Welcome to the website dedicated to the history of diving in Holland. After more than 30 years of collecting old diving books, related photographs, diving apparatus and vintage diving equipment, it seems time to share the information with a wider audience. The website provides an account of the early days of diving here in Holland and the development and use of diving apparatus and equipment. The story begins in 1605 with the ‘Leeghwater Diving Bell’, which is then followed by various sections in historical chronological order. Sections include the import and use of the English ‘Deane’s’ diving apparatus in 1836, and a journalist’s account of (1843) diving using a Dutch ‘open’helmet made by Bikkers of Rotterdam. This is followed by the import of various diving apparatus for use by the military commercial enterprises and from manufacturers including Denayrouze, Heinke, Siebe Gorman, Ludwig von Bremen (later HAGENUK) Fr. Flohr, Draeger, and more recently Yokohama, Kirby Morgan, Aquadine and the Dutch made van Leest and Pommec equipment. The information, photographs and illustrations included on this website are sourced from my personal archive. Many photographs are taken of helmets that I no longer own. Any current owners of a particular helmet who would like their name to be given with the appropriate photograph should contact me. Photographs I have taken of helmets that I do not own are reproduced here with the owner’s kind permission and name.
Thank you, David L. Dekker.
