In the 1930s, Jacques Cousteau, a French engineer and filmmaker, created the first underwater film. His wife Simone and Jacques Cousteau load black-and-white still camera film onto a movie camera. This is the first underwater movie ever produced. Emile Gagnan, an engineer in industrial gas control systems at L'Air Liquide et Cie designed the Aqualung. In 1943, it becomes commercially feasible to dive. In 1943, the prototype units were tested by the Cousteau family.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau grew up in Marseilles, France. He spent his childhood swimming in the warm ocean around his home. After graduating high school he decided to join the navy. He was a naval gunnery officer and a master diver during his time in the navy. He became fascinated by the underwater world, and began to dive down to explore it. He also invented an underwater camera.
Emile Gagnan
Emile Gagnan is responsible for many of the innovations in modern SCUBA dives. Aqualung was created by Emile Gagnan in the 1950s. This breathing apparatus allows the diver to inhale underwater air. The Aqualung was invented to make scuba diving safer and more accessible for everyone.
Henry Fleuss
Henry Fleuss was a pioneer in scuba diving history. He was credited with numerous other innovations and the invention of the first self-contained breath apparatus. He worked in several companies, such as Siebe, Gorman & Co., before he patented his designs. His invention was revolutionary because it allowed the diver to work independently of the surface, without having to rely on a pump or a large crew.
Harry Houdini
When you think of scuba diving, you probably think of Harry Houdini. Harry Houdini was a master escape artist who performed many amazing escapes including one from an underwater box! He also demonstrated how you can escape from a straitjacket or lock. His escape techniques have been immortalized on motion pictures.
Mark V diving helmet
Mark V diving helmet has a rich heritage in scuba diving. It was first created for the US Navy, in 1916. It continued to be used until 1984. It is the original diving helmet. There are many other helmets that date back to the 1820s or earlier.
William Beebe
William Beebe's tale of scubadiving is more than just an account of his adventures. He was a scientist who made numerous dives into the sea for scientific study. He set up a laboratory for marine research on Nonsuch Island in Bermuda and studied the sea life. He created a unique diving helmet, and breathing apparatus to study the behavior and habits of sea creatures. Beebe was also the first person to descend into deep sea using a bathysphere. This device lowered people to depths of 3,028 feet (923 metres). This record lasted until 1949.