Master Diver William Reed, Underwater Inspector for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

Master Diver William Reed served as underwater inspector for the underpinnings of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Reed made inspection dives of up to 240 feet with equipment he designed, feeling with his hands and fingers because he worked at such depths that no light could reach him. These photographs show Reed suiting up in preparation for a dive, his custom boat the Active, and the decompression chamber he had to be rushed to after each dive (because of the depth of the dives, Reed was often subject to decompression sickness, or "the bends").

Identification Information: Dept. of Public Works, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Division, Construction Photographs (F2516:1-93).
Far Left: Reed without diving helmet, 08/15/1933: Box 3 (C5228), photograph 2-45.
Middle Top: The Active, 03/09/1934: Box 19 (C5230), photograph M-66.
Far Right: Reed in diving helmet, 04/24/1936: Box 20 (C5230), photograph W5-W6.
Middle Bottom: Decompression Chamber, 09/26/1933: Box 19 (C5230), Photograph M-22.