DIY Shallow Water Dive Helmet

[DblHoser]

My buddy and I are undertaking a DIY Shallow Water Dive Helmet build project. And I was just wondering if there are any DIY sights detailing this subject.

[Nemrod]

I would make sure the helmet has an open bottom and a darn good check valve. Nem

[crimediver]

I also am planning on making one but I have not had any luck with DIY sites. I am planning a copy of the Miller Dunn Divin Hood. Already bought a really nice thick copper bowl to save me the trouble of making that. The rest should not be to hard. I have been concentrating on building a surface supply console as I don't have a lot of volunteers willing to "man the pump" to get me air. I am going to refigure an air guage to make a pneumofathometer guage.

Am bidding on a Tescom regulator now to help complete the console. Let me know if you find any good info.

[1stab]

If you check out the downloads section under "Building your own Hookah," you might get some good ideas.

[DblHoser]

I would make sure the helmet has an open bottom and a darn good check valve. Nem

The design will definately be an open bottom helmet. We are considering canibalizing a 20lb Propane Tank, the type that's used on Gas Grills.

[DblHoser]

I also am planning on making one but I have not had any luck with DIY sites. I am planning a copy of the Miller Dunn Divin Hood. Already bought a really nice thick copper bowl to save me the trouble of making that.

Wow, the Miller Dunn's are really sweat helmets. The one my buddy and I are building will probably look quite crude in comparison.

[swimjim]

Diving helmets need a non return valve on the air line. This prevents the diver from being sucked up the air line in the event of a compressor failure. I think that's what Nemrod had in mind.
Although it doesn't contain any plans, the book"Shallow Water Diving & Spearfishing" Schenck and Kendal 1954 devotes an entire chapter to helmet diving. The whole book is facsintating. They do show one homemade helmet in there. It's made from a plexiglass dome. If my scanner was working I'd post the picture. Good luck with the project.

Jim

[captain]

With an open bottom helmet I don't think the check valve is a big issue. It definately is a big issue in a closed helmet, full face mask or complete suit

[Emilio Largo]

I remember an episode of Junkyard Wars where the two teams built diving helmets. One helmet was made from a water-cooler bottle and the other had a view port from a washing machine, I believe. You could probably find that episode on You Tube. Good luck and I second the recommendation of Shollow Water Diving and Spearfishing as a really good reference book.

[Bob3]

I have one of those plastic "Aqua Belle" hats, it came with no check valve. I can get a good enough seal around the shoulder area to stick the dang thing on in an uncomfortable manner.
If going any deeper than a couple-few feet I'd definitely recommend a check valve.

My first "helmet" was an old lard bucket with a couple cinder blocks for ballast & a clock crystal as a "one-eye" peeper port.
The things a kid gets into when there's a river running through the back yard, eh?

I believe the default building material for DIY hats were old riveted hot water tanks, weren't they?
I've seen pics of buckets & plain square wooden boxes rigged up as hats.