In 1988, HydroFlex president Pete Romano and his partner at the time, Richard Mula, developed the SeaPar series of underwater lights which were used extensively on “The Abyss”. In 1991, the SeaPar 1200W HMI received a Technical Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The Award reads as follows: “The SeaPar 1200w HMI provides safe, portable HMI light fixture which may be used on either wet or dry sets. In underwater applications it may be used to a depth of 240 feet. Its power supply is equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter to insure the safety of personnel.”