The History of Scuba diving history from a diving bell developed by Guglielmo de Loreno in 1535 up to John Bennett's dive in the Philippines to amazing 308 meter in 2001 and much more... Humans have been diving since man was required to collect food from the sea. The need for air and protection under water was obvious. Let us find out how mankind conquered the sea in the quest to discover the beauty of the under water world. In 1535 a diving bell was developed byGulielmo de Loreno. In 1650 Guericke developed the first air pump in 1667 Robert Boyle observes the decompression sickness or “the bends”. After decompression of a snake he noticed gas bubbles in the eyes of a snake In 1691 Another diving bell a weighted barrels, connected with an air pipe to the surface, was patented by Edmund Halley. In 1715 John Lethbridge built an underwater cylinder that was supplied via an air pipe from the surface with compressed air. To prevent the water from entering the cylinder, greased leather connections were integrated at the cylinder for the operators arms. In 1776 The first submarine was used for a military attack. In 1826 Charles Anthony and John Deane patented a helmet for fire fighters. This helmet was used for diving too. This first version was not fitted to the diving suit. The helmet was attached to the body of the diver with straps and air was supplied from the surface. In 1837 Augustus Siebe sealed the diving helmet of the Deane brothers' to a watertight diving suit and became the standard for many dive expeditions. In 1843 The Royal Navy established the first diving school. In 1865 An underwater breathing apparatus was developed and patented by BenoitRouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouse. A steel tank filled with compressed air was In 1912 The U.S. Navy tested decompression tables published by John Scott Haldane, Arthur E. Boycott and Guybon C. Damant. was connected to a valve and a mouth-piece. The tank was strapped to the divers back and the diver was tethered to the surface by a hose that pumped fresh air into the low pressure tank. The diver was able to disconnect the tether and to dive with the tank on his back for a few minutes. In 1877 The first workable, self-contained diving rig that used compressed oxygen was developed by Henry A. Fleuss. In 1893 Louis Boutan invented the first underwater camera. In 1908 Detailed studies on the cause and symptoms on decompression thickness were published by John Scott Haldane, Arthur E. Boycott and Guybon C. Damant. In 1911 Draeger of Germany introduces an oxygen re-breather. In 1912 The U.S. Navy tested decompression tables published by John Scott Haldane, Arthur E. Boycott and Guybon C. Damant. In 1917 The Mark V Diving Helmet was introduced by the U.S. Bureau of Construction & Repair. The Mark V Diving Helmet was used for most salvage work during World War II and became the standard U.S. Navy Diving equipment. In 1923 W. H. Longley became famous for the first underwater color photos. In 1924 The U.S. Navy and Bureau of Mines conduct first helium-oxygen experimental dives. In 1925 A very successful self-contained underwater breathing unit is introduced by Yves Le Prieur. In 1930 A bathysphere attached to a barge by a steel cable to the mother ship has been used for William Beebe descended to 435 meter. In 1930 Rubber goggles with glass lenses are developed by Guy Gilpatric. Soon face masks and snorkels were in common use. In 1933 Yves Le Prieur develops a demand valve with a high pressure air tank. In this way the diver  became independent from hose connections to the surface. In 1933 Swim fins are patented by Louisde Corlieu in France. In 1934 Another descent to 924 meter in a bathysphere  was undertaken by William Beebe and Otis Barton. In 1935 Louis de Corlieu designed a very popular fin for divers. In 1941 During World War II, closed circuit scuba equipment are used by Italian divers to place explosives under British naval and merchant marine ships. In 1942 Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan redesigned a car regulator that would automatically provide compressed air to a diver on his slightest intake of breath. In 1943 The Aqua Lung was born. Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan designed and tested the first Aqua-Lung. This device is a fundamental improvement on air supply for divers.  In 1947 A 94 meter dive record in the Mediterranean Sea was made by Dumas equipped with an Aqua Lung regulator. 1948 In California Otis Barton descended to a depth of 1372 meter in a modified bathysphere to.  In 1948 The first Aqua Lung regulators were imported to the USA and the diving community quickly adopted this new, convenient device. In 1950 A completely self-contained new type of vessel called the bathyscaphe was designed by August Picard and his son Jacques to go deeper than any bathysphere. In 1951 The Reserve Valve, later commonly known as "J" valve was developed. In 1951 Hans Hass published "Diving as Adventure" In 1952 "Silent World" was released by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Frédéric Dumas, and James Dugan. 