Check for Leaks

In the 1930s, a Turk called Dr Joseph Peress designed an armoured diving suit which carried out several dives on the wreck of the RMS Lusitania at the behest of the British government. Then 40 years later, a new version of the suit was produced by a company called DHB Ltd to work in the new, deep, underwater oilfields around the world. During the mid-1970s, the British government became interested in its potential and so the Atmospheric Diving Group was set up to evaluate the system. Unfortunately, budgets were tight and so only three people could be spared to form the team, resulting in a do what you can and hope for the best attitude. Richard Castle looks back on his six years of working with scientists, divers and the many technicians who, with a dash of bumbling, a small amount of stupidity yet incredible off-the-cuff initiative, helped to make diving safer for all those who work under the sea.