Jacques Cousteau
Jacques Cousteau devoted much of his time to ocean exploration following World War II. He purchased a minesweeper called the Calypso and sailed it around the world, including the Antarctic Circle. He carried out experiments and collected data, which he used for the Calypso-Phot underwater camera and the SP-350 deep-sea 2-man submarine.
Cousteau began his research with the creation of an apparatus for breathing called the aqualung. Although this apparatus was able to allow Cousteau to breathe in controlled air, it was only suited for shallow diving. Cousteau was determined to find out the depths beneath the oceans. He needed a better method to regulate airflow. His experimentation led to the development of the demand regulator, which allowed air to pass only on demand. This invention would enable divers to extend their air supply and help them avoid decompression syndrome.
Yves le Prieur
Yves le Prieur and scuba diving go back to the early 1900s. In 1946 he invented a fullface mask with a loose front plate that was a sort of diaphragm for the demand regulator. His next invention was his diving regulator.
The first scuba dive apparatus was patented in 1933. This device combined the Fernez-Le-Prieur air supply system with the demand regulator invented by Denayrouze and Rouquayrol. This device revolutionized the diving industry by making underwater breathing equipment affordable and accessible. This was the birthplace of recreational scuba diving.
Guy Gilpatric
Guy Gilpatric contributed a lot to the history and evolution of scuba diving throughout his life. He wrote the first manual for sport diving, and his articles in The Saturday Evening Post were amongst the first to discuss scuba diving. He was fascinated by the sea and the natural world and decided to travel the Mediterranean to write about it. It is believed that the book inspired Jacques Cousteau to develop modern scuba diving.
The early 20th century saw the development of the modern scuba diving system. Guy Gilpatric an American marine biologist invented a system that allowed divers access to air without the use or surface air. Later, Yves Le Prier created an underwater breathing system that was self-contained. Owen Churchill bought the system, and the scuba-rig gained rapid popularity. Guy Gilpatric then developed rubber goggles with glass lenses, face masks, snorkels, swim fins, and a high-pressure air tank.
Yves Gagnan
Divers had to rely on air hoses to reach the surface, as well as diving bells and helmets at the beginning century. Yves Gagnan a Parisian engineer helped them develop a demand system. This device supplied compressed air on request and was capable to adjust to the pressure within the water. This invention made it possible to explore the oceans with people at all levels.
Gagnan, a Frenchman, was born in Burgundy in 1900. After graduating from college, Gagnan began work at Air Liquide. He studied high pressure pneumatic design. This eventually led to the design of the scuba equipment today.