Leonardo da Vinci described an early diving suit with a face mask, breathing tube, and equipment for underwater exploration.
His notes from the early 16th century propose a diver’s outfit made from waterproof leather. A mask covered the face, and tubes extended upward to the surface so the diver could breathe. Leonardo also described related equipment, including a bag for collecting urine and a system intended to keep the breathing tubes afloat.
The design was not modern scuba equipment. It relied on air at the surface and did not provide a compressed-air cylinder carried by the diver. Long breathing tubes also create serious practical and physiological problems, especially at depth.
Leonardo’s proposal is nevertheless an important milestone in the history of diving technology. It shows that he understood the central challenge of underwater work: protecting the body while supplying breathable air.