The story of scuba diving began in the 1930s with the production of the first underwater film by Jacques Cousteau. A French engineer, Cousteau, was responsible for the creation. Simone Cousteau and her husband loaded black and white still camera films into a movie camera. The first underwater movie was produced. Emile Gagnan, an engineer in industrial gas control systems at L'Air Liquide et Cie designed the Aqualung. In 1943, it becomes commercially feasible to dive. 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 entered the navy. During his time with the navy, he was a naval guns instructor and a master diver. He became fascinated by the underwater world, and began to dive down to explore it. He also developed an underwater photography camera.
Emile Gagnan
Emile Gagnan was the inventor of many modern innovations in SCUBA diving. Aqualung, a breathing system that allows a diver breathe in underwater water, was the result of his efforts in the 1950s. This invention made diving safer and easier for everyone.
Henry Fleuss
Henry Fleuss is a pioneer in the history of scuba diving. He invented the self-contained breathing system and many other innovations. He worked in several companies, such as Siebe, Gorman & Co., before he patented his designs. His invention was revolutionary because it allowed the diver to work independently of the surface, without having to rely on a pump or a large crew.
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini will be the first person that comes to mind when you think of scuba dive. The master escape artist was known for performing a number of amazing escapes, including one from a container underwater. He also demonstrated how to escape from a straitjacket, locks, and suspended objects. He was immortalized in motion-pictures for his escape skills.
Mark V diving helmet
Mark V diving gear has a rich history. It was designed by the US Navy in 1916. It was then used until 1984. It is considered the original diving helmet. However, there are other helmets dating back to the 1820s and earlier.
William Beebe
William Beebe's scuba diving story is not just a tale of adventures under the sea. He was a scientist, who did many dives into the water 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 until 1949.