The evolution of BOB

For thousands of years man has shown an inborn need to explore, conquer, and experience the unknown.   Decades before the first weighted boot was stamped upon the moon divers had been delving into the gravity defying depths below the ocean waves.

First there were diving bells with surface supplied air, then Scuba, and now BOB.  Its the evolution of diving.

Back in the 16th century people began to use diving bells supplied with air from the surface.  This was probably the first effective means of staying under water for any length of time. The bell was held stationary, its bottom open to water and its top portion containing air compressed by the water pressure.  The diver standing upright would have his head in the air.  He could stay until the air in the bell was no longer breathable due to carbon dioxide buildup.

The same principals from this age-old method have been used in the design of the BOB.  The driver places his head and shoulders in the air filled acrylic dome, which is filled with air.   To overcome the problem of carbon dioxide buildup, air from a scuba tank constantly refills the dome with new compressed air.  The BOB takes the advantages of the old style helmet diving (no regulator or mask and 180 degree vision) but none of the disadvantages.    

There are many steps in the evolution of diving and many great inventions, but the next major leap was to SCUBA.  Self-contained-underwater-breathing-apparatus.  Under fin power the diver has freedom to move about and discover the underwater realms without interference of surface supplied air.  Open circuit SCUBA the mode most common in recreational diving expels the expired air into the water creating bubbles and avoiding Carbon dioxide buildup.

So by combining the advantages of both systems saw the birth of the BOB. BOB was born in 1991 when Andrew Sneath of England started tinkering with the idea of merging an old hard hat-style dive helmet with a diver propulsion vehicle. "I just took bits of dive equipment and combined them into one thing," Sneath said from his company, Bellaqua Inc., in Palm Beach, Fla.

What better hybrid could have evolved from taking the advantage of the bell helmet with its 180 degrees vision and combining it with the freedom to move around?     Due to the air being continually added to the dome and the diver not having to expel expired air from his regulator there is a lot less noise than open-circuit SCUBA.  The main aim is to discover and see as much of the underwater world as possible.  The BOB prototype has evolved into a polyethylene body with an acrylic bubble on top that offers a 180-degree view. Air from a standard 12lt scuba tank keeps water out of the bubble and allows the rider to breathe normally. A 12-volt battery powers an engine that generates a top speed of about 3 mph.  What a perfect combination!