Jacques Cousteau
Jacques Cousteau devoted the rest of his life to ocean research after World War II. He purchased a minesweeper called the Calypso and sailed it around the world, including the Antarctic Circle. He conducted experiments and collected data that he used to develop the Calypso-Phot underwater camera and the SP-350 deep-sea two-man submarine.
Cousteau started his research by creating a new breathing device, the aqua-lung. This apparatus allowed him to breathe air in a controlled manner, but was limited to shallow dives. In order to discover the depths of the oceans, Cousteau knew that he needed a better way to regulate the flow of air. His experimentation led to the development of the demand regulator, which allowed air to pass only on demand. This invention would help divers extend their air supply and avoid decompression sickness.
Yves le Prieur
Yves le Prieur is a pioneer in scuba diving, dating back to the early 1900s. In 1946, he designed a fullface helmet with a removable front plate. This mask was a type of diaphragm that could be used to regulate the demand. His next invention was his diving regulator.
1933 was the year that the first scuba diver apparatus was invented. The Fernez-Le-Prieur air supply system was combined with the Denayrouze-Rouquayrol demand regulator. This device made underwater breathing apparatuses more affordable and easier to access, which revolutionized scuba diving. This was the birth of recreational diving.
Guy Gilpatric
Guy Gilpatric contributed a lot to the history and evolution of scuba diving throughout his life. His articles in The Saturday Evening Post about scuba divers were among the first. He also wrote the first sport diving manual. His passion for the sea and its natural beauty led him explore the Mediterranean and to write about it. It is said that the book inspired Jacques Cousteau who would later go on and create modern scuba dive.
In the early 20th-century, the invention of modern scuba diving equipment began. In 1921, American marine biologist Guy Gilpatric patented a system that allowed divers to breathe air without the use of surface air. Later, Yves Le Prier invented a self-contained underwater breathing system. The scuba rig was quickly popularized by Owen Churchill after he sold it to him. Guy Gilpatric developed rubber goggles that included glass lenses, swim fins and snorkels.
Yves Gagnan
Divers had to rely on air hoses to reach the surface, as well as diving bells and helmets at the beginning century. Yves Gagnan (Parisian engineer) helped them to create a demand valve system. This new device provided compressed air on demand and was capable of adjusting to the pressure of the surrounding water. This discovery made it possible for people of all levels to explore the oceans.
Gagnan was born 1900 in Burgundy in France. After graduating from college, Gagnan began work at Air Liquide. He studied high pressure pneumatic design. This led to the creation of the scuba equipment we use today.