1953 "Underwater Safety" containing important basics on diving safety, was published by E. R. Cross. In 1954 The National Cooperation in Aquatics published the "Science of Skin and Scuba Diving" and it becomes the main textbook for diver education. In 1954 The television program Kingdom of the Sea starring Zale Parry is aired in the US. That same year Parry broke the depth record by diving to 64 meter near Catalina, CA. Her record attracted many female to scuba diving. In 1955 The first formal instructor certification program was created by Al Tillman and Bev Morgan. In 1956 At the University of California the first wetsuit is introduced by scientists and the red and white "Divers Down" flag was introduced by Ted Nixon. In 1958 Sherwood Manufacturing announce the piston regulator. In 1959 YMCA organized the first nationally scuba diver certification program and the Underwater Society of America was formed. In 1960 Jacques Picard and Don Walsh descended to 10921 meter in the bathyscaphe "Trieste". In 1960 Al Tillman and Neal Hess create the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). In 1961 The National Association of Skin Diving Schools (NASDS) was founded by John Gaffney. In 1962 A number of experiments were conducted whereby people lived in underwater habitats. In 1963 In the "Man in the Sea" project Ed Link spends 24 hours at 61 meter. In 1966 The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) was founded by John Cronin and Ralph Ericson.  In 1968 A dive to 133 meter, using compressed air, was carried out by John J. Gruener and R. Neal Watson. In 1970 Bob Clark founded Scuba Schools International (SSI).  In 1971 Scubapro introduces the Stabilization Jacket. In 1980 Divers Alert Network (DAN) was founded at Duke University to promote safe diving.  In 1981 A dive record to 686 meter was made at the Duke Medical Center decompression chamber.  In 1983 The first commercially available dive computer, the Orca Edge, was introduced. In 1985 The wreck of the Titanic was found. In 1990 Further improvements and developments are taking place and find it's way into the scuba diving sport. The use of mixed gases, like Oxygen and Helium, full face masks, underwater voice communication, propulsion systems, computer, etc. became more common in the 1990s. In 1994 Bret Gilliam and Mitch Skaggs formed Technical Diving International (TDI). In 1998 Scuba Diving International (SDI) was created. In 1999 Chuck Driver and John Bennett descend to 200 meter. The deepest oceanic dive ever completed. The same year Barte Vestor set a challenging 225 meter mark. In 2001 John Bennett breaks his own world record with a dive to amazing 308 meter.  In 2010 Scuba Educators International (SEI) was founded by Tom Leaird he is known all over the world and he wrote 5 books are about scuba diving and he owns his own scuba shop as well and. in December 31st 2009 Ymca cancelled there scuba program  The first commercially successful scuba sets were the Aqualung open-circuit units developed by Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, in which compressed gas (usually air) is inhaled from a tank and then exhaled into the water, and the descendants of these systems are still the most popular units today. The open circuit systems were developed after Cousteau had a number of incidents of oxygen toxicity using a rebreather system, in which exhaled air is reprocessed to remove carbon dioxide. Modern versions of rebreather systems (both semi-closed circuit and closed circuit) are still available today, and form the second main type of scuba unit, most commonly used for technical diving, such as deep diving. The history of scuba diving is very interesting. Many civilizations throughout time have engaged in breath-hold diving, also known as free-diving. The evidence of early free-diving is the finding of sea items found on land and ancient pictures of divers. These civilizations used free-diving to spearfish and also in competitions. The Ancient Greeks are known free-divers. They used free-diving to hunt for sponges and also in their military. Some of the early attempts in the history of scuba diving to dive with the use of air include snorkeling with hollow reeds, using air-filled bags and diving bells. Diving bells are watertight chambers on cables. The diving bell is designed to remain full of air as it is pushed under water, allowing a few divers to be transported. These methods were not very efficient, however, and did not nearly resemble scuba diving as we know it today. The reeds did not allow divers to go deep into the water and air-filled bags soon filled with carbon-monoxide as the air was exhaled. Diving bells did not allow the divers much mobility. The first diving suits were used in France and England. They were made of leather and air was pumped into them from the surface with manual pumps. Once the discovery was made to use metal to make helmets, these suits were able to stand greater pressure. With air manually pumped into these helmets, divers were able to enter deeper into the ocean and the history of scuba diving was furtheredIt wasn't until the 19th century that the research was done to invent modern scuba diving as we know it today. Paul Bert from France and John Scott Haldane from Scotland, conducted scientific research on water pressure and our bodies limits regarding safe compressed air diving. At the same time, new technologies allowed for the development of air pumps, scuba regulators and other equipment. Scuba diving and its history were becoming more known. Throughout the 20th century, inventions in scuba equipment improved. Swim fins, masks and other scuba gear became available. In the 1950's the public began to take interest in scuba diving. Scuba gear shops began to open up and the first wet suit was introduced. Popular movies about diving and ships, including Titanic in 1997, continue to interest new divers and inspire veterans of the history-filled and adventurous sport of scuba diving. The first diving suit was hooked up to the surface for air then later they evolved of the the years and  the same with the fins now you have the choose.  Between open heal fins and closed healed fins aka the regular type of fins and the military uses scuba diving to do operations in the ocean and the United States Coast Guard uses divers for search and rescue operations.

