Airlock 2. Air locks became a vital piece of equipment for workers and divers carrying out work at depth. The lock served several purposes; to keep the water out of a diving bell and the air in when a shift change took place. Also, if the workmen or divers had to decompress, they could be brought to the surface in the air lock with the pressure maintained and decompressed on the surface. Being able to exchange material and tools and for engineers to inspect work being carried out was also a great advantage.
Telephone In Use The diver’s telephone is a 20th century invention which entered service in about 1912. Prior to this date the diver used either a communication tube connected to the helmet that he had to shout along, or a series of complicated signals sent via his air line or safety line. These signals had to be learned by the diver and his tender on the surface. The tender had to be sensitive to his diver’s movements and signals. Many a tender has saved his diver’s life through sensing something had gone wrong.
Deep Sea Diving Dress The dress, or suit of a helmet diver is made from a tan twill canvas which has a layer of rubber sandwiched between the inner and outer layers. It is totally watertight and is sealed with rubber seals at the divers wrists and on the corselet of the helmet. In this picture the legs have laces down the back. This is to prevent the legs becoming inflated in the event that the diver turns upside-down. This could prove dangerous for the diver who would not be able to right himself without help.
Proto Apparatus 1. Front The PROTO self-contained breathing apparatus was for use under water or in irrespirable atmospheres. It consisted of goggles with nose clip, a mouthpiece with two tubes leading to a breathing bag and oxygen scubber. An oxygen cylinder supplied fresh oxygen when required. This apparatus was for shallow water work only. Oxygen becomes poisonous to the human body and can cause convulsions if dived to deep. The apparatus proved invaluable in smoke or gas-filled environments.
Proto Apparatus 2. Back The PROTO self-contained breathing apparatus was designed to be used underwater and in irrespirable atmospheres. This picture shows the oxygen cylinder attached to the back of the harness. This apparatus proved itself in 1946 in the salvage of the MV Rippingham Grange involved in a collision outside Port Said. She had 6000 tons of meat in her holds which had become a putrefied mess giving off a poisonous gas. Five men died before it was realised. The holds were eventually cleared using the PROTO apparatus.

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