Diving facts & stats

Question 1

In what year did Jacques Cousteau and Émile Gagnan design the first successful open-circuit scuba, the Aqua-Lung?

Accepted Answer

1942. The Aqua-Lung's demand-valve design became the basis for modern scuba equipment.

Question 2

In what year was the Aqua-Lung system patented?

Accepted Answer

1945. The patent followed shortly after Cousteau and Gagnan's original design.

Question 3

In what year did Henry Fleuss design the first commercially practical scuba rebreather?

Accepted Answer

1878. Fleuss's early rebreather predates the Aqua-Lung by more than 60 years.

Question 4

As of 2021, in about how many countries and territories does PADI operate?

Accepted Answer

186 countries and territories. PADI's global reach makes it the most widely recognized scuba certification worldwide.

Question 5

By 1979, about how many scuba certifications was PADI issuing per year?

Accepted Answer

about 100,000 a year. PADI's certification volume grew quickly in its first decade.

Question 6

What depth do most US recreational scuba agencies set as the maximum limit for certified divers?

Accepted Answer

40 meters (130 feet). Going beyond the recreational limit generally requires specialized technical dive training.

The basics