Divers History

Diving can be tracked back to more than 5,000 years ago and originates from mankind's desire to engage in maritime commerce, salvage military operations, and to expand knowledge through means of exploration, research, and development.

Originally, divers swam in waters less than 100 feet deep and performed salvage work, and the harvesting of food, sponges, and coral. In the earliest times of scuba diving, divers were active in military operations. These missions consisted of cutting anchor cables to set enemy ships adrift, punching holes in the bottom of ships, and building harbor defenses.

For example, Alexander the Great used divers to remove obstacles in the harbor of the city of Tyre. Some early divers developed an active salvage industry

A diving bell has a bell-shaped apparatus and the bottom is open to the sea. The very first dive bells were large, strong tubs that were weighted to sink vertically, which trapped air enabling a diver to breathe for several hours.

Later, these dive bells were attached to a cable at the surface, but there was no significant maneuverability underwater unless the ship provided it. A diver could remain in the bell if they are directly above their work, or can venture outside for a shortened period by holding their breath. In 1690, a dive bell was developed to send weighted barrels of air down from the surface, which enabled the diver to remain under water longer.

In 1715, a one-man diving dress was developed. The equipment was a reinforced Leather-covered barrel of air, equipped with a glass porthole, and two arm holes with watertight sleeves. When starting a dive, the equipment is lowered from a ship and maneuvered into the ocean. In 1828, the equipment consisted of a heavy suit for protection from the cold, a helmet, and hose connections to deliver

Breathing air under pressure forced quantities of nitrogen into the blood and tissues of the body. During decompression sickness, it is recommended that divers ascend gradually and steadily. As divers moved deeper into water other maladies would appear. Nitrogen Narcosis is another malady that would occur, during this divers would appear intoxicated, feel euphoric and lose judgement frequently.

Research is being continued as an attempt to extend the depth limit for diving. The deepest dive to date was in 1979 when divers from NEDU completed a 37-day 1,800 fsw dive. More advanced saturation diving techniques are being created in different programs of developmental research. These experiments required substantial surface support and extensive under water equipment.

Around the 20th century, most navies began developing the military submarine. The effective use obtained by the German Navy highly influenced this decision. When American technology expanded, submarine fleets grew rapidly and resulted in a rapid growth in diving capabilities for the