Capt John

Dive History and the preservation of vintage dive gear thru demonstration and education

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Diving the US Navy MK V inside of Marineland Florida's historic 1938 oceanarium tank, where many famous movies and TV shows were filmed, before it was removed in 2004.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

How many recognize this helmet?

This is the Kirby Morgan Clamshell (KMCSH-6) from 1968. This helmet was featured on the cover of LIFE Magazine for the Oct. 4, 1968 issue. Only 20 of these helmets were ever produced, 12 in red for the US Navy and 8 in yellow for commercial use.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

It's always a good day to go diving, especially with this Craftsweld commercial helmet!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

It's always a good day to go diving, especially with the rare cast brass Griswold shallow water helmet, which was made in Washington and weighs over 60 lbs.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

A test dive in a rare Augustus Siebe dive helmet, made in the mid-1800s, done over 25 years ago in preparation for one of our dive rallies at Marineland!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Exploring the reefs and the wreckage off Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL using the Morse shallow water dive helmet, which 1st appeared in the 1933 Morse shallow water catalog and cost only $120.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

BHD member in a Siebe Gorman 6 bolt dive helmet testing his skills at flange repairs!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Suiting up in an A. J. Morse & Son 5 bolt helmet, also known as the US Navy MK I, during a dive demonstration for the "Kids In Distress" program.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Exploring the reefs off Ft Lauderdale, FL using the Miller Dunn style 2 Divinhood. This helmet was patented 1926 and sold for $250. This was MD's 1st helmet to be labeled as the Navy Standard, and its popularity increased due to scientists and their study of submarine life.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Have you ever dove the US Navy MK V helmet? Tell us when and where!

An old BHD postcard featuring the US Navy MK V, which was the official helmet of the Navy from 1916 to about 1984 and produced by only 4 companies (Morse, Schrader, Desco, and Miller Dunn).

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Sometimes fantasies can become reality!

Photo from a past BHD dive rally at Weeki Wachee Springs, FL. Diver is using a Morse shallow water helmet.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Over 25 years ago the Brass Hat Diver group had the privilege of suiting up and diving inside Marineland Florida's historic tank, where many famous movies and TV shows were filmed, before the tank was removed. The helmet featured is the A. J. Morse & Son Inc 5-bolt helmet.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

A test dive in a rare Augustus Siebe dive helmet, made in the mid-1800s, done over 25 years ago in preparation for one of our dive rallies at Marineland!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

It's always a good day to go diving, especially with this 1960s Morse commercial helmet used by the US Army Corps of Engineers!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Exploring the reefs and feeding the fish off Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL using the cast brass Griswold shallow water dive helmet, which was made in Washington and weighs over 60 lbs.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

What's your favorite bandmask to dive?

Here's one of our favorites, the Widolf / C-VU full face mask!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Button me up!

Diver preparing to go down in an A. J. Morse & Son Inc. commercial helmet at a past BHD dive rally.

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

A little bit of Brass and a whole lot of Class!

A test dive in Leon Lyons' rare Augustus Siebe dive helmet, made in the mid-1800s, done over 25 years ago in preparation for one of our dive rallies at Marineland!

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

Exploring the reefs and feeding the fish off Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL using the Miami made Miller Dunn style 3 "Divinhood." This shallow water dive helmet was patented August 23, 1937 and the complete cost of this outfit (helmet, weights, pump, and hose) in 1940 was only $250.00

[Capt John @brasshatdiver]

BHD member in a Siebe Gorman 6 bolt dive helmet testing his skills at flange repairs!