| Man has always held the fascination of the | | | | Although several designs were used in later years, |
| underwater world. The wish to spend some time | | | | this gear still had the same limitations as the diving |
| in the depths of the seas and oceans had | | | | bell because the diver was restricted in his |
| captured man's attention. This inspired him to | | | | movements. |
| come up with ways and means which will enable | | | | In 1828, John and Charles Deane developed the |
| him to explore the marine world. | | | | first revolutionary diving dress and heavy helmet |
| Many inventors were keen to develop equipment | | | | which originated from helmets used by |
| assisting underwater exploration. Ideas and | | | | firefighters. The helmet rested on the diver's |
| equipment developed during the 1500's leaned | | | | shoulders, held in place by its own weight and |
| towards a diving bell. This equipment was basically | | | | straps to a waist belt. This helmet was connected |
| a bell-shaped apparatus with the bottom open to | | | | to a hose that ran to the surface and supplied the |
| the sea. The first diving bells were large and | | | | diver with constant fresh air. |
| heavy weighted to sink in a vertical position, | | | | An interesting fact in the history of scuba diving is |
| therefore trapping enough air to allow a diver to | | | | that in 1836, the Deanes issued a diver's manual, |
| breathe. | | | | which may be the first of its kind to ever be |
| So let us start with the chronological events on | | | | produced. |
| the history of scuba diving. | | | | Although there were great advancements, the |
| The first recorded reference to an actual practical | | | | equipment developed by these pioneer inventors |
| diving bell was made in 1531. However, it was | | | | were limited in the fact that the diver still had to |
| within the late 1600's that great strides were | | | | be attached to the surface via air hose thus |
| made in this technology. This meant that now | | | | restricting movement. The only way forward was |
| divers were able to spend hours underwater. | | | | for the diver to carry a portable self contained air |
| In 1690, an English astronomer named Edmund | | | | supply. However during the 19th Century, the |
| Halley developed a diving bell in which replenished | | | | cylinders were not strong enough to hold air at |
| air was sent to the divers by sending weighted | | | | high pressure. |
| barrels of air down from the surface. | | | | An important fact in the history of scuba diving is |
| The next evolution in the history of scuba diving | | | | the invention of the first scuba regulator which |
| was the deep sea diving suits, which at that time | | | | was developed by Benoit Rouquayrol. The |
| were referred to as the diving dress. | | | | regulator will later become the main piece of |
| In 1715, an Englishman by the name of John | | | | scuba equipment responsible for regulating the |
| Lethbridge developed what was to be the first | | | | flow of air from the tank to meet the diver's |
| diving dress. This was basically a barrel covered in | | | | breathing and pressure requirements. |
| leather equipped with two arm holes with water | | | | For the full article, visit under the scuba diving |
| tight sleeves and a glass porthole enabling the | | | | section of the site at |
| diver to view underwater. This apparatus was | | | | Copyright (c) 2010 All rights reserved. |
| lowered from a ship just the same as a diving bell. | | | | |