February General Meeting

Tonight guest speaker will be VSAG favourite and Life Member Des Williams who will talk about the Development of the Rebreather. Des is a member of MAAV Marine Archaeology Association of Victoria the Historical Diving Society and has published many books on Marine and diving History.

We will also judge the November,December and January photo contests.

Here is more from Des on his presentation:

HISTORY OF THE FLEUSS REBREATHER

From the earliest experimental rebreather apparatus of 1708 (which consisted of a couple of layers of flannel impregnated with salt, vinegar and potash) to the sophisticated modern rebreathers of the 21^st century – the story of the development of the land/sea-use rebreather is a fascinating one, but so seldom told!

At the VSAG meeting on February 20^th, Des Williams from the Historical Diving Society, will present a potted-history of the development of the rebreather. This presentation will be illustrated with rare historical images from the 19^th and 20^th centuries. The rebreather was initially developed for land-use, to facilitate coal mine-rescue in irrespirable atmospheres, but it took the vision of one man, Henry Fleuss, to experiment with the apparatus underwater, in 1878.

Divers using the apparatus during the 19^th & 20^th centuries very quickly discovered that the fickle rebreather could be either a friend or foe and safety knowledge was gained the hard way!

Of course a good presentation wouldn’t be complete without a few hairy-chested divers’ stories and some tales of brave derring-do, so these have not been omitted! Hope to see you at VSAG on the 27^th February.    

Des Williams