During World War II, a group of scientists undertook over 600 experiments on themselves to aid divers and submariners. At the time, diving in the 1940s was popular but required bulky suits and large helmets, as well as constant tethering to boats for air supply. Scientists were aware of decompression sickness caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the blood when divers ascended too quickly from deep dives, which could be fatal in severe cases.
The sinking of the submarine Thetis in 1939 led an investigation into the inadequacies of breathing support equipment for underwater mobility. John Burdon Sanderson Haldane conducted experiments on himself and colleagues in a high-pressure chamber to study the effects of different gases and pressure levels on the human body. Through their work, Haldane and his team discovered the dangers of excess CO2, oxygen toxicity, and nitrogen intoxication in high-pressure environments. They also found the ideal mixture of oxygen and air for divers and submarine crews to breathe without side effects. This led to the development of breathing support equipment used by the British Navy during World War II.
The dangerous experiments conducted by Haldane’s group not only aided in the D-Day campaign but also contributed to the scientific foundations of modern scuba diving. Their work paved the way for advances in underwater breathing technology that continue to save lives today. Despite