postheadericon A Brief History of Scuba Diving

Scuba divingScuba. The word conjures up images of divers slowly weaving their way amongst stunning coral reefs as unique fish swim by, trails of bubbles drifting off behind them.  Scuba or scuba diving has entered the vernacular to describe any self-contained tools that enables one to breath and stay underwater for extended periods of time. However the word SCUBA was initially an Acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Respiration Equipment, and was utilized specifically to the gear used by US navy divers, often known as frogman, developed during WWII by scientist and engineer Dr. Christian Lambertsen. Across the same time the man most associated with Scuba diving and underwater adventure Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan modified an car regulator and invented the on-demand underwater breathing regulator that became often called the "Aqualung" and set the standard for contemporary Scuba diving equipment.

Whereas all fashionable Scuba gear uses the same ideas and designs of the first rigs invented by Cousteau and Lambertson within the 'forty's - basically tanks of fuel strapped to the divers back and some type of on-demand regulator - man's want to swim like a fish and have to discover the underwater world goes again a lot further then that. Individuals have been "free diving" or simply staying under water for so long as they could maintain their breath for centuries.  A easy reed snorkel was added most likely about 100 AD. Within the 1300's Persian divers had been utilizing what appeared very very like modern goggles made out of polished tortoise shells. The first primitive "diving bells" principally inverted barrels started making appearances across the 16th century and for the primary time divers were in a position to keep underneath for longer than only a sustained breath of air. But not for an excessive amount of longer; that did not occur until British engineer John Smeaton invented a pump that would pump air all the way down to the diver from the surface. 

The primary real "self contained rebreather" soon adopted, when in 1772 Frenchman Sieur Freminet invented a device that recycled the air throughout the diving bell, but the invention was removed from good, in truth like many pioneers Freminet gave his life succumbing to lack of oxygen after being on the device for less than 20 minutes. Nonetheless he proved that self-contained underwater respiratory was possible. Many improvements, triumphs and tragedies followed - most notably were the developments of the acquainted "deep sea" diving helmets and suits, which opened a whole new world of underwater exploration, building, industrial salvage and warfare. Nevertheless these fits while becoming protected and sensible still required the diver to be tethered to a surface air supply. In 1865 the forerunner of what would turn out to be often known as SCUBA gear was tested and patented by Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouse. The system consisted of a horizontal steel tank of compressed air worn on a diver's again, connected to a valve and a mouthpiece.  As with conventional diving fits of the time, the diver was nonetheless related to the surface by a hose that pumped fresh air into the tank, however he was able to disconnect from the tether and dive with just the tank on his again like a contemporary scuba diver, albeit for just a few minutes. From there the hunt for a real easy to use underwater breathing apparatus that nearly anybody could use was born. Over the following few decades rubber fins, goggles and finally diving masks have been invented, and the familiar image of the "frogman" began to take shape, till lastly, Cousteau and Gagnan's Aqualung was made accessible commercially, first in Europe and right here in the States round 1951, and the modern period of Scuba Diving was born.

At the moment Scuba diving is without doubt one of the quickest rising leisure sports worldwide. With new gear evolving repeatedly and all manner of diving trips, excursions and holidays available.  Men, girl, even children can turn into certified in Primary Scuba Diving in only a few days and unique worlds that people as soon as only dreamed about, and many gave their lives to discover, are now accessible for nearly anybody to securely enjoy.


Scuba diving