Diving trivia 3

[rmediver2002]

Ok, I was waiting for you to toss something out but...

Here is the big gun...

[EODDVR]

You know where I'm gonna look first! :p

[rmediver2002]

But don't waste to much time there, it is a really great site...

http://www.divingheritage.com/modernhelmetcollection.htm

[EODDVR]

Is it a DIVEX helmet?

[rmediver2002]

Not a DIVEX, it does have a manufactures sticker on the side though...

[EODDVR]

I have not been able to recognize the sticker. Is this the helmet used in the movie, SPHERE?

[rmediver2002]

Yes, the helmet was designed and manufactured by Kirby Morgan Diving Systems International for the movie "The Sphere".

The film makers wanted something that allowed them to see the divers face so to try and combat CO2 build-up they designed a fold down oral nasal mask also. When they were not filming they had the actors fold up the oral nasal assembly.

Really a neat looking design, I have seen one documentary film since that featured someone diving the mask in SCUBA and they were not using the oral nasal assembly... Accident waiting to happen...

http://sphere-themovie.warnerbros.com/cmp/frameset.html

Some real neat information on all the hats (except this one...) that have been designed and built by Kirby Morgan over the years...

http://www.divingsystems.com/History/ourhistory.html

Good Job again EODDVR!!

[EODDVR]

Well, I got it before I saw your post. I did a little intel gathering. I found the helmet on Frogman website. They had the exact same photo. Then I looked at the file name which was "WDSI.jpg." I did a Dogpile search with "WDSI" and came up with this:

"Hey FFM,

It looks like a prototype helmet made for the movie "The Sphere"

Kirby Morgan manufactured a few for the film, if you look close near the rear of the helmet you will see a small KMDSI diamond and the headcushion is a typical KM unit.

The units were desinged to show the actors faces not for function or efficiency, they did use a fold up oral nasal mask internally to try and decrease the build up of CO2 but as you already stated this was a big problem with all the dead space in the helmet.

Jeff Lane"


...seems you;ve played this game before!

HOOYA!

...let me see if I can come up with another suitable challenge.

[rmediver2002]

In fact I just mentioned this helmet and provided a link in a thread earlier in the week...

http://www.socnetcentral.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31776

No way of tracing that back to the picture though, it really is a neat design.

Kirby Morgan uses a testing facility here in PC www.divelab.com and the guy that runs it is an ex-Navy sat diver. One of the smartest guys I have met in diving and always involved with some new designs or projects. That is the only reason I was able to identify the helmet on that other site...

I love this town... NDSTC, NEDU, Dive Lab, Museum of man in the Sea... I could not imagine living anyplace else...

[EODDVR]

PC is definitely an awesome town. I have many fond memories of the place!

Dive Lab is testing a UW sled made by the Co I work for called, SEA SHADOW.