Diveman underwater breather

[Tommymac]

I though divers on this forum would be interested in seeing this device. The diver wears a plastic bag in a container on their chest. From the bottom of the canaster are two straps that one attaches to your feet. There is a 20' air hose going to a surface dive flag float. As the diver swims, leg movement operates the bag as a pump drawing air down the hose to the diver.

These were banned in some countries, reasons given are poor air exchange depending on diver movement, poor instructions and training. I believe they were designed and made in Germany, this particular unit was purchased in Japan, circa late 1980's

Double hose in picture is there to give you a size referance.

 

[SwimJim]

Nice JetAir! The diveman thing is different, that's for sure.

 

[elmer fudd]

Now that really does look dangerous. I wouldn't necessarily condemn the whole concept, but the execution... well, let's just say it's got a bit of an Aquabell look to it.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I also think this is a dangerous concept, ineptly put together probably by a marketing team. The physics really are questionably. Remember the hand pumps that were used in the early 1900s for hard hat diving, and the very long lever arms necessary to move enough air for a diver at even moderate depths? Well, this doesn't look remotely close to being able to do that, especially in a weightless environment with a very questionable attachment harness (not a hard point to move the pump against). I would not even try it in a pool, as there would be the potential of drawing air out of the lungs below the diver's residual volume--quite dangerous in concept from my point of view, without seeing schematics and the other information someone would need to convince me to even try it.

SeaRat

PS--The Jet Air looks great!

 

[elmer fudd]

I don't think there would be much chance of collapsing a lung. I think that to make it work they'd need to have a pair of one way valves, one at each hose. The chances of both failing seems pretty slim.

I think it would be cool to see a video of someone using this. Perhaps not me.

 

[Tommymac]

Not even in a pool for me. I did find some pictures of someone using it on the net, however, looks like basically a porn site and didn't think it would too good to provide a link. I believe the same company made one with a solid plastic float with two battery operated pumps.

Thanks for comments on Jet Air. My collection also includes a super minty Stream Air and Black Prince.

 

[elmer fudd]

I think I know the site. I ran across that while googling "vintage diving pictures".

 

[Tommymac]

Attaching another photo. This one shows the internal bag which looks like the bag older two bagger BC's used to have. I haven't taken this apart. There is a one way valve where the surface supply hose attaches to the plastic shell.

Tom

 

[elmer fudd]

If anyone's interested, there are three of these for sale in the Spokane area, supposedly NIB. The price is a little high for my blood, but maybe someone else really has a yearning for some especially dubious looking dive gear.

Diveman - underwater continuous air system

 

[james croft]

Looks like this was brought to you by the same folks that invented the Lawn Dart and the Bag O' Glass.....
I would not buy one but I would try to dive one if I had one handy. It can't be much worse than the mask I had with the built in dual snorkes with the ping pong balls in the cages in the 60's.