SIEBE GORMAN Dive Gear.


The helmet diving was developed in the early 1820’s First, the Deane brothers developed a helmet with the aid of Augustus Siebe. (the full story can be read in The Infernal Diver, written by John Bevan) and in 1837 Augustus Siebe patented his own diving system. This consisted of a helmet, suit, shoes, weights, belt with knife and a pump. During the years the diving suit developed until it was slowly replaced by modern composite materials. In Holland the helmet was used during the famous Delta works but also by building quay’s, bridges, tunnels, locks and other works that involved hydrolic engineering.

During and after the 60’s the helmet slowly but surely was replaced but some of the older divers refused to use this modern equipment. But even old divers retire and nowadays in Holland the famous diving helmet is not in use anymore. And while the retired divers pass away there is the danger that they take their knowledge of hart hat diving with them.

But we intend to prevent that from happening…….

"The Helmetdiver" provides a chance to really dive with this old equipment. It is the only Dutch diving school where the use of the original Siebe Gorman equipment including a diving pump is available. A good opportunity to learn helmet diving at its best….. And it is not just a day out diving, it is a big party…..


We start the day with an extensive briefing about the diving history, the used equipment, how to dive with it and the dressing and undressing procedures. In this briefing we tell, among other subjects, that the total weight of the diving suit is over 70 kilograms. Mostly somebody will say "we never can come up again" but nothing is less true. Even with all this weight you have to be careful not to get a positive buoyancy. Even a free ascent is possible with the standard suit. Do we make you curious? Well, what are you waiting for, sign in….

Foto: Do you have a life insurance??????



Not we but the divers themselves decide how long they will stay underwater. Well to be honest that’s not completely true, it is the attendants who operate the pump, but nevertheless, it’s all up to you. Turning the wheel is not the only participation, everybody is expected to help with the communication, the tending of the hoses and the dressing and undressing of the diver.

The Diving takes place in the nature swimming pool of The IJzeren Man at Eindhoven or at the chloride water pool of Manta Diving at Baarlo. Please take a look at the different pages.

The prices for 2005 are as followed:

In this way we reach our goals: through education en demonstration we keep the diving history "alive and kicking". Also it is a beautiful way to promote the helmet diving, both by giving people a chance to dive with this equipment as well as by our presence at exhibitions and shows.