Since the earliest seafarers, humanity has sought answers explaining the principles underlying the nature of seas and what governs events beneath their surface. Before the need for diving emerged, there developed profound knowledge of sailing or using human-powered oars.
One driving interest was likely exploiting the sea's infinite resources. Harvesting and fishing numerous species for trade - both for nourishment and ornamental use in jewellery and artefacts - has always been a goal for coastal communities.
The oldest evidence appears in prehistoric deposits: sponges harvested by Cretan divers, pearls and corals traded in Egypt since 3500 BC, or Indian mother-of-pearl sold in the Mediterranean as early as 1200 BC.
This seafaring aspect created the need to recover shipwrecks or cargo lost at sea through various misfortunes. When this occurred in shallow waters, many attempted salvage operations. This proved extremely challenging when having to work several metres underwater without breathing.
We must remember that early diving primarily served military purposes. Attacking enemy vessels undetected required cautious underwater approaches beneath the surface.
Other scholars argue mankind's attraction to the sea stems from our ancestral origins. The origin and evolution of Earth's species developed through millions of years of transformation from marine life. This ancient lineage may explain humanity's enduring fascination with underwater exploration.
Our mammalian nature requires constant air exchange for survival. Aquatic environments aren't our natural habitat, so early underwater forays were limited to brief breath-holding dives. Another major challenge was poor visibility from underwater light refraction, greatly complicating object retrieval and spearfishing.
The evolutionary path of diving techniques and equipment began over 7000 years ago and continues advancing daily with new innovations...
Though we remain far from colonising the seabed, future discoveries in deep-sea exploration will undoubtedly expand our currently limited underwater endurance.
