the history of diving
The history of diving is very interesting. Many civilizations throughout time have been involved in freediving, also known as freediving. Evidence of early free diving is the discovery of marine items found on land and old photographs of divers. These civilizations used free diving for spearfishing and also in competitions. The ancient Greeks are known free divers. They used free diving to hunt sponges and also in their army.
Some of the earliest attempts in diving history to dive with the use of air include snorkeling with hollow rods, the use of air-filled bags, and diving bells. Diving bells are watertight cameras on cables. The diving bell is designed to remain filled with air while being pushed underwater, allowing some divers to carry it. However, these methods were not very efficient and were not very similar to diving as we know it today. The reeds did not allow the divers to dive deep into the water and the air-filled bags soon filled with carbon monoxide as the air was exhaled. Diving bells did not allow divers much mobility.
The first diving suits were used in France and England. They were made of leather and air was pumped into them from the surface with hand pumps. Once the discovery of using metal to make helmets was made, these suits were able to withstand greater pressure. With air manually pumped into these helmets, divers were able to go deeper into the ocean and advanced diving history.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the research was done to invent modern diving as we know it today. Paul Bert from France and John Scott Haldane from Scotland conducted scientific research on water pressure and our body’s limits in relation to safe scuba diving. At the same time, new technologies allowed the development of air pumps, diving regulators, and other equipment. Diving and its history were becoming more widely known.
Throughout the 20th century, inventions in diving equipment improved. Swim fins, masks and other scuba equipment were available. In the 1950s, the public began to take an interest in scuba diving. Dive equipment stores began to open and the first wetsuit was introduced. Popular movies about diving and boats, including 1997’s Titanic, continue to interest new divers and inspire veterans of the adventurous and history-rich sport of diving.
