Diving suits allow divers to remain underwater for extended periods of time through the use of hose-supplied air or a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, or SCUBA. The suit protects the skin against cuts and scrapes caused by contact with coral reefs and other obstructions and prevents the diver from developing hypothermia. Early designs concentrated on the supply of air. Later designs focused on wearability.
18th Century
Beginning in the 16th century, people were lowered into the water in a bell-shaped conveyance called a diving bell, which allowed a diver to breathe trapped air but did not allow the diver any mobility. In 1715, a Navy guard by the name of Chevalier de Beauve was the first to design a suit intended for underwater use. It compensated for buoyancy through the use of lead shoes. Two leather tubes were attached to the helmet to allow the diver to breathe air supplied from the surface.
However, the first use of the term 'diving suit' wasn't until 1797. It was applied to Karl Heinrich Klingert's design of a leather jacket and trousers worn in conjunction with a helmet that possessed two round windows for vision.
19th Century
Charles Anthony Deane, an English inventor, patented a smoke helmet for firefighters in 1823. Five years later, he and his brother attached the helmet to a diving suit with straps. In 1837, August Siebe, a German inventor, improved upon the Deane's design to produce the first self-contained waterproof diving suit. It was made of leather and canvas with weighted boots and a weight belt to keep the diver on the ocean floor. The suit featured the first fully sealable attached helmet that allowed air to circulate throughout the suit and to be expelled through the helmet. This design is called the Twelve Bolt Helmet because of the bolts that project from the connector band. It is still in production in some countries.
20th Century
While the classic diving suit worked well for industrial and military applications, the sport of diving required a suit that would allow more mobility and that would work well with the SCUBA. In 1952, Jack O' Neill, a San Francisco surfer, used a new rubber-like product called neoprene to create a suit that allowed water to slide between the suit and the skin and act as a layer of insulation. In later models he added nylon backing to the suit to make it more comfortable. He began his wetsuit company, O'Neill, in 1959. Around the same time, Bob and Bill Meistrell from Manhattan Beach, California, developed their own style of wetsuit also using neoprene, eventually starting the Body Glove company.
Improvements
In modern times, the wetsuit has become customizable and easier to wear. Neoprene colors were introduced in the 1980s and manufacturers began producing suits of varying lengths and thicknesses for use in different water temperatures.
The classic diving suit experienced advances as well. It now features neoprene instead of canvas and leather. It offers additional buoyancy valves and a line in the helmet for communication with the surface. Semi-dry and dry suits have been designed for use in specific water conditions.
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