When was scuba first invented? Many people will tell you that it was in 1860s. But when did scuba become a reality? Let's take a look at the early scuba equipment. Emile Gagnan, Jacques Cousteau, and other early pioneers have all played important roles in the evolution of scuba diving. Although they helped to open up navigation freedom, who is responsible for its evolution? Who is responsible for the first scuba regulator?
Jacques Cousteau
In the early 1960s, Jacques Cousteau was part of a program called the Conshelf Saturation Dive, which aimed to determine the feasibility of living underwater for extended periods. Five divers took part in the experiments. They were documented in a film called World Without Sun. The goal of ocean exploration has become much more achievable since the advent of scuba gear. Robotic undersea robots now perform this work. Cousteau's documentary won third Academy Award.
Emile Gagnan
Scuba was discovered by Emile Gagnan, an engineer from France who was developing valve designs for a Paris-based company that produced compressed gas. He saw that divers could be at risk of suffering from nitrogen narcosis. This is a condition in which people can become insane and experience extreme pain. Gagnan and Cousteau collaborated to design a machine that would enable people to survive underwater. They understood that the key to survival would be air-pressure regulation.
1860s
Henry A. Fleuss was a London-based diving engineer who invented scuba in the 1860s. Fleuss invented a diving mask with an air spout, which could be filled by compressed air. It also included a bag that could be filled with a caustic potash solution. Divers could breathe in air for as long as three hours thanks to the sealed circuit.
Scuba regulator from the 1860s
The 1960s scuba regulators are a far cry away from today's technology. They were designed and developed by Auguste Denayrouze, Benoit Rouquayrol, and Auguste Denayrouze. Benoit Rouquayrol's demand valve was first used in smoky rooms and poisonous mines, but was later adapted for use in diving. In 1865, the Rouquayrol-Denayrouze apparatus became a mass-produced product and was adopted as a French Navy standard. However, the French diving community did not accept this regulator's invention.
Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus
R. H. Davis was the inventor of Davis Submerged rescue apparatus, or Davis scuba. It included a rubber breathing, buoyancy, and pressure cylinder, which contained 56 litres (at 120 bar) of oxygen. This was connected to a breathing bag and charged by the pressure in water surrounding it. The Davis scuba rig was the first commercially-available rebreather, and it was used for submarine escapes in the First World War. It was also used industrially.
1860s scuba goggles
In the 1860s diving gear wasn't as sophisticated as it is today. Before the invention of scuba glasses, divers relied on wooden or plastic diving helmets. These were unsuitable for the water's pressure. Otis Barton from a wealthy family was one of the two who tried underwater exploration. Barton used a makeshift helmet as a diving helmet to swim around Massachusetts' waters and was weighed down by rocks.
Deane brothers' scuba diving system
In 1829, the Deane brothers began to test their underwater apparatus. The scuba equipment consisted of a helmet with a breathing device. The Deane brothers' system was a successful invention and soon the two brothers had a booming business. Their invention led to the first diving manual, The Method of Using Deane Brothers' Patent Diving Apparatus, which detailed the functions of the apparatus, as well as provided instructions for safety.
1860s scuba reservoir
Benoit Rouquayrol first developed compressed air as a scuba reservoir in the 1860s. Rouquayrol had already invented the "demand regulator" for underground mines and smoke-filled rooms. Auguste Denayrouze applied Rouquayrol’s design to underwater diving in 1864. The principle behind this device is still the same. The modern regulator for scuba diving uses a similar system.