Leonardo da Vinci designed a diving suit for underwater exploration and military operations.
His notes from the early sixteenth century describe a suit made from waterproofed leather, with a mask connected to breathing tubes. The tubes were intended to reach the surface and could be supported by floating devices. The design also included features for carrying air and managing the diver’s movement underwater.
Leonardo’s concept was associated with plans to defend Venice against enemy ships. A diver in protective clothing might approach a vessel below the waterline and damage it, although there is no reliable evidence that Leonardo’s suit was built or used in combat.
The design should not be confused with a modern scuba suit. A surface-supplied system can work in principle, but Leonardo lacked modern pumps, regulators, reliable seals, and tested materials. His sketch nevertheless shows an early attempt to solve the connected problems of breathing, buoyancy, and waterproofing.