Submarine Appliances And Their Uses
Deep Sea Diving, &c., &c.

Copyright. Photo No. 95. Photos Nos. 95 and 96 illustrate two of the many different forms of diving dresses, which have been designed with a view to their withstanding the water pres- sure at great depths without a corresponding pressure of air inside to balance, as in the case of the ordinary diving dress. No. 95 is from the designs of a Frenchman; No. 96, which is the more practical, from those of two Australians named Buchanan and Gordon. I he latter suit is made in two parts—the upper consisting of head and body o( stout copper, the arms and lower hall of the dress (excepting the thigh part, which is also of copper) consisting of a series of special metallic springs, covered in- side and out with very strong waterproof material. The arms are fitted with spiral springs, and the legs with jointed supports to prevent the water pressure forcing them upwards. I here is also an arrangement by which the suit can be adjusted to the height of the diver. The dress is fitted with two valves—the inlet or air supply valve and the outlet or air escape valve—both being under the control of the diver. To the escape valve is connected a floating pipe, the upper (open) end of which can be sub- merged to any required depth below the surface, thus allowing the air to escape more freely, and enabling the diver to regulate the air pressure in the dress with greater facility. The weight of the suit is about 3J cwt.