When was scuba developed? Many people will say the 1860s, but when was scuba really invented? Let's look at the earliest scuba equipment. Emile Gagnan, Jacques Cousteau and other early pioneers all played an important role in the evolution of scuba dive. They were instrumental in paving the way to freedom of navigation. But, who is responsible and why? Who also created the first scuba regulator.
Jacques Cousteau
In the 1960s, Jacques Cousteau took part in a program called Conshelf Saturation Dive. It was intended to test the feasibility of living underwater for prolonged periods. Five divers participated in the experiment, which was documented in a film called World Without Sun. Since the introduction of scuba equipment, ocean exploration has seen a significant increase in its potential. Nowadays, robotic undersea bots perform this task, and Cousteau’s documentary won Academy Award #3 for Best Documentary.
Emile Gagnan
Scuba was discovered by Emile Gagnan, an engineer from France who was developing valve designs for a Paris-based company that produced compressed gas. He realized that divers in the water were at risk for developing nitrogen narcosis. This can lead to extreme pain and a bizarre behavior. Gagnan, Cousteau and their team designed a machine to allow people to live underwater. They realized that oxygen-pressure regulation would be key to survival.
1860s
Henry A. Fleuss, an engineer and diver from London, invented the sport of scuba in 1860s. Fleuss' design included a diving snorkel with a spout to hold compressed air. It also contained a bag that could hold a caustic potassium solution. This sealed circuit system allowed divers air to be able to breathe for up to three hours.
1860s scuba regulator
The 1860s scuba regulators weren't much different from current technology. They were designed by Auguste Denayrouze (Benoit Rouquayrol). Benoit Rouquayrol's demand valve was first used in smoky rooms and poisonous mines, but was later adapted for use in diving. In 1865, the Rouquayrol-Denayrouze apparatus became a mass-produced product and was adopted as a French Navy standard. This regulator was not widely accepted by the French diving community.
Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus
The Davis Submerged Rescue Apparatus, or Davis scuba, was invented by R H. Davis in 1914. It contained a rubber breathing & buoyancy bag, a barium hydroxide canister, and a steel pressurecylinder with 56 litres of oxygen at 120 bars. This cylinder was connected directly to the breathing bags and was powered by the pressure in the surrounding water. The Davis scuba rig was the first commercially-available rebreather, and it was used for submarine escapes in the First World War. It was also used to do industrial diving.
1860s scuba goggles
The 1860s was a time when diving gear was not as sophisticated as today's. Divers used to use wooden or glass helmets for protection against water pressure before the invention of scuba goggles. Otis Barton, a wealthy man, was one of two families that had tried underwater exploration as a hobby. Barton used a makeshift helmet as a diving helmet to swim around Massachusetts' waters and was weighed down by rocks.
Deane brothers' Scuba System
The Deane brothers first began testing their underwater apparatus in 1829. The scuba system was composed of a helmet, a breathing apparatus, and a mask. The Deane brothers made a very successful invention, and their business exploded. Their invention led them to create the first diving manual The Method of Using Deane Brothers Patent Diving Apparatus. The manual detailed the functions of each apparatus as well as safety precautions.
1860s scuba reservoir
Benoit Rouquayrol invente the first scuba reservoir using compressed air in the 1860s. He had already designed the demand regulator' that could be used underground in mines and rooms with smoke. Auguste Denayrouze applied Rouquayrol’s design to underwater diving in 1864. This device's principle is still the same. Modern scuba regulators use a similar system.