AQUALUNG

Inventor: Jacques Cousteau, Emile Gangan

  • Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan invent the modern aqualung by producing a new regulator in 1943
  • George Commeinhes was the first to invent a full automatic aqualung
  • The first American aqualung dive was performed by Arnie Post in 1948

The aqualung is an apparatus that allows a person to breath while underwater, independent of any cables or other hindrances. It consists of an air tank, a regulator, which provides air and changes the pressure in the air tank to match that of the water around you, and the harness. This first fully automatic aqualung was invented by the Frenchman Georges Commeinhes. Frenchmen Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan produced a new regulator which was the first modern aqualung. This device has been used for a variety or purposes under the water, including recreation, scientific study, shipwreck recovery, and others. The first American aqualung dive was in 1948 by Arnie Post.

*Pictures from Encarta Encyclopedia

SOURCES:

The History of Scuba Diving. Last modified 1997. Accessed April 12, 2004: http://www.elanguest.com/reporter/scuba.html

  • This website provided a very detailed history of scuba diving, including the history of the aqualung. It also described the parts of an aqualung, which was useful.

Timeline of Scuba Diving History by PADA. Accessed April 12, 2004: http://www.divinghistory.com/scubatimeline2.htm

  • This website contained a detailed timeline about scuba diving which included how the aqualung was first used in America

 

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