BottomTimer: Diving Heavy Gear, the Kirby Morgan Air Hat (and others)

As a follow up to my previous post, I'd like to also make note of the other various diving apparatus my class got to use the other day. In addition to the MkV, we also had the opportunity to go diving with the Kirby Morgan Air Helmet or KMAH-1 which while much lighter than the MkV is still considered "heavy gear." I did not personally dive this hat but I have some great pictures of the KMAH-1 in use which deserve to be shared!

But first, here's an abbreviated and poorly researched history of the hat!

Probably produced by Bob Kirby and Bev Morgan sometime around 1965, the Air Helmet was intended to be a better diving apparatus for undersea work, specifically construction and fishing for such critters as abalone. This new style helmet was much lighter than other diving helmets of its day and featured very large, plexiglass lights which made it easier to see what you're doing on bottom. Also, improvements were made to air inlet systems allowing for better, quieter airflow and improved communications. Functioning much like the MkV with a breastplate, screwed on helmet, and drysuit, the KMAH-1 was an improvement over existing diving technology while not constituting the complete change in the style of system which Kirby Morgan would later produce.

On to the photos! There's also a few appearances from other diving systems including some cool full face scuba masks and I'll attempt to describe them where they appear. Photo credit once again to Mr. John Ruhl. Without his photographic efforts, I would have been hard pressed to create such an incredible piece of journalistic art. National Geographic should be calling me up anyday now... Here's John Morgan getting dressed in the Kirby Morgan Air Helmet getup and getting a dive in!