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Early Scuba Devices
Home » Scuba » History of Scuba Diving » Early Scuba DevicesThe question remained - how could divers stay underwater longer? The first authentic self-contained underwater breathing apparatus was documented by Leonard da Vinci in the 16th century. Da Vinci’s free-standing system included an air supply and a means of buoyancy control, but it is unclear if it was ever manufactured. Nevertheless, it was definitely the precursor to Scuba as we know it.
More drawings were discovered from the 17th century by Italian Giovanni Borelli. This time, the diving apparatus depicted was a giant bag that used chemicals to clean the exhaled air attached to a boiled leather helmet by a pipe. His drawings also depicted frog-like feet that are believed to be the first swim fins.
In the 18th century, British engineer John Smeaton invented an air pump that connected a hose to a barrel to the surface. This invention allowed air to be pumped to the diver. Frenchman Sieur Freminet invented a re-breathing device the following year that recycled exhaled air from inside this barrel. However, Sieur died from the lack of oxygen after 20 minutes of diving with this device, making it obvious that he did not understand the basics of respiration.
The dive suit and helmet continued to evolve into the 19th century. Englishman William James created the first practical dive suit in 1825 that consisted of weighted tanks of compressed air formed into a belt, a full watertight suit and a copper helmet. However, this apparatus allowed for dives that could last only seven minutes. A few years later Frenchman Lemaire d’ Augerville patented another belt that allowed divers to hover underwater through a “buoyancy compensator.”
Although Scuba during this time period was used for commercial purposes like boat and bridge building, the rest of the world was introduced to Scuba through “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” written by Jules Vern in 1869. That same year construction on the Brooklyn Bridge began and construction workers were held underwater in sealed construction capsules. Workers began complaining of painful, cramped joints and “caisson disease” was brought to attention. This condition was nicknamed “the bends” since their limbs actually appeared bent. Caisson disease was the result of the formation of nitrogen gas bubbles in the construction workers’ bloodstreams, discrediting the use of this diving method.
It became clear that a method of diving that slowly delivered decompressed air was a necessity. The commercial dive industry was revolutionized in 1912 through the creation of a self-reliant dive system that combined a helmet with a backpack containing a mixture of compressed air and oxygen. By 1926, the compressed air was carried in tanks that were carried on the diver’s back, the patented invention of a French Navy officer Yves le Prieur. The compressed air in his apparatus supplied air to a full-face mask that delivered a non-stop air flow. It didn’t take long for models that could control the air flow through on/off valves to be created. At this time, the evolution of Scuba equipment started gaining speed and the formation of the first dive club, Club of Divers and Underwater Life, was formed in 1936.
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