The world's first underwater jetpack was designed with F1 cars in mind
Published on Jun 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jun 11, 2025 at 1:05 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Have you ever wondered what an underwater jetpack might look like?
Well, wonder no longer – because it is officially here.
CudaJet has unveiled the world’s first underwater jetpack.
And it took direct inspiration from the design of F1 cars.
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The concept of the jetpack isn’t a particularly new one.
It has existed as a concept since around the beginning of the 1950s.
The jetpack was first popularised in the mainstream thanks to the James Bond franchise.
In the 1965 film Thunderball, 007 (played by Sean Connery) uses a jetpack to make his escape.
The jetpack in that film was made by Bell-Textron and was originally intended for the U.S. Army.
It was too dangerous for real-world use, because it could only last for around 20 seconds.
After that, all the fuel was gone, and a long fall would await the person using the jetpack.
Like most technology, jetpack-type creations have advanced a lot in the subsequent decades.
And now, the world’s first underwater jetpack has been released.
CudaJet itself is a company with quite a fascinating origin story.
The story starts in 2018 with British designer Archie O’Brien.
Back then, O’Brien was in his final year of study at Loughborough Design School.
He developed a prototype of the jetpack, which was simply known as the Cuda.
His prototype of the CudaJet focused on F1-inspired aerodynamics and design.
It has since been redesigned and refined with a longer battery life and a lighter build.
In fact, the backpack design weighs just 13.5 kilos, making it extremely wearable.
So, how does this CudaJet underwater jetpack actually work underwater?
The main power unit is a duel-jet-drive powerpack that is attached to a padded harness.
It is this harness that the person wears on their body whilst underwater.
Speed is controlled with a trigger-style remote that allows you to control your speed, as well as monitor the battery level.
The current, updated design allows for 90 minutes of underwater usage on a full charge.
It can take the user down to a maximum, underwater depth of 131 feet, delivering around 88lbs of thrust.
That roughly translates to an underwater speed of around 10 metres per second.
This new, 2025 design starts at around $31,000, and it comes with a two-year warranty.
So, if you plan on doing any underwater exploring soon, the CudaJet underwater jetpack might be the thing for you.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
