Aqua-Lung

diving gear

Also known as: aqualung

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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The Aqua-Lung is a trademarked name for an underwater breathing apparatus. It is a type of scuba (self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus). The first fully automatic compressed-air Aqua-Lung was developed in 1943 by Jacques Cousteau and Émile Gagnan. An aqualunger is an underwater swimmer who uses such a device, typically including a cylinder of compressed air and a watertight face mask. This invention revolutionized underwater diving, making it more accessible for recreational, scientific, and salvage purposes.123

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Jacques Cousteau
…the first fully automatic compressed-air Aqua-Lung (scuba apparatus), which allowed divers to swim freely underwater for extended periods of time. Cousteau helped to invent many other tools useful to oceanographers, including the diving saucer (an easily maneuverable small submarine for seafloor exploration), in 1959, and a number of underwater cameras.
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…the first fully automatic compressed-air Aqua-Lung (scuba apparatus), which allowed divers to swim freely underwater for extended periods of time. Cousteau helped to invent many other tools useful to oceanographers, including the diving saucer (an easily maneuverable small submarine for seafloor exploration), in 1959, and a number of underwater cameras.
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underwater diving
…self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus) or an Aqua-Lung. Competitive underwater diving sports include spearfishing and underwater hockey, sometimes called “octopush.”
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…self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus) or an Aqua-Lung. Competitive underwater diving sports include spearfishing and underwater hockey, sometimes called “octopush.”
Read More