Helmet diving, Rebreather in "The Terror" (set in 1847~).

[Chavodel8en]

Anyone been watching "The Terror" on AMC? Ok show, although its starting to drag. Based on a true story, but lots of dramatic license, Im sure. Basic plot is 2 British navy ships (the "Erebus" and the "Terror") get ice-bound in far northern Canada searching for the NW Passage. That and there is an ice-demon stalking them. [Serves them right for mis-treating the indigenous folk]

So in the first episode, a diver must repair the screws. He dons the classic diving helmet w/ porthole, canvas suit, and what looks like a primitive rebreather.

Anyone know the historicity of this? I see that single diver rebreathers may have been in use since the early 1800s. When did the British Navy start outfitting their ships w/ diving equipment? 1847 seems very early.

 

[АлександрД]

I did not saw it, it quite long
But you can compare, what are you seen there:
May be it was Rouquayrol demand valve for helmet? http://www.divinghelmet.nl/1860-rouquayrol-denayrouze.html
But officially it appears after 1860...
First Draeger rebreather for helmet diving appears after 1912 http://www.divinghelmet.nl/1899-draegerwerk.html
so, you can go thru this website and find, whch one you can see in the movie

 

[Chavodel8en]

It looked more like a rebreather. It was a small canvas bag worn on the chest - similar looking to the rebreathers I have seen used by early 20th century submarine crews. I didn't see any solid tanks or surface supplied hoses.

Its very likely that this was dramatic license, and the actual British expedition in 1847 didn't have diving equipment on board. Moreover, it was extreme sub-freezing temperature (enough to ice-lock the ships), so I don't know if anyone could have actually survived such a dive.