 

Aqualung Scuba Gear

 

 Modern scuba diving gear consists of one or more gas tanks strapped to the divers back, connected to an air hose and an invention called the demand regulator. The demand regulator controls the flow of air, so that the air pressure within the diver's lungs equals the pressure of the water.

 

Early Diving Gear

 

Ancient swimmers used cut hollow reeds to breathe air, the first rudimentary snorkel used to enhance our abilities underwater. Around 1300, Persian divers were making rudimentary eye goggles from the thinly sliced and polished shells of tortoises. By the 16th century, wooden barrels were used as primitive diving bells, and for the first time divers could travel underwater with more than one breath of air, but not much more than one.

 

More Than One Breath

 

In 1771, British engineer, John Smeaton invented the air pump. A hose was connected

 

between the air pump and the diving barrel, allowing air to be pumped to the diver. In 1772, Frenchmen, Sieur Freminet invented a rebreathing device that recycled the exhaled air from inside of the barrel, this was the first self-contained air device. Freminet's invention was a poor one, the inventor died from lack of oxygen after being in his own device for twenty minutes.

 

In 1825, English inventor, William James designed another self-contained breather, a cylindrical iron "belt" attached to a copper helmet. The belt held about 450 psi of air, enough for a seven-minute dive. In 1876, Englishmen, Henry Fleuss invented a closed circuit, oxygen rebreather. His invention was originally intended to be used in the repair of an iron door of a flooded ship's chamber. Fleuss then decided to use his invention for a thirty-foot deep dive underwater. He died from the pure oxygen; oxygen is toxic to humans under pressure.

 

Rigid Diving Suits

 

In 1873, Benoît Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze built a new piece of equipment a rigid diving suit with a safer air supply, however it weighed about 200 pounds.

 

Houdini Suit - 1921

 

Famous magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini (born Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary in 1874) was also an inventor. Harry Houdini astonished audiences by escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and locked boxes, often doing so underwater.

 

Houdini's invention for a diver's suit permitted divers, in case of danger, to quickly divest themselves of the suit while submerged and to safely escape and reach the surface of the water.

 

Jacques Cousteau & Emile Gagnan

 

Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau invented the modern demand regulator and an improved autonomous diving suit. In 1942, redesigned a car regulator and invented a demand regulator that would automatically fresh air when a diver breathed. A year later in 1943, Cousteau and Gagnan began selling Aqua-Lung .

HISTORY OF SCUBA DIVING IN THE UNITED STATES

Shortly following World War II, a wide interest in skin and scuba diving developed in the United States.  Small independent groups of divers sprang up in organized clubs all over the country.  In 1954, a group of YMCA, Red Cross, and National Academy of Sciences experts encouraged the Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics (CNCA) to take a look at the safety aspect of this engaging and rapidly growing activity. 

Material was outlined with a view toward setting up a course inclusive enough to produce capable performance in those who elect to participate in this recreational activity.  Through the winter of 1954-1955 a test course was directed by Bernard E. Empleton using this outline. 

The material used in the course was then published as a textbook in 1957 under the title, "The Science of Skin and Scuba Diving".  This text became "The New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving" in the second edition and ultimately went through six editions used by many agencies for over 15 years.

The YMCA, through Mr. Empleton, then developed its own course of instruction and in 1959 adopted its own program and certified the first YMCA Scuba diving instructors.  This program was the first nationally organized course in the field. 

In 1972, the National Board of YMCAs to hired a full-time scuba director and established a national scuba headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. 

In 1976, the YMCA SCUBA Underwater Activities Program was established.  This National Center for Underwater Activities was dedicated February 18, 1977 and the Center provided administrative and technical support while advancing the area of continuing education for recreational skin and scuba divers.  The Center also conducted a sophisticated program of research and development and operated an underwater college for divers and those from other agencies including the U.S. Army Special Forces and the U.S. Corps of Engineers divers.  Scuba instructors from all over the country participated heavily in the program.

The YMCA SCUBA Program recognized the need for a lifesaving course designed for scuba divers.  In late 1977, a committee was convened to consolidate the technology for Scuba Lifesaving and Accident Management (SLAM) into a practical and concise package.  The first book of this type in the scuba industry was published in November, 1978 through the combined efforts of several agencies. 

In early 1980, the YMCA SCUBA Program achieved a unique status when the World Underwater Federation (CMAS - Confederation Mondiale Des Activities Subaquatiques) granted equivalency to YMCA SCUBA instructors and divers.  This distinction positioned the YMCA as part of the world's diving organization composed of some 12,000 diving clubs, 65 National Federations, and 3.5 million divers.

In mid-1985, the YMCA became part of a national committee to develop Instructional Standards and Minimum Course Content for Entry-level SCUBA Certification.  On September 1, 1986, the standards were finalized and approved by the major United States certification agencies.  YMCA SCUBA became an active member of the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) which is the secretariat to the ANSI SCUBA Instructional Standards. 

As the YMCA program approached its 50th year, YMCA of the USA made a decision to sunset the program, thus ending the involvement of YMCA in scuba. 

After the YMCA announcement, a group of former YMCA Scuba instructors led by Tom Leaird, made a decision to begin a new agency with no connection to the YMCA.  The group organized a new agency, Scuba Educators International, to continue the tradition of excellence.