What are the origins of scuba diving?

In: Scuba

Diving, using trapped/contained ambient pressure air with no air-supply connection to the surface, likely began many centuries ago. With enough weight to counteract the buoyancy of the trapped air, almost anything is possible, and was probably attempted. Breath-hold or 'free' diving's origins, however, can be traced back to several thousand years BC, most likely attempts to salvage sunken treasure from wrecked ships. Both commercially and recreationally, free diving is still, by far, the most common and frequent. Cheapest, too.

Strictly speaking, however, Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, or SCUBA, using pressurized (150 atmospheres/approx 5300(!!!)lbs) air with a downstream user-demand regulator valve can be very closely dated. In his (highly reccomended) 1953 book, "The Silent World", Capitaine Jacques-Yves Cousteau describes how, in June, 1943, he first tested (his own design of) the world's first (23kg) 'aqualung', accompanied by Phillipe Taillez as (surface) dive-boat 'tender' and Frederic "Didi" Dumas as 'safety' (skin) chase diver. Capitaine Cousteau's wife, Simone was to observe only, using mask and schnorkle.

First answer by Mike. Last edit by JFMini. Contributor trust: 35 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 159 [recommend question]

Research your answer:

Can you answer other questions about Scuba?

Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Sports > Scuba > What are the origins of scuba diving?

Our contributors said this page should be displayed for the questions below. (Where do these come from

)

If any of these are not a genuine rephrasing of the question, please help out and edit these alternates.

Origin of scuba? Who created scuba? The origins scuba? Early scuba diving? Who created scuba diving? What is the origin of Scuba? What is the origins of scuba? How was scuba diving invented? When was scuba diving invented? How is scuba diving being done? Inventor of modern scuba diving? Health benefits for SCUBA diving? What is the origin of scuba diving? Interesting facts about scuba diving? What are some examples of diving birds? Education requirements on scuba diving? How many people go scuba diving a month? What is the science behind scuba diving? Where is the best place to go scuba diving? What are helth requierments for scuba diving?