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A History of Russian Diving

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A History of Russian Diving A History of Diving in Russia by Jeff Maynard Post-Revolution from England, Communism, followed by the Germany and France. Cold War, meant that for a By the 1850s greater part of the 20th century Russia was importing we didn’t know a great deal Siebe and Heinke about what was happening closed diving dresses, inside Russia. Now a new book and the Russian Navy the Illustrated History of formally adopted Russian Diving: 1829 – 1940 Heinke gear as its goes a long way towards standard diving revealing the rich and colourful equipment in 1861. subject of Russia’s diving Civilian divers history. began importing the Like most European French Rouquayrol- countries, Russia’s history Denayrouze (RD) mentions free-divers doing equipment in the 1860s, various underwater jobs, almost and this was widely from the beginning of written used. One of the records. During the reign of Peter fascinating photos in the Great, diving bells began to the book shows RD be used to build bridges or to gear in use in the salvage ships. 1890s. It is probably The first diving helmets the only photo of this appeared, coincidentally, at gear in use in the 19th almost exactly the same time as century. the Deane’s open dress. A Russian diving The school was moved to Russian mechanic, Gauzen, built got an official headquarters in different locations after the an open helmet in 1828 and, a 1882 with the formation of the Revolution (1917) before settling year later, it was shown to the Kronstadt Diving School. The in Sevastopol until it was merged ‘Ministry of the Sea’. It appears school became a centre for diving with EPRON in 1928. to be a single-light helmet, held training as well as a research and Post-Revolution, another in place with a metal strap that testing facilitiy. The Kronstadt organisation, the Central Diving passed between the diver’s legs. Diving School trained navy and Base, was formed in Leningrad in Excess air passes out at the civilian divers. A diving course 1921. It united various diving bottom of the helmet and a rope lasted one year and, because the companies under the leaky attached to the top raises and education standard of cadets was communist umbrella; companies lowers the diver. The Science often low, included general that had been involved in the Committee of the Ministry of the education as well. It was possibly manufacture of diving equipment Sea used the helmet well into the the first diving school to initiate or diver training. The Central 1870s. training in a purpose-built Diving Base was involved mainly Deane’s open helmet was training tank. The book is richly in civil construction until it was imported in 1838 – at least a year illustrated with photographs of merged with EPRON in 1930. before Augustus Siebe developed this era and shows divers entering EPRON (Expedition of it into the closed dress – and this the tank, attending lectures and Special Purpose Underwater began a tradition of importing the the using the equipment rooms. Works) was created in 1923 by best possible diving equipment the OGPU (a forerunner of the 1 KGB) for the specific purpose of in difficult economic times. Of and 12-bolt style helmets. Quality locating gold in a British ship the first 1500 applicants, only 17 was often an issue and, whenever sunk during the Crimean War. It were selected to undertake possible, Siebe or Drager helmets built an underwater observation training. Again, the book is richly were procured and used. chamber and, although it didn’t illustrated with photographs from Nevertheless helmets remained find any gold, it did grow over the Diving College the next ten years to assimilate in the 1930s. the Central Diving Base and the The building Kronstradt Diving School. and maintenance of EPRON began to diving equipment concentrate on ship salvage and continued to be an in 1924 successfully lifted a issue up until submarine from 16 metres. World War Two. EPRON was responsible for EPRON refloating much of the Black Sea commenced Fleet which Lenin had ordered manufacturing its sunk in 1918. own three-bolt After it had absorbed the helmets in the Kronstadt Diving School, 1930s. A rare and expensive. Right up to EPRON started diver training in photograph of the gear shows the the War divers were still using earnest and formed the Navy Star of Russia moulded into the patched-up RD helmets from the Diving College in 1931. For new diver’s chest weight. EPRON 19th century. recruits it was gruelling training went on to later build both three 2 Divers were taught to build, A. Borovikov and published in about 120 Euros to have one sent repair and maintain their own Moscow last year. It is 150 pages to Australia, they are not cheap. gear. An important part of this (hardcover) and mainly a But if you are serious about was the diving suits which wore photographic record of Russian books relating to diving helmets, out quicker than the helmets. diving. It is written in both then this one should sit alongside Divers learnt to work with rubber Russian and English. Sometimes Helmets of the Deep, 20,000 Jobs and canvas and each diver had to the English translation is a bit Under the Sea and John Bevan’s make an actual suit. clunky, but it is really the Infernal Diver. EPRON also designed and photographs that make the book David Dekker can be made its own lightweight such a collectible. David Dekker reached at rebreathers for shallow water in Holland has them available. At [email protected] work and submarine Previous page: excape. It addition Gauzen’s open helmet of to its own 1828. Opp. page top: observation The Kronstadt diving chambers it also school in the 1890s. imported Neufeldt Below: A diving and Kuhnke iron exhibition in 1870. man suits. Above: An EPRON The diving team in the Illustrated History 1930s. Left: The of Russian beautifully produced Diving: book. 1829-1940 was written by Pavel 3.
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