Beaver Sports was founded in 1982 by the late Dennis Walker. At the time, Dennis was involved in the flooring and furnishing industry, primarily servicing local government contracts. As government spending cuts led to a decline in that sector, he sought an alternative way to sustain employment for his staff at the small factory located above his carpet shop in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

With a personal passion for water sports, Dennis identified an opportunity in the diving market and began manufacturing wetsuits. From these humble beginnings, he quickly recognised a niche within the SCUBA diving industry, and Beaver soon established itself as a respected global name in diving equipment.

In 1987, Martin Walker became Managing Director. Having been involved in his father’s ventures from a young age, Martin played a key role in developing and transforming Beaver into a high-quality, technically focused brand. A committed diver himself — qualifying as a BSAC Dive Leader and PADI Rescue Diver — Martin combined hands-on industry knowledge with a deep understanding of customer needs. Throughout this period, customer service remained central to the company’s ethos, with a strong focus on supplying high-quality diving equipment backed by exceptional support.

In April 2025, Beaver Sports entered an exciting new chapter when it was acquired by Abaris International. Under the new ownership, the company continues to build on its strong heritage while positioning itself for future growth and innovation within the diving and specialist water sports sectors.

The business now operates under the leadership of Karen Gutteridge, Group General Manager, who is driving the next phase of development, strengthening industry partnerships, and reinforcing Beaver’s long-standing reputation for quality, service, and expertise.