ABOUT KME DIVING SUITS, INC.
Jim Knannlein, President and founder of KME Diving Suits, Inc. worked as a commercial diver for over 20 years,
using all types of gear from SCUBA to Hard Hat.
In 1965 Knannlein Marine Enterprises, d.b.a. KME was registered as a business in the State of Washington.
At this time Jim began to do light diving maintenance work on weekends for the marina across the street from
his home, while working full time in the sign and advertising industry.
In 1967 Highline Community College began a commercial diving and engineering program and Jim enrolled.
The diving classes were held next to the marina across the street. Jim attended the two year program while
working full time at night and doing diving jobs on the weekends. At the end of two years, Jim attained a
Undersea Technician commercial diving certificate and an Associate Science degree with Honors. After
graduating, Jim began a full time career as a commercial diver, starting with IUC in New York.
Between diving jobs, Jim began to produce commercial diving equipment, such as harnesses, knives, heavy
weight belts, and designing and building a full face diving mask with separate head protector, working in his
small home shop.
In February of 1984 Jim worked with a small drysuit manufacturer, named Dry Diving Systems, to develop a
specialized heavy gear type commercial drysuit modeled after the "Yokohama" deep sea dress and designed to
be used with lightweight masks and air hats. DDS manufactured these drysuits exclusively for KME to sell to
fellow commercial divers. They were an instant success.
In the fall of 1984, DDS made the decision to stop manufacturing diving suits and concentrate on its growing
fishing wader business, as "there are 50 fishermen for each diver". They accepted an offer from KME to
purchase the entire drysuit production unit.
In 1985, KME (short for Knannlein Marine Enterprises) was incorporated as "KME Diving Suits, Inc."
Since that time, the KME Drysuit Line of products has grown from two drysuit models to eighteen distinct
models, with many variations, options, and accessories to go with them. As requests for custom "soft" diving
equipment began to come in to KME, they were developed many into the KME line of commercial diving
products that are now available.
Shortly after starting business, KME was requested to manufacture a private label line of customized fishing
waders.
KME soon added specialized diving drysuits and other equipment for Professional Rescue diving organizations.
Shortly thereafter, military drysuits and other equipment was added to the KME product line.
At the same time, KME began to do drysuit and wader repairs to both our own products and all others in order
to grade the KME drysuits against the other brands on the market. The KME repair department now takes up
half of our facility.
As KME expanded to larger quarters, more equipment was added, with custom sewing and other types of
manufacturing operations added. KME now makes products ranging from mouse pads to automotive after-
market parts.
At KME, we strive to manufacture the best diving equipment and neoprene drysuits available in the world.
We use the best grade of American made materials whenever possible. Quality is everyone of the KME crew's
first priority.