The history of scuba diving begins in the 1930s, when Jacques Cousteau, a French engineer, produces the first underwater film. Simone Cousteau and her husband loaded black and white still camera films into a movie camera. The first underwater movie was produced. Emile Gagnan from L'Air Liquide et Cie designs the Aqualung. This is the first commercially viable scuba equipment. The prototype units were tested in 1943 by the Cousteau clan.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a French native, was born in Marseilles. His childhood included snorkeling in warm waters near his home. After graduating from highschool, he chose to join the navy. He was a naval gunnery officer and a master diver during his time in the navy. He was fascinated by the ocean and began diving to explore it. He also developed an underwater camera.
Emile Gagnan
Many of the innovations used in modern SCUBA diving were developed by Emile Gagnan. His work in the 1950s resulted in the Aqualung, a breathing apparatus that allows a diver to breathe in underwater air. This invention made diving safer and easier for everyone.
Henry Fleuss
Henry Fleuss is an innovator in scubadiving history. He invented the self-contained breathing system and many other innovations. His designs were patented by Siebe, Gorman & Co. in 1878. He worked for many companies, including Siebe, Gorman & Co. His invention was revolutionary in that it allowed the diver the freedom to work without the assistance of a pump and a large crew.
Harry Houdini
When you think of scuba diving, you probably think of Harry Houdini. His incredible escapes included one from a box under water! He demonstrated how to escape from a lock, straitjacket and suspended objects. Motion pictures have captured his escape skills.
Mark V diving helmet
Mark V diving gear has a rich history. It was first created for the US Navy, in 1916. It continued to be used until 1984. It is considered the original diving helmet. But, there are still other helmets from the 1820s.
William Beebe
William Beebe’s story about scuba diving goes beyond tales of adventures in the ocean. He was also a scientist and made many dives in the ocean for scientific research. He constructed a marine laboratory in Nonsuch Island, Bermudas to study the underwater world. He developed a diving helmet and breathing apparatus that mimic the behavior of sea animals. Beebe also was the first to make a descent into deep water using a bathysphere. A device that lowers a person to 3 028 feet (923 m) in depth. This record stood for 49 years.