Jacques Cousteau
Jacques Cousteau devoted much of his time to ocean exploration following World War II. He purchased a minesweeper called the Calypso and sailed it around the world, including the Antarctic Circle. He collected data and conducted experiments that led to the Calypso-Phot underwater camera and SP-350 deep-sea submarine for two.
Cousteau began to research the aqua lung, which is a new breathing apparatus. Although this apparatus was able to allow Cousteau to breathe in controlled air, it was only suited for shallow diving. Cousteau recognized that he needed to find the deepest parts of the oceans and a better way regulate air flow. He developed the demand regulator through his experiments, which allowed air only to move according to demand. This invention would allow divers to increase their air supply and prevent decompression sickness.
Yves le Prieur
Yves le Prieur's contributions to scubadiving date back to early 1900s. In 1946 he invented a fullface mask with a loose front plate that was a sort of diaphragm for the demand regulator. His next invention was the diving regulator.
1933 was the year that the first scuba diver apparatus was invented. The device combined the Fernez-Le-Prieur's air supply system and the demand regulator created by Rouquayrol and Denayrouze. This device changed the face of scuba diving by making underwater respirators affordable and more accessible. This was the birthplace recreational scuba.
Guy Gilpatric
Guy Gilpatric is a pioneer in scuba divership history. He was the author of the first sport diving guide, and his Saturday Evening Post articles were amongst those that covered scuba dive. His passion for the sea and its natural beauty led him explore the Mediterranean and to write about it. It is believed that the book inspired Jacques Cousteau to develop modern scuba diving.
In the early 20th-century, the invention of modern scuba diving equipment began. Guy Gilpatric (an American marine biologist) invented a system which allowed divers to breath air without having to use surface air. Later, Yves Le Prier invented a self-contained underwater breathing system. Owen Churchill bought the system, and the scuba-rig gained rapid popularity. Guy Gilpatric designed rubber goggles with lenses made from glass, swim fins, masks, snorkels, and face masks.
Yves Gagnan
Scuba divers used to depend on their helmets, diving bells, or air hoses from above at the beginning of this century. However, with the help of a Parisian engineer, Yves Gagnan, they were able to develop a demand valve system. The new device was capable of providing compressed air on-demand and could adjust to the pressure of surrounding water. This discovery enabled people of all levels to explore oceans.
Gagnan was in Burgundy (France) in 1900. After graduating college, he started working at Air Liquide. There he learned high-pressure pneumatic designing. This eventually led to the design of the scuba equipment today.