UNDER SEA WITH HELMET AND CAMERA 



mind a chance to try diving, the life line should be used. 



When operating in a strong tidal current, there is danger of being 

 swept off one's feet. The body might take a horizontal position, when 

 the helmet would fill with water. Rescue would then be necessary by 

 means of the life line. 



After a diver has gone down a few times, it becomes evident that the 

 helmet could be thrown off and he could ascend like any swimmer. He 

 has no encumbrances, since the weights that hold him down are attached 

 to the helmet. I advocated this in talks to beginners— "If you don't like 

 it, take your helmet off and come up. There's nothing to stop you." Re- 

 cent enlightenment has taught me, however, that to discard the helmet 

 and swim to the surface is a dangerous thing to do. My information was 

 obtained from Commander Edward Ellsberg's Men Under the Sea. This, 

 by the way, is a most fascinating book for anyone interested in our gen- 

 eral subject. 



The Commander explains the "lung," an article of emergency equip- 

 ment now provided in all of our Navy's submarines. It is, in short, an 

 implement available to each sailor, making possible his exit from a 

 foundered "sub," by enabling him to breathe while he is ascending to 

 the surface. He takes in oxygen at the same pressure as the surrounding 

 water and the pressure decreases as he ascends. This is all right if used 

 properly. But the point I make is that if used improperly the victim has 

 acted as a person must act if he throws off his helmet and ascends to the 

 surface. The following information is quoted from Commander Ells- 

 berg: 



"But to see a man, who in practicing with a 'lung' had risen through 

 only sixteen feet of water to the surface, come up apparently all right, 

 take one or two vigorous strokes in swimming toward a boat, and then 

 suddenly collapse and die before he could be hauled aboard, was dis- 



