Serenity Dive Opens SVG’s First Hydrostatic Cylinder Testing Facility

Serenity Dive has opened the first hydrostatic cylinder testing facility in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, marking a significant step forward for the country’s diving and marine industries by allowing high-pressure cylinders to be tested locally for the first time.

Located at the Blue Lagoon Hotel & Marina, the new facility removes the long-standing need for dive centres, commercial operators and individual cylinder owners to send tanks overseas for mandatory hydrostatic testing.

Hydrostatic testing is a critical safety procedure used to confirm the structural integrity of high-pressure cylinders. Most scuba cylinders require testing every five years, depending on local regulations and cylinder specifications, ensuring they remain safe for continued use.

Until now, operators in St. Vincent & the Grenadines faced the added expense, logistical complexity and lengthy turnaround times associated with shipping cylinders abroad for inspection. The new facility is expected to reduce costs, shorten downtime and improve access to an essential safety service.

Serenity Dive owner Vaughn Martin described the project as an important milestone for the country’s diving community.

“This facility represents a major advancement for diving and marine safety in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Martin said. “By providing hydrostatic testing locally, we are making it easier and more affordable for operators to maintain their equipment to recognised safety standards.”

The facility is designed to serve not only recreational dive centres but also commercial marine operators, fishermen, fire services and any organisation that relies on high-pressure cylinders.

The project was made possible through financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), helping to strengthen local marine infrastructure while reducing reliance on overseas testing services.

For the country’s growing dive tourism sector, the new capability offers practical benefits by helping operators keep equipment in service with less disruption while maintaining internationally recognised safety practices.

The introduction of local hydrostatic testing also supports broader efforts to improve resilience within the marine industry, providing a critical service that had previously been unavailable anywhere in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.