Aqua-Lung, the world's first self-contained, open-circuit underwater breathing apparatus, gained worldwide fame and commercial success. This equipment is also known as the twin-hose diving regulator or demand valve. Aqua-Lung's breathing apparatus works in a similar way to a traditional scuba tank. The regulator is connected with a demand valve that regulates the flow and pressure of the air into the lungs.
Jacques Cousteau
Jacques Cousteau's aqua lung - A fascinating tale in Scuba Technology! The original Aqua-Lung was invented during World War II. Cousteau was a French national who developed the underwater breathing device in 1943. His inspiration came from a device perfected by Captain Yves Le Prieur in 1925. Although the Aqua-Lung was initially limited in functionality, the Germans eventually requisitioned gasoline to be used on the battlefield. Cousteau modified an existing regulator to develop the Aqualung and later invented the autonomous diving system.
Cousteau was instrumental in the development of scuba technology and discovered underwater archeology. 1946 was the year Cousteau led the first self-contained diving operation and recovered the Roman shipwreck Mahdia. The following year, he transformed a British minesweeper to an oceanographic research vessel. Unfortunately, he had difficulty raising the funds for the expeditions. Instead, he turned his passion to dive into The Silent World (which became a highly successful movie).
Aqua-Lung has been the most important innovation in diving. It was invented by Jacques Cousteau (in 1959) and has allowed divers freedom of movement under water. The Aqua lung has been a popular tool, and Cousteau is responsible for the creation of many other tools that allow for oceanographic exploration. Cousteau was the inventor of the first underwater camera in 1959. Cousteau's innovations have revolutionized scuba diving.
Emile Gagnan
1945: Emile Gagnan (Jacques Yves Cousteau) and Emile Gaugnan (Emile Gagnan) patent the Aqua-Lung diving regulation. Aire Liquide (a French company) purchased the rights for the manufacture of the regulator. It was later sold to the U.S. Divers Corporation. This regulator was the latest innovation of the French CG45 regulator, and it was made in Canada. This regulator proved to be extremely successful.
Initially, the Aqua-lung was called Aqua-lung. It was first sold in France in 1946. The Aqua-lung was later brought to America in 1952. In 1958, Air Liquide purchased U.S. Air Liquide purchased U.S. Divers in 1958 and changed its name to Aqua Lung America. It eventually became a division within Air Liquide, and today is the largest dive company in the world. Aqua-lung is now a key component in almost every set of Scuba gear.
The Aqua-Lung was invented by two Frenchmen: Emile Gagnan and Jacques Cousteau. Both men were spymen for the French Resistance during World War II. Robert Ballard pursued his passion for the sea after the war. Emile Gagnan was a Frenchman who worked for L'Air Liquide. He eventually met Emile. They learned high-pressure pneumatic design as engineers. Gagnan’s idea was realized into an fully-automated, compressed-air system for scuba diving called Aqua-Lung.