The history of scuba diving begins in the 1930s, when Jacques Cousteau, a French engineer, produces the first underwater film. His wife Simone and Jacques Cousteau load black-and-white still camera film onto a movie camera. This is the first underwater movie ever produced. The first commercially viable scuba system comes along in 1943, when Emile Gagnan, an industrial gas control systems engineer at L'Air Liquide et Cie, designs the Aqualung. The prototype units were tested by the Cousteau Family in 1943.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a Marseilles native. He spent his youth snorkeling in and around the warm Mediterranean waters. After graduating from highschool he entered the navy. He became a naval gunnery teacher and a master diver while serving in the navy. Afterward, he became fascinated with the underwater world and swam down to explore the seabed. He also developed an underwater photography camera.
Emile Gagnan
Emile Gagnan is the man behind many of the innovations that are used in modern SCUBA diving. His work in the 1950s resulted in the Aqualung, a breathing apparatus that allows a diver to breathe in underwater air. This invention made scubadiving safer and more accessible.
Henry Fleuss
Henry Fleuss, a pioneer of scuba dive history, is Henry Fleuss. He is also credited for many other innovations, including the self-contained breathing apparatus. His designs were patented in 1878 by several companies, including Siebe, Gorman & Co. 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 is probably the most well-known name when you think about scuba diving. The master escape artist was known for performing a number of amazing escapes, including one from a container underwater. He also demonstrated how you can escape from a straitjacket or lock. His escape techniques have been immortalized on motion pictures.
Mark V diving helmet
Mark V diving helmet has a rich heritage in scuba diving. It was designed by the US Navy in 1916. It was then used until 1984. It is the world's first diving helmet. But, there are still other helmets from the 1820s.
William Beebe
William Beebe's diving adventures are more than just tales of adventure under the sea. He was also an explorer who took many dives to the sea for scientific research. He set up a laboratory for marine research on Nonsuch Island in Bermuda and studied the sea life. He researched the behavior of marine animals and created a unique diving helmet. 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.