Diving activities historical facts will reveal more than you know about this sports activity. Diving is an activity carried out under the surface of the water, with or without the use of equipment, to achieve a certain goal. Diving, as a profession, dates back more than 5000 years. Early divers probably couldn’t reach depths of more than 100 feet. Usually, this activity is done to take shells and pearls.
Diving Activities Historical Facts
In Greek history, Herodotus tells of a diver named Scyllis who was hired by the Persian King Xerxes to retrieve the treasure that sank in the 5th century BC.
Since ancient times, divers have also been used for military purposes, such as sinking enemy ships, cutting anchors, and punching holes in ships from below. Alexander ¡°The Great¡± sent divers to tear down the port in the city of Tyra (Lebanon) which was then conquered in 332 BC.
Ancient divers were also used to save sunken items. In the first century BC, especially in the western Mediterranean, divers were organized and paid for by law. The payment depends on the depth of the water that is dived. If the depth is 24 feet then the diver is paid ö the items saved. A depth of 12 feet is given 1/3 and a depth of 3 feet is given 1/10.
Breathing Bag
Assyrian painting in the 9th century BC depicts a diver using an air tank made of leather. Yet another interpretation explains that it is a swimmer who uses an air tank to float in the water.
Diving Bell
Around the year 1500-1800 diving bells have developed so that divers can dive in a matter of hours. A diving bell is a bell-shaped device whose bottom is exposed to the ocean.
The first dive bell was so large that a diver could dive in a few hours. in further developments, these diving bells are connected by wires from the surface. This bell is not maneuverable well. Divers can stay in or out of the bell for a while holding their breath.
The first diving bell was made in 1513. In 1680, adventurer William Philip managed to lift a sunken treasure of $200,000 with this method.
In 1690, an English astronomer, Edmund Halley developed a diving bell, by sinking a barrel with a ballast. Together with 4 friends, he can survive 1 1/2 hours in a depth of 60 feet in the Thomas River. 26 years later, by developing better equipment he can survive 4 hours in a depth of 66 feet.
Diving Suit
In 1715, an Englishman named John Lethbridge developed the wetsuit. The first time he created a barrel of wood covered with leather, also equipped with glass on the front, and holes for the arms. By using this equipment divers can do their job. This equipment is lowered from the ship into the water. This wetsuit is quite successful because the normal depth of operation is 60 feet and for 34 minutes. But the weakness is almost the same as diving bells, namely the limited air supply.
In 1823 John and Charles Deane patented the fire fighting suit. With these clothes, firefighters can enter the burning building. In 1828, the suit was patented for diving, which consisted of a cold-resistant suit, a helmet, and a hose that connected to the surface. The air supply comes from the surface and is expelled through the bottom of the helmet so that if the helmet is inverted it will quickly fill with water. Finally, by Augustus Siebe, this helmet is equipped with a seal at the neck and a drain valve.
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