The early days of snorkelling

[David Wilson]

I've just been delving among the Hulton Archive of images and came across several illustrating the earliest decades of snorkelling (Thirties, Forties and Fifties). The captions accompanying the pictures provide dates and context. Here's a few. I hope they are of interest to others.

Title: Flip Flop Dance. Caption: 4th January 1939: The Lambeth Walk is very popular at Nice and here are two bathers, wearing the fins, during their flip-flop version. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
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Title: Swimming Fins. Caption: 14th January 1939: Two bathers on the beach at Nice, France, show off their fins, the latest swimming novelty on the Riviera. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
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Title: Aquatic Stanwyck. Caption: American actress Barbara Stanwyck (1907 - 1990), poses on a rock with mask and fins, circa 1945. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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Title: Scuba Lessons. Caption: 28th April 1954: Pauline Ady, a tutor at an under water swimming school in Cobham, Kent, explaining the importance and use of fins to her pupils (left to right) Dorethea Martin, Pat Palmer, Michael Cameron and Diana Martin. (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
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Title: Leap-Frogs. Caption: 1955: Two women wearing fins play leap-frog on the beach. (Photo by Peter Purdy/BIPs/Getty Images)
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Title: Frogwoman. Caption: 1955: A woman equipped for a diving session with an unusual full face mask with integrated snorkels and wetsuit. (Photo by Peter Purdy/BIPs/Getty Images)
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Title: Flipping Heck. Caption: 27th July 1956: A group of holidaymakers in fins and snorkels on the beach at Torquay. Original Publication: Picture Post - 8618 - Flippin For Fun - pub. 1956 (Photo by Alex Dellow/Picture Post/Getty Images).
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Title: Snorkling Woman. Caption: 11th August 1956: Two women sitting on deckchairs on the beach. One of them is wearing a swimming costume and fins and by her side rests a snorkel, mask and a towel. (Photo by Alex Dellow/Picture Post/Getty Images)
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[fdog]

Thanks David, but the images will not load for me - and the captions make them look very interesting!


All the best, James

 

[David Wilson]

Sorry about that James. I've now placed a link to the image below each caption. I'm hoping that will provide access if the images aren't visible.

And if that doesn't work, here are the images again, uploaded to SB. Just click on them to get a larger view.

1.
Title: Flip Flop Dance. Caption: 4th January 1939: The Lambeth Walk is very popular at Nice and here are two bathers, wearing the fins, during their flip-flop version. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

2.
Title: Swimming Fins. Caption: 14th January 1939: Two bathers on the beach at Nice, France, show off their fins, the latest swimming novelty on the Riviera. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

3.
Title: Aquatic Stanwyck. Caption: American actress Barbara Stanwyck (1907 - 1990), poses on a rock with mask and fins, circa 1945. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

4.
Title: Scuba Lessons. Caption: 28th April 1954: Pauline Ady, a tutor at an under water swimming school in Cobham, Kent, explaining the importance and use of fins to her pupils (left to right) Dorethea Martin, Pat Palmer, Michael Cameron and Diana Martin. (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

5.
Title: Leap-Frogs. Caption: 1955: Two women wearing fins play leap-frog on the beach. (Photo by Peter Purdy/BIPs/Getty Images)

6.
Title: Frogwoman. Caption: 1955: A woman equipped for a diving session with an unusual full face mask with integrated snorkels and wetsuit. (Photo by Peter Purdy/BIPs/Getty Images)

7.
Title: Flipping Heck. Caption: 27th July 1956: A group of holidaymakers in fins and snorkels on the beach at Torquay. Original Publication: Picture Post - 8618 - Flippin For Fun - pub. 1956 (Photo by Alex Dellow/Picture Post/Getty Images)

8.
Title: Snorkling Woman. Caption: 11th August 1956: Two women sitting on deckchairs on the beach. One of them is wearing a swimming costume and fins and by her side rests a snorkel, mask and a towel. (Photo by Alex Dellow/Picture Post/Getty Images)

 

[tight rope walker]

you are not going to believe this, but the mask/snorkel combo in pic#6, I owned! It had a tinted lens, and mine had the ability to remove one, or both snorkels, and put a plug in it's place.

I was five years old at the time, and it was a present from my nanny who was from cartiff.

I wish I had it now

 

[tight rope walker]

also the snorkels had cages with balls in them. The theory was when you went underwater, the balls would block off the snorkels so you wouldn't get water in them.

You noticed I said, that was the theory.

 

[fdog]

David, thanks for posting these. Definitely brought a smile to my face!


All the best, James