Stamps on Scuba Diving
Alderney 1998

      

The islanders of Alderney, their lives so dependent on the power of the sea, have always found a fascination with what lies below the surface. This second part of Alderney's Past-Times series looks at the development of underwater exploration through the years, and commemorates the 21st anniversary of Alderney's diving club.

The Lethbridge barrel developed in 1715 (featured on the Souvenir Sheet) was the first atmospheric form of diving dress, allowing the diver to remain underwater for up to 20 minutes before returning to the surface for the foul air to be replaced with fresh.

The Deane Open Helmet (63p) was developed in the 1820s from breathing apparatus used in fire fighting. Air is pumped down the tube at the top of the helmet and expelled at the lower rim.

The Siebe Closed Helmet (43p) improved safety since it was sealed so that if the diver bent or fell over, the helmet would not fill with water.

Helmets similar to the Heinke Closed Helmet (37p) were used locally, and could have been worn to salvage the Liverpool, the sailing ship shown on the stamp which was wrecked at Corblets Bay, Alderney in 1902.

In the 1940s Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan invented the Demand Valve (30p) which meant that divers could swim freely without a helmet and diving suit, thus making the hobby of the members of the Alderney Diving Club possible for amateurs. The mail boat SS Stella which sank off Alderney in 1899 disappearing without trace, was only found by divers after the development of the aqualung.

The Modern Superlite Helmet (20p) was developed in the 1960s enabling divers to work in deep cold water on projects such as building oil rigs. The stricken tanker MV Point Law went aground off Alderney in 1975 necessitating the skills of divers in the salvaging.