ADMAT Member Goes “Dutch Diving”!
Florence Prudhomme and some of the Histoire du Développement Subaquatique (HDS) Members with the Hard Hats.
“Dutch Diving” Helmet: Let’s Test It!
Members of HDS France (Histoire du Développement Subaquatique) and ADMAT's Florence Prudhomme, went to the south of France in Cap d’Adge, where one of the nicest maritime archaeological museums is located, in order to test a “shallow water” helmet designed by Kees de Jonge living in Holland (www.dehelmduiker.com).
The helmet is made of bronze and composed of three portholes, one big in the middle and two smaller ones placed laterally (see pictures).
Florence about to Dive!
Florence taking her communication and air hoses with her.
With a handle on the top to grab it in an easy way, the total weight is about 27 kilos and on the back 2 cables, one red the other blue, are used for air and for communicating with people on the surface. The quality of the sound was very pure and I could tell some jokes to the other divers.
It was a real pleasure to make a quick dive with such a helmet and it felt really comfortable. Kees explained to me that the helmet has been certified by PADI. He is now preparing another helmet inspired by the one created by the French brothers Carmagnole.
After this difficult and terrible experience with the pioneer material on the way back home, we were thinking of organizing some more test with old material and set up each year a special event dedicated to hard hat divers!
(see the link to the |French article written by Dominique Breheret, “frogmanmuseum”).
