The History of The Rebreather

In 1879 Henry Fleuss adapted the first scuba diving rebreather from an invention used to rescue trapped mineworkers in water.

In the early 1900's various versions of literature emerged on the physiological studies of pressure changes and the prevention of compressed air illness. By 1924 the US Navy launched experiments using helium-oxygen during dives.

The first real rebreather emerged in 1905 followed three years later by studies John Haldane, Arthur Boycott, and Guybon Damant and tables on how to avoid decompression sickness with stops. The Royal Navy then adopted the tables and released them to the public in 1908. Four years later the US Navy did the same.

The Germans contribute Draeger's oxygen rebreather in 1911 and six years later he adds the enriched air version with a depth limit of 130ft.

Japanese Ohgushi created in 1918 what he referred to as a 'Peerless Respirator' with constant air flow to the nose, was switch-activated by the teeth. In 1926 Draeger manifactured a rescue breathing system with weights facilitating the dive down as well as developing lift.

Face masks, fins, and snorkels were commonplace by the 1930’s and Yves Le Prieur made a breakthrough by linking a valve to the tank cutting out hoses to the surface air supplies. Its air fed into a full-face mask that allowed for a 20min stay at 7 meters.

In 1939 Hans Hass was inspired by his frustration to end bottom-walking during his many undersea expeditions by inventing two breathing tubes and a bag on his back for the scuba diving rebreather, based on the original 'escape set'. It can be seen in many of the prolific adventurer's books and films.

Weapons inventor Yves Le Prier (Top Left) took his breathing set to the next level in 1946 with a fullface mask and demand regulator. The first open–circuit single-hose scuba set trade named Porpoise was designed by Australian Ted Eldred in the late 40's pioneering public scuba gear commercially.

British divers took the opportunity to adapt car regulators into demand regulators until Submarine Products Ltd in Northumberland began to provide a cheaper, more accessible version to the public. It was just a matter of time before a free-for-all accompanied the expiration of the Cousteau-Gagnan patent.