When was scuba invented? Many people will tell you that it was in 1860s. But when did scuba become a reality? Let's start by looking at the first scuba equipment. Emile Gagnan, Jacques Cousteau, and other early pioneers have all played important roles in the evolution of scuba diving. These pioneers helped open the door to freedom of navigation. But who is responsible? Who was responsible for the development of the first regulator for scuba diving?
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. The ocean exploration goal has greatly improved since the invention of scuba equipment. 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 scuba divers were at high risk of developing nitrogen addiction, which can cause extreme pain and make people insane. Gagnan and Cousteau collaborated to design a machine that would enable people to survive underwater. They realized that oxygen regulation by air pressure would be crucial to survival.
1860s
Scuba was invented in the 1860s by Henry A. Fleuss, a diving engineer working for a company in London. 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. Divers could breathe in air for as long as three hours thanks to the sealed circuit.
1860s scuba regulator
Scuba regulators from the 1860s were far removed from modern technology. They were created by Auguste Denayrouze and Benoit Rouquayrol. Benoit Rouquayrol designed the demand valve. At first, it was used in smoky places and poisonous mining areas. It was later modified to be suitable for diving. In 1865, the Rouquayrol-Denayrouze apparatus became a mass-produced product and was adopted as a French Navy standard. However, this regulator was not accepted by all French divers.
Davis Submerged Escape Mechatronus
R. H. Davis created the Davis Submerged Rescue Device, also known as Davis scuba 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 was connected to a breathing bag and charged by the pressure in water surrounding it. 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 in industrial diving.
Scuba goggles from the 1860s
Dive gear in the 1860s wasn't as advanced as it is today. Before the advent of scuba goggles, divers would rely on wooden or glass diving helmets, which were ineffective against the water's pressure. Otis Barton and his family were wealthy enough to have tried out underwater exploration. Barton used a makeshift helmet as a diving helmet to swim around Massachusetts' waters and was weighed down by rocks.
Deane brothers' scuba system
In 1829, the Deane brothers began to test their underwater apparatus. The scuba apparatus consisted of a helmet as well as a breathing apparatus. The Deane brothers' invention was a success and the brothers soon had a flourishing business. 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 developed the 'demand regulator' for use in underground mines and smoke filled rooms. Auguste Denayrouze adapt Rouquayrol’s designs to underwater diving in 1864. The principle behind the device remains the same today. Modern scuba regulators use a similar system.