Leonardo da Vinci designed an early diving suit for underwater breathing in the early 16th century.
His design used a mask connected to tubes that extended above the water, allowing a diver to breathe from the surface. The drawings are associated with Leonardo’s studies of military engineering and possible underwater operations near Venice.
The apparatus was not a modern scuba set. It depended on surface air and did not include a compressed-air tank, regulator, or reliable method for controlling pressure. Some versions of the design also included a bag for collecting urine, reflecting Leonardo’s attention to practical details during long dives.
Leonardo’s diving suit is often confused with a submarine because both belong to underwater technology, but the suit was intended to let a person swim beneath the surface rather than travel inside a sealed vessel. There is no firm evidence that Leonardo’s design was built or used operationally.