Scuba Diving History

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Believe it or not, scuba diving history actually goes all the way back to the 16th century. Although actual S.C.U.B.A. (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) equipment didn’t exist, people were still finding ways to diving underwater. One of the earliest methods was through a diving bell, which was basically just a wooden barrel.

Another milestone in scuba diving history was the invention of the air pump in the 17th century. This pump was used to create a resupply of air to a wooden barrel that was used as a helmet. This was further improved upon in the 18th century, when the first self-contained air device was invented by Sieur Freminet of France.

Marine adventurist Jacques Cousteau has a singular place in scuba diving history. The modern scuba design is directly related to Cousteau’s Aqua-lung, which he invented in the mid 20th century. Essentially attaching a redesigned car regulator to an air tank, he made modern scuba diving possible.

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