The Yokohama Diving Company was established in the early 20th century. Their helmets were initially inspired by the english Siebe Gorman helmets which they manufactured in a smaller size. This also resulted in a smaller volume helmet allowing the divers to use less lead weights when diving. In the early nineteen sixties Yokohama became involved in manufacturing their own helmets but in a different design after american diving equipment manufacturer Robert Kirby had rebuilt several Yokohama helmets into a more practical / modern design. Yokohama is no longer in business.A 1950s era heavy duty diving suit used in pearling and salvage work.A Japanese manufactured diving suit used in pearling and salvage work in the 1950s.Yokohama Diving Appratus Co Ltd. No.760. Made in Japan.diving suit, commercial diving, pearling, salvage

These marine diver's boots are made to weigh down the diver's feet to the bottom of the seabed, at the same time protecting his feet. The different pieces are joined with nuts, bots and washers. The boots are part of the protective clothing worn by marine divers to enable them to go to depths where others had not been. The Great Ocean Road along the southwest coast of Victoria is renown for its treacherous seas and tragic shipwrecks. Decades after the occurred divers began to explore the wreck sites and discovered hundreds of lost ships. The ships' skeletons and sprawled wreckage tell many stories of the type of ships used, the cargo and luggage carried onboard. They are valuable source of primary history. Many artefacts were recovered from local shipwrecks by the Flagstaff Hill divers and they have been preserved for historical records. Since that time many historic shipwrecks have become protected by Australian law. However, divers are able to still visit the sites.The boots are an example of diver's apparel in the 20th century and show the process of evolving protective and safety wear for underwater divers today.A pair of marine diver's boots. Boots are made of brass alloy and leather. The toes are metal and the metal soles are rippled. The sides have a short bar along the inner and outer sides of the foot, designed to fit a leather strap across the boot to hold it in place. A leather piece is attached to the back of each boot and extends around the ankle area to fasten with a buckle. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, diver's boots, marine diving, underwater diving, deep sea diving, diving equipment, diving accessory, shipwreck exploring