X-RAY MAGAZINE FEATURE

Hydrogen in the Mix

In the early part of the 20th century, American physicist and chemist, Professor Elihu Thomson—the person credited with putting the eventual use of helium on the diving menu—had originally proposed the use of hydrogen as a suitable replacement for nitrogen in the breathing mix used by divers. David Strike has the story.

Words:
David Strike
Images:
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Historical Diving

(Top photo source: Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons / public domain)

X-RAY MAGAZINE FEATURE

History: Deep Diving—100 Fathoms Down!

Up until the ‘60s, the major advances in diving technology were driven by big-budget military programmes. Extending the depth limits to which divers might safely go—and still be capable of performing meaningful work when they got there—had a practical purpose. David Strike has the story, as told by George Wookey.

Words:
David Strike
Images:
George Wookey being dressed for a deep dive
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Historical Diving

Submarine rescue and recovery was the incentive behind the series of deep-diving trials conducted by the British Admiralty during the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. Setting out to extend the deep-diving limits, the Royal Navy programme established a world depth record in 1948, of 540ft. Wearing a Siebe-Gorman six-bolt helmet incorporating the Davis Injector system, flexible dress, and using the fast-dwindling supplies of American Lend-Lease helium, Petty Officer Wilfred Bollard set a depth record that was to last eight years. Not until 1956 would the baton pass to another.

Dates Announced for 26th Historical Diving Conference

One of the joyous things about this sport is that if you are curious, you never stop learning.

HDS, John Bevan, Historical Diving Society, Rosemary E Lunn, Roz Lunn, The Underwater Marketing Company
Historical Diving

Be it equipment, technique, physiology, photography or biology, divers have the ability to study to their personal level and interest. One aspect that is often overlooked by most divers is the history of diving.

The UK has a rich resource when it comes to this subject. Indeed the Historical Diving Society (HDS) was formed in the UK in 1990, and has subsequently grown into an international organisation with members and offshoot societies around the world.

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