Leonardo da Vinci’s underwater exploration invention was a diving suit.
Leonardo described a system of clothing and equipment that could allow a diver to remain underwater. The design included a mask, breathing tubes, and an air supply arrangement connected to the surface. It appeared in his studies of water and military engineering, probably as a way to support underwater activity near enemy ships.
The concept is often linked to a proposed method of attacking or sabotaging vessels, but the historical evidence does not show that Leonardo’s suit was built or used in combat. Its tubing, air storage, and breathing arrangement also present practical problems that would have required careful testing.
Leonardo’s idea should not be confused with a diving bell, which encloses air in a rigid chamber, or with a submarine, which carries an entire crew inside a vessel. His design was a wearable breathing system for an individual diver.