Jacques Cousteau
After World War II, Jacques Cousteau devoted himself to ocean exploration. He bought a Calypso minesweeper and took it on a round-the-world trip, including the Antarctic Circle. He conducted experiments and collected data that he used to develop the Calypso-Phot underwater camera and the SP-350 deep-sea two-man submarine.
Cousteau began his research by developing a new breathing apparatus, called the aqua-lung. The aqua-lung allowed Cousteau to breath air in a controlled way, but it was restricted to shallow diving. Cousteau discovered that there was a better way for air to flow to help him explore the depths. The demand regulator was the result of his experiments. Air can only flow on demand. This invention would help divers extend their air supply and avoid decompression sickness.
Yves le Prieur
Yves le Prieur and scuba diving go back to the early 1900s. In 1946, he created a fullface mask that had a loose face plate. This was to be used as a demand regulator's diaphragm. His next invention was the diving regulator.
1933 was the year that the first scuba diver apparatus was invented. This combination of the Fernez-Le-Prieur system for air supply and the demand regulator developed by Rouquayrol, Denayrouze, and Rouquayrol created the first scuba diving apparatus. This device changed the face of scuba diving by making underwater respirators affordable and more accessible. This was the birthplace recreational scuba.
Guy Gilpatric
Guy Gilpatric made many contributions to the history of scuba dive during his lifetime. His articles for The Saturday Evening Post, which covered scuba diving, were the first to include a sport diving manual. He was fascinated by the sea and the natural world and decided to travel the Mediterranean to write about it. The book is credited with inspiring Jacques Cousteau, who would eventually go on to create modern scuba diving.
The invention of the modern scuba diving apparatus began in the early 20th century. Guy Gilpatric, an American marine biologist, patented a system that allows divers to breathe in air without using surface air. Later, Yves Le Prier developed an underwater breathing system. Owen Churchill purchased the system. The scuba diving rig was soon popular. Guy Gilpatric created rubber goggles, which included lenses made of glass, swim fins, snorkels and masks.
Yves Gagnan
The first century saw scuba divers relying on the use of diving bells, helmets, and air hoses. Yves Gagnan, a Parisian engineer, helped to design a demand valve. The new device was capable of providing compressed air on-demand and could adjust to the pressure of surrounding water. This invention made it possible to explore the oceans with people at all levels.
Gagnan was a French citizen, born in Burgundy, France in 1900. After graduating college, he started working at Air Liquide. There he learned high-pressure pneumatic designing. This helped to develop the scuba equipment we now use.