<P> A diving suit is a garment or device designed to protect a diver from the underwater environment . A diving suit may also incorporate a breathing gas supply (i.e. Standard diving dress or atmospheric diving suit). but in most cases applies only to the environmental protective covering worn by the diver . The breathing gas supply is usually referred to separately . There is no generic term for the combination of suit and breathing apparatus alone . It is generally referred to as diving equipment or dive gear along with any other equipment necessary for the dive . </P> <P> Diving suits can be divided into two classes: "soft" or ambient pressure diving suits - examples are wetsuits, dry suits, semi-dry suits and dive skins, and "hard" or atmospheric pressure diving suits - armored suits that keep the diver at atmospheric pressure at any depth within the operating range of the suit . </P> <P> The first diving suit designs appeared in the early 18th century . Two English inventors developed the first pressure - proof diving suits in the 1710s . John Lethbridge built a completely enclosed suit to aid in salvage work . It consisted of a pressure - proof air - filled barrel with a glass viewing hole and two watertight enclosed sleeves . This suit gave the diver more maneouverability to accomplish useful underwater salvage work . </P> <P> After testing this machine in his garden pond (specially built for the purpose) Lethbridge dived on a number of wrecks: four English men - of - war, one East Indiaman (both English and Dutch), two Spanish galleons and a number of galleys . He became very wealthy as a result of his salvages . One of his better - known recoveries was on the Dutch Slot ter Hooge, which had sunk off Madeira with over three tons of silver on board . </P>

When was the first scuba diving suit made