The history of scuba diving and the scuba unit dates back to the 1500's when Leonardo de Vinci drew his ideas for the device down on paper. Although no such unit was ever created by de Vinci, his ideas greatly impacted the world of scuba diving. The credit for what we know as the SCUBA unit today is given to the great Jacques Cousteau when he created the full functioning S.C.U.B.A. unit, or Aqualung in 1943. However, before we can look at the SCUBA unit itself, we must look at what preceded the ideas for such an apparatus.

From the beginning of time itself, when God first created man, we have been intrigued with what we do not know. From gazing up at the sky we want to know more about what is out there and what other mysteries we can uncover. In ancient times, the seas were as much of a mystery as the skies, but much more accessible to explore. So, the history of scuba diving goes back as far as man itself. In your history books you read of the ongoing modes of transportation that the seas offered and the ways in which the peoples on out lying islands and coastal regions used the sea for its vast array of food sourcing, but all the while another bit of history was taking place.

The history of Scuba Diving continues as man was using the seas to collect food, not from the surface alone, but also by emerging himself into the sea to collect, to gather, and to hunt. Better and more reliable tools were made for hunting underwater that they didn't need on land. This is shown to us through ancient art works from all over the world of peoples who lived on islands and coastal regions. Art works depict more then using the seas for food alone, but for leisure, as men and warriors would hold competitions against one another for breath holding and diving. Like any other thing in our world, when something comes along that is good, we can also use it for bad. During ancient wars, there are accounts of divers being used to drill holes in the sides of boats or sneak up on their enemies camped near a shore line.

As diving became more popular with certain cultures, a form of being able to see better underwater was developed by placing an air space between the eyes and the water. New methods were created and used for cultures to gather and hunt at deeper depths, such as the use of weights. And a dive bell was mentioned on many accounts to allow divers to stay at depth for a longer period of time for an assortment of purposes. All of this was taking place prior to the Birth of Christ.

In the early years of A.D., divers were using hoses to breathe off of for extended bottom time. From this point forward, small advances were made until the drawings of de Vinci depicted the first SCUBA Unit and exposure suit. As time passed, diving processes and equipment became more in depth and intricate, until 1943 when Jacque Cousteau and a companion developed the Aqualung. Our equipment even today has had advancements to make them more comfortable and sleek, but the same principle still applies from Cousteau's original design.

the History of Scuba Diving Tables