What protective vessel did Leonardo da Vinci design for a diver underwater?

Leonardo da Vinci designed an early diving suit for a diver underwater.

His notes describe a suit made from waterproof leather, with a mask connected to breathing tubes that reached the surface. The system was intended to let a person remain submerged while breathing through air supplied from above. Leonardo also considered ways to manage buoyancy and protect the diver.

The design is associated with plans for underwater military operations near Venice, although the historical evidence does not show that Leonardo built or tested the complete suit. The proposal demonstrates his interest in applying anatomy, materials, and engineering to a practical problem.

Leonardo’s suit was not a self-contained scuba system. A modern scuba diver carries compressed gas, whereas the Renaissance design relied on air from the surface. It is also distinct from a diving bell, which encloses a larger pocket of air instead of fitting closely around the diver’s body.