now sells to more than 121 countries worldwide.
