Diving Helmets

It has come into common usage to call any bonnet & breastplate helmet a Mark V. To a degree you can blame ebay and all the various reproduction helmets available there. The sellers often are not any more savvy than the average would be buyers and mislabel their replica helmets. All Mark Vs are diving helmets, but not all diving helmets are Mark Vs. The basic types of diving helmets are U.S. Navy Mark V, Commercial, Lightweight Commercial (Sponge), Shallow Water, and Low Volume. Low Volume helmets can be "free flow" or "demand". Just as an auto maker builds car models to fit particular customer needs, different models of diving helmets have evolved to suit different divers needs. Some helmet models are further modified to a particular divers requirements or the requirements of a specific job.

DESCO manufactured much of the genuine equipment used in the film "Men of Honor". The helmets used were not actual U.S. Navy Mark V helmets. The films production company chose to use a Commercial helmet top mated to a Mark V breastplate. If you look closely at the helmets in the diving scenes you will note the side windows are oval, and the front door is a screw in (Commercial) type. The Helium Helmet depicted was not a genuine Mark V Helium Helmet. It was made by the film company. Pay close attention to the front door assembly.

Reconstructing history:

Unfortunately records from DESCO's early period are all but non-existent. We have been accumulating data on surviving diving helmets to recreate to some extent the production record. Our primary focus is on DESCO helmets but we also welcome information on other manufacturers helmets. This information is valuable in trying to authenticate old helmets. The serial number and date of manufacture are matched to other helmets of the same vintage to see if they fit chronologically in the record.

If you possess a helmet, or know of a helmet please submit the type, serial number, and date of mfg, plus any relevant additional information (i.e. modifications). diveq@execpc.com

More information on this project is available on the HELMET IDENTIFICATION page.

To learn more about the history of diving equipment see the Wikipedia article on the timeline of diving technology .

Helmets by DESCO Corporation

The helmets below are standard helmets we offer. Click on a helmet name to be taken to its information page.

DESCO Air Hat U.S. Navy Mark V Helmet U.S. Navy Helium Helmet

Heavy Commercial Pattern Helmets

Commercial Helmets Nuclear Diving Helmet Fisheries Helmets

Lightweight (Sponge) Pattern Helmets

Sponge Helmet Abalone Helmet Agar Helmet Browne Commercial Helmet

Specialty Helmets

Shallow Water Helmets Browne Utility Helmet Stillson Concept Helmet

All the DESCO helmets pictured above are still manufactured and are available.

Special Helmets

Custom made diving helmets

DESCO often receives requests for special features on standard helmet, of one of a kind builds. DESCO has produced helmets to customer specifications. Often it is just mixing and matching parts from the various helmet models. In some instances we have fabricated special parts or assemblies for a customer. Where possible we gladly will fill these requests.

Example: A major commercial customer presents classic helmets to employees who meet milestones in their career with the company. We affix engraved presentation tags to the breastplates above the manufacturer's tag.

Example: A prominent collector wanted to add unique one of a kind helmets to his extensive collection. In collaborating with us we were able to fulfill his wishes by mixing standard parts in atypical ways.

DESCO/Historical Diving Society Helmets

Over the years DESCO was commissioned to produce limited edition commemorative helmets for the Historical Diving Society USA. These helmets were offered to HDS members. The first helmet issue was a run of 20 U.S. Navy Mark V Helmets commemorating it s 80th anniversary (1915-1995). The second was 20 Abalone helmets in honor of DESCO's 60th anniversary (1937-1997). The third was 26 USN