Standard diving dress

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The standard diving dress was used from its invention in 1837 until replaced by the rise of SCUBA and other modern diving outfits in the 1960s. In this 1873 illustration from the Illustrated London News, we see the basic features of it: A helmet, supplied with air from the surface, and a waterproof canvas suit. The helmet is screwed on to the suit with wingnuts, which can be seen being tightened by one of the support crew on the left of the picture.
The standard diving dress was used from its invention in 1837 until replaced by the rise of SCUBA and other modern diving outfits in the 1960s. In this 1873 illustration from the Illustrated London News, we see the basic features of it: A helmet, supplied with air from the surface, and a waterproof canvas suit. The helmet is screwed on to the suit with wingnuts, which can be seen being tightened by one of the support crew on the left of the picture.

A standard diving dress consists of a metallic (copper, brass or bronze) diving helmet, an airline or hose from a surface supplied diving air pump, a canvas diving suit, diving knife and boots. An important part of the equipment is the addition of lead weights, generally on the chest, back and boots, to counteract the buoyancy of the helmet and diving suit.

This type of diving equipment is also known as hard-hat equipment or a "John Brown" rig, so-called after the British company that built many of the helmets. In the United States, it is sometimes known as a "Diver Dan" outfit, from the television show of the same name. It was commonly used for underwater civil engineering, commercial diving and naval diving.

Contents

[edit] Types

[edit] History

The watershed development in hardhat diving was the "closed" dress, in 1837 by Augustus Siebe, where the helmet was sealed to the suit making the suit watertight. The helmet could not flood no matter how the diver moved, resulting in safer and more efficient underwater work. The overall design changed little over the years until superseded in the 1960s when SCUBA, modern fiberglass helmet designs, and saturation diving became slightly more common.

In the diving helmet, a principle similar to that of the wet diving bell is used, where compressed air is provided to the helmet. The air allows the diver to breathe normally and equalizes his internal pressure with the water pressure outside. The weight of the helmet (even filled with air) would raise the diver's center of gravity (CG) above his center of buoyancy (CB), thus tending to stand him on his head. This undesired consequence is prevented by additional weights carried on the waist and feet to lower his CG and prevent inversion. SCUBA divers also use diving weighting systems, typically weight belts or pockets in buoyancy compensators.

[edit] Popular culture

  • While searching for Red Rackham's treasure, Tintin, Captain Haddock, and the Thompson Twins used diving suits, with varying levels of success.
  • "Big Daddies" from Bioshock wear Standard Diving Dress, the variation of helmet representing "Bouncer" (Close-combat with a mining drill) who wear Carmagnolle helmets, or "Rosie" (long range with a rivet gun).
  • The 2000 film Men of Honor, which was set in the 1950s, prominently featured divers in Standard Diving Dress.

[edit] See also

[edit] Gallery

Hardhat diver entering water at Stoney Cove, England

Historical Diving Society diving at Stoney Cove, England

U.S. Navy diving dress being lowered into the water

Soviet standard diving dress with two cylinder lever pump, from Naval Museum of Tallinn

Two cylinder diver's pump made by "Drägerwerk AG" (Germany)

Three cylinder diver's pump "П3". (USSR)

16 kg lead weight, used with Soviet three bolt equipment

A diver's knife from three bolt equipment

[edit] External links