Scuba Diving History 

Gagnan and Cousteau weren't the first people to design scuba diving rebreathers, because history shows us that Da Vinci designed an air supply and buoyancy control system in the 1500s, and there is evidence that proves the Italians were using rebreathers as far back as 1680.

When rubber suits and helmets were joined together to make a complete airtight suit in the 19th century, the Royal Navy decided that the history of diving equipment had progressed far enough for them to start taking it seriously and begin focusing on scuba diving as an advanced tactic for war. It took them three decades to develop air tanks capable of withstanding underwater pressure and several more years (into the 20th century) to come up with Masks, goggles, snorkels and fins.

The history of the term "scuba" doesn't go back nearly as far as diving, but only came about during World War II. Scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) was originally used by the Americans in reference to the oxygen rebreathers their divers used in underwater warfare. Now the term "scuba" is understood to mean more than breathing equipment, as it is now used to encompass underwater diving as a whole.

Read the articles that follow for more a more in-depth look at scuba diving's fascinating and lengthy history.