A necessary condition for human survival is the need for an oxygen environment. The ocean is the first oxygen free environment for human beings to use covered protective equipment, and this set of equipment is diving suit and breathing device. Diving suit and related breathing device make it possible for us to carry out activities in the ocean like on land. What is the evolution of these devices that help us enter the ocean? Next, you will see that the early diving suit looks like a spacesuit, but the invention of diving suit is older than spacesuit. After diving for so long, do you know the development history of diving equipment?
According to written records, the earliest records related to diving appeared about 500 BC. When Roman and Greek soldiers crossed the river, they used the stem of a plant as a straw to breathe. Japanese ninjas in the Edo era also used a similar method to hide in the water. This is probably the diving that can be realized in ancient times.
In ancient times, it was also necessary to enter deeper waters. This purpose was mainly used to salvage things sunk at the bottom of the water. At the end of the 17th century, there appeared a more mainstream diving equipment for deep diving at that time – Diving Bell.
As shown in the figure, the bell shaped diving equipment was invented by the British astronomer edmondo Halley (the famous discoverer of Halley’s comet) in 1691. His design is as follows: a conical empty barrel is wrapped with lead, which can sink vertically. The diving bell is equipped with glass windows, and the air is supplemented by a lead hooped barrel hanging under the diving bell. Due to the high pressure in the gas storage barrel, air can be input into the diving bell. Then, the diver wears a smaller “Diving Bell” on his head and has a pipe connected to the large diving bell to breathe. Halley said that he and his colleagues dived to 18 meters deep in the clock and stayed for 1.5 hours. Strictly speaking, this is the first recorded diving equipment in the world.
2. Then, the diving helmet and diving suit focusing on human research began to appear, which is the prototype of diving suit, face mirror and breathing device. In 1715, Pierre R é my de BEAUVE, a French nobleman, invented the earliest known diving suit. The kit is connected by two long hoses, one for breathing oxygen and one for exhaling carbon dioxide.
For a long time in the 18th and 19th centuries, diving suits have been using this appearance and structural design. At the same time, they have been continuously upgraded in technology and improved in performance. At this stage, diving suits also appeared.
At this stage, diving suits also appeared. In August 1819, the first full set of diving equipment was made by German Siebe, which was composed of “diving helmet”, “diving suit” and “diving shoes”. Subsequently, there are more and more subdivided products of diving equipment.
At first glance, are the later spacesuits similar to the diving suits at this stage. At this time, the design of diving suits began to tend to be light, so that divers can carry out more flexible activities in the water. This is the stage of major upgrading and improvement of diving equipment and the development foundation of modern diving equipment.
3. With the progress of technological revolution, the desire of divers to get rid of the shackles of pipes is becoming stronger and stronger. The diving field also began to try to apply the achievements of science and technology to diving equipment. At this time, respiratory regulators and closed breathing systems appeared. In 1860, beno î t rouquayrol, a Frenchman, successfully developed the first diving respiratory system with two core oxygen supply equipment: respirator and oxygen bottle, which is also the ancestor of modern open scuba.
Then, in 1878, Henry fleuss, an Englishman, invented the world’s first closed circulation diving breathing system. The principle used is basically the same as that of the modern closed system. Subsequently, through many improvements, the appearance and use mode of this set of equipment are closer and closer to the modern CCR system. In the same year, the world’s first “compressed air machine” appeared. This opened a new chapter in the development of diving equipment.
4. The 20th century is a period of vigorous development of diving equipment. This stage of development benefits from the accumulation of diving technology for more than 200 years and the military application of diving. During World War I and World War II, the military demand greatly promoted the development of diving technology. The MK series equipment of the U.S. military is a typical representative of diving development. Divers dived to the 100m deep water area for the first time.
During World War II, many European countries established special forces such as frogman special team. They wore well-designed diving equipment. Their main task was to fight underwater and attack the enemy underwater. Among the frogman troops, the British frogman special team is a typical representative.
In the early 20th century, although the diving equipment still looks very retro, its performance has been very reliable, and it is not inferior to the current diving equipment.
Also during this period, frog shoes, flippers, face mirrors, dry clothes and diving computers were invented and applied to diving. So far, the system of modern diving equipment has taken shape.
5. After the end of the war years, the quality of life of western people has been generally improved. They have gradually realized that diving is a very aesthetic sport, and human beings also yearn for the deep sea, which covers 70% of the earth. Therefore, leisure diving has developed for a long time, and many diving organizations have emerged one after another and began to carry out systematic teaching. Diving technology has also gradually improved, and a large number of diving equipment manufacturers have emerged. At this time, the diving equipment has more perfect functions. They are not only small and light, but also fashionable in appearance.
Face mirror and frog shoes integrating performance and beauty
Powerful diving computer watch
Reliable closed circulatory respiratory system
Underwater thrusters for divers
Today’s science and technology is still developing rapidly, diving has gradually entered a period of popularization, and diving equipment is constantly upgrading and iterating. The evolution of diving equipment and the advent of new diving equipment will be the normal development. As for what the future diving equipment will become, let’s wait and see.
