Aqua-Lung gained worldwide popularity and commercial success as the first self-contained, opencircuit underwater breathing apparatus. This equipment is also known as the twin-hose diving regulator or demand valve. The basic concept of Aqua-Lung breathing apparatus is similar to that of a traditional scuba tank. The regulator is connected to a demand valve, which regulates the flow of air in and out of the lungs.
Jacques Cousteau
Jacques Cousteau's aqua lung - A fascinating tale in Scuba Technology! The original Aqualung was created during World War II. Cousteau, who was a French national, invented the underwater breathing apparatus in 1943. His inspiration came from a device perfected by Captain Yves Le Prieur in 1925. The Aqua-Lung had limited functionality at first, but the Germans demanded that automobile gas be requisitioned to use on the battlefield. Cousteau adapted an existing regulator to create the Aqua-Lung, and then invented the autonomous diving system.
Cousteau, who had advanced scuba technology, went on to discover underwater archeology. He led the first self-contained diving expedition in 1946 and recovered the Roman shipwreck Mahdia. He also converted a British mining vessel into an oceanographic research vessel by using a British minesweeper. Unfortunately, he struggled to raise the funds for the expeditions and he eventually turned his passion for diving into a book called The Silent World, which became a successful film.
Aqua-Lung was the first innovation in scubadiving. It was developed by Jacques Cousteau, in 1959. Since then it has allowed divers to freely swim under water. The Aqua lung has been a popular tool, and Cousteau is responsible for the creation of many other tools that allow for oceanographic exploration. Cousteau actually invented the first underwater cameras in 1959. Cousteau’s innovations revolutionized scuba diving.
Emile Gagnan
1945: Emile Gagnan (Jacques Yves Cousteau) and Emile Gaugnan (Emile Gagnan) patent the Aqua-Lung diving regulation. Aire Liquide in France purchased the rights and manufactured the regulator. The U.S. later purchased the rights to manufacture it. Divers Corporation. It was the latest development of the French CG45 regulator and was assembled in Canada. This regulator was very successful.
Initially, the Aqualung was known as the Aqualung. It was sold first in France in 1946. Then, it was brought to the U.S. in 1952. In 1958, Air Liquide purchased U.S. Aqua Lung America was created by divers and purchased by Air Liquide in 1958. It eventually became a division within Air Liquide, and today is the largest dive company in the world. Aqua-lung today is a major component in nearly all Scuba Gear sets.
The Aqua-Lung was invented by two Frenchmen: Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau. Both men served as spies during World War II for the French Resistance. Robert Ballard kept his interest in the ocean even after the war. Emile Gagnan, who was also a Frenchman working for L'Air Liquide, became his friend. They both learned how to use high pressure pneumatic design while engineers. Gagnan’s idea was realized into an fully-automated, compressed-air system for scuba diving called Aqua-Lung.