Diving bell

Franz Kessler Wasserharnisch 1616

A diving bell was an early system for underwater diving. The basic idea of a bell is that a hollow object, even with an open bottom, will hold air when put under water (this can be seen with a glass in a sink). If the bell is heavy enough it will sink below the water. A swimmer can be inside the bell and breathe, or hold his breath and swim outside the bell for a short time, and come back to the bell to breath again. The idea had been around for a long time, but became useful in the 1600s. Scuba diving has mostly replaced diving bells although they are still used sometimes.

Diving Bell Media

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  16th century Islamic painting of Alexander the Great lowered in a glass diving bell

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  Open diving bell on a stern mounted launch and recovery system

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  Cross section of a closed bell umbilical cable assembly showing the hoses and electrical cables

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  Personnel Transfer Capsule – closed diving bell

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  Barge with air-lock diving bell for working on moorings

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  Service vessel Carl Straat has a diving bell allowing to walk down to the river ground in a depth of up to 10 meters.

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  A Swedish Navy submarine rescue diving bell from the early 1940s