NAUI in Australia is the first sport certifying company to train divers in Standard dress diving. NAUI also certifies divers in Advanced Standard Dress Diving.


The authors of the NAUI courses are Australian Frank Zeigler and American Stephen Taylor.


Successful attendees receive a certificate from the course tutors

Historic Diving Society ( South East Asia Pacific)

At a meeting of the South East Asia Pacific Historical Diving Society last week (August 2009) The Toa helmet from Japan was used for a demonstration of Helmet Diving.

Steven K. Taylor from Melbourne Australia sent us these pictures

The diver wearing his suit has the boots fitted.
 		 The corselett studs are being tightened.
 
The divers receives a final briefing.
 		 The diver checks out his air control valve.
 
The diver begins his descent at the top of the ladder.
 		 Diver enters the water and adjusts his air control valve.
 
The diver is positively buoyant at the surface.
 		 The Safety diver is in attendance.
 
Our contributor Steve Taylor.
 		 Night Diving.
 
This Diver clearly enjoyed the experience.

With thanks to Steven K. Taylor for sending us the photos of this event.

Dutch Diving Helmets

On The 10 December at the diving Pool of Monte Mare in Germany guests and members of the Dutch Working Equipment group were give a demonstration of the Dutch Diving Helmet . The designer and maker of the helmet amazed the participants with a display of agility akin to a high wire act. The demonstration included free swimming, leaps and jumps not possible with a traditional shallow water helmet, this being due to the stability on the divers shoulders of the perfectly balanced helmet. The helmet is supplied with air from the surface from a high pressure storage cylinder and regulated by an automatic valve which adjusts the air pressure according to the depth.

Seen here using the Dutch Diving Helmet on the right is Kees de Jonge the designer or the helmet . In the middle is a member of the Working Equipment Group using an Aquabell helmet from around 1970 The helmet on the left is a Miller Dunn Style 1 from around 1920 and is being used by your web host.



In the picture below we see Kees demonstrating a 1950's Siebe Gorman 6 bolt helmet . Kees has descended to the pool floor using the traditional method of descent, a shot rope. Air is supplied by a high pressure cylinder supplying air at a rate of 52 litres per minute at the surface. This rate is calculated to purge the helmet rapidly of carbon dioxide which is present in the divers expired air.



In a close up shot we see Kees is clearly enjoying the dive! The nose clip is used by the diver to equalise as he descends . If there is a flat bottom the diver would knock off the clip to make breathing more comfortable when working.



In the picture below we see the Snead style2 being demonstrated . Made from cast Iron the weight of the helmet meant there were no extra weights required to make the helmet negatively buoyant. There were 2 styles of this helmet , the earlier one having a larger window.



For more information regarding the Dutch Diving Helmets visit this page Dutch Diving Helmets

or visit www.dutchdivinghelmets.com

 

JULES UNDER THE SEA LODGE in Key Largo Florida

Marc Cohen of the Treasure Coast Working Equipment Group is seen here preparing to dive at Key Largo in Florida. Using his 4 light commercial Morse 12 bolt
helmet dating back to 1933 this is one of the earliest helmets of this model to be known to still exist. From the picture below it appears to be in great working order.
 
Tenders and volunteer divers are always at hand and the equipment works well even at 30 feet.
The suit is made by Converse and the weight belt is a Morse commercial pattern.
The helmet an A.J.MORSE & SON INC and bears the serial number 3450.

Photo courtesy of Marc Cohen.

 

Dive into History Day

Dive into History Day at Weeki Wachee Springs


At the Weeki Wachee Springs located at Spring Hills
Florida a Diver with a shallow water helmet has caught a mermaid.
Photo © John Galagan of Brasshatdiver.com

 


Harald Swillen of Belgium diving with a Galeazzi Helmet in la Spezia Italy
 

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