October 1, an exhibition dedicated to the development of diving equipment was opened in the Central Naval Museum. It presents unique items from the CNM collection, as well as specimens of modern diving and rescue equipment of such domestic manufacturers as JSC "CAMPO" and LLC Research and Production Company North-Western Shipping Agency.
The history of diving in Russia numbers more than four centuries. The urgent need in diving operations arose after the end of the Eastern (Crimean) War of 1853-1856 in connection with the survey and the rise of the ships scuttled in Sevastopol. It was already in 1861 that divers were introduced in personnel of warships of the Russian Navy divers were introduced, and the diving equipment became authorized equipment. By a decree of Emperor Alexander III of 23 April (5 May) 1882 in Kronstadt the first diving school in the world was opened. The Decree stated that it was to prepare "officers and lower ranks experienced in diving for ship needs and underwater mine operations". At the time no similar school existed abroad. Russian divers became known throughout the world.
The Central Naval Museum presents exhibits of its unique collection numbering about 200 items and reflecting the development of diving from 1860s to 1960s. Its core items are the diving equipment of the Kronstadt diving school which entered the museum in 1925.
The exhibition prepares for visitors a great many discoveries. From the story of the diving bell of the German professor Sturm, later improved by the English astronomer Edmund Halley widely known by the name of the comet studied by him and the engineer Spilding who died in his bell in 1785, the exhibition will lead the visitors to our days in which, by the way, diving bells are also used, but as a means of saving and transporting divers. One of the first ventilated diving outfit in Russia designed by C.E. HEINKE firm became something like a modern diver's suit. Its twelve-bolt helmet which is like that used in 1857 when salvaging the ships scuttled in the Sevastopol Bay may be seen at the exhibition.
The Kronstadt diving school opened in Russia for the first time on 5 May, 1882 takes a prominent place in the exhibition’s exposition. The makers of the exhibition could not fail to mention the Dispatch office of special-purpose underwater works set up in December 1923 which combined all diving matters in the country and arranged large-scale manufacture of diving equipment. For many years the life and service of Rear-Admiral Nikolai Chiker who masterminded most important ship salvage operations were linked with this entity. His ceremonial dress coat, awards and dirk wrought by Zlatoust masters can be seen at the exhibition.
Diving is a very difficult job, and not every man can cope with it, but there were also women among divers. It was during the Great Patriotic War that Nina Sokolova, a participant of the defense of Leningrad, the chief engineer of the Leningrad water-engineering detachment, became the first professional lady diver. She came up with the idea to construct such a unique structure as the Ladoga pipeline to supply fuel to the forces of the Leningrad front and Leningrad. Laid on the bottom of Lake Ladoga, it was built under hostile fire in record-breaking time, 43 days.
There are other unique items among the rarities presented at the exhibition. They include a diving suit with salvage appliances proposed by an engineer Angelo Belloni. In the 1930s Italian submarines were furnished with it. Unfortunately, already in the years of World War II they found a completely different application. Commando divers of the Tenth MAS Flotilla of the Royal Navy of Italy commanded by the "Black Prince" Valerio Borghese left in them the submarines when departing to perform subversive operations against Allies ships. But the ideas proposed by Belloni were not forgotten and were further developed.
At the exhibition you can see specimens of modern diving and savage outfits manufactured by domestic enterprises. One of the oldest enterprises of Moscow region JSC "CAMPO" (prior to 1993 Orekhovo-Zuyevo Oxygen Equipment Design Bureau) shows specimens of divers’ salvage outfits, of multi-purpose, special and deep-sea diving outfits, breathing apparatus, diver life support system, and so on.
LLC "Research and Production Company North-Western Shipping Agency (St. Petersburg) will show a marine life vest, safety vest and safety drysuits enabling a person to be under water up to 6 hours at a low temperature.
And this is only the beginning of a fascinating journey into the century and a half of diving, from Peter the Great to the present day, which all those who wish can undertake already from the 1st of October, when the Central Naval Museum will open "The abyss would stare into their portholes".
