Leonardo da Vinci designed a diving suit for divers who might operate underwater near enemy ships.
His plans, associated with studies made in Venice, included a protective suit, breathing tubes, and a method for allowing a diver to remain below the surface. The concept reflected a practical military concern: Venice was a maritime power and feared attacks by sea.
The suit was not the same as modern scuba equipment. Leonardo’s design relied on air supplied from the surface through tubes, while modern scuba divers carry compressed air cylinders. His drawings also show a mask and other components intended to help the wearer function underwater.
The design is often described as an early diving suit, but evidence that Leonardo’s complete apparatus was constructed or used is lacking. It is therefore best understood as an inventive engineering proposal rather than a proven working invention.