Air is pumped to the diver using a Siebe Gorman 3 Cylinder hand pump . The pump was used in the filming of the Shackleton story and adapted for use as a water pump .It has now undergone extensive renovations and is back in service as an air pump. The back up pump is a single cylinder Person pump from Brazil . Made in Sao Paolo there pumps were used mainly in the mines as they were light and easily transported across difficult terrain . The pump operatives are Simon Holden and Warren Hastings.
 

Al Thirlby is seen here preparing for a dive in a Siebe Gorman 6 bold helmet. The helmet a RH Davis pattern has been used many times by the working equipment group but was formerly owned by the Liverpool Dock Authority. During the War years the Dock Authority used this helmet for repair work to ships damaged during the conflict.
 

Your web host is seen here using a Miller Dunn Style 1 Divin Hood. The The lightweight shallow water helmet was made in 1920 and used extensively throughout the southern United States and Central and South America for a wide range of work including dam building, pier work and salvage. Expired air bubbles freely from under the rim of the helmet. The wearer of the helmet must at all times maintain an upright position of the head to avoid flooding of the helmet.This helmet's next outing is to be the International Shallow Water Helmet meeting at Monte Mere in Germany in December.Look out the entry in Diving Demonstrations.