Diving Helmet

Copper shallow water diving helmet used by Australian naturalist, marine collector, lecturer & actor Melbourne Ward in collecting expeditions in Torres Strait & Papua New accompanying American film makers in 1932. The helmet has an unusually large rectangular faceplate, top handle, two side handles and in-let valve. The helmet sat on the diver's shoulders and was held there by weights. Two eye hooks for attaching the weights are evident on the front of the corselet. Air was pumped into the helmet and excess bubbled out below the corselet.

Used in Torres Strait, Great Barrier Reef, Papua New Guinea and probably in other locations around the world