The history of scuba diving is closely linked with the history of diving itself. The word “scuba” is an acronym for “self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.” The first recorded use of the word “scuba” was in a patent filed in 1942 by the French underwater explorer and film-maker, Jacques Cousteau.

Cousteau, along with his collaborator Émile Gagnan, developed the first successful scuba diving system, which they called the Aqua-Lung. The Aqua-Lung allowed divers to breathe underwater for extended periods of time, and revolutionized diving. In 1945, this design became patented. The same general system is still used today.

Since then, scuba diving has become a popular recreational activity, and there are now thousands of scuba diving schools and clubs around the world. Breathing at depth has origins dating back to ancient Greeks. Thanks to years of research and trials, humans can now effectively breathe underwater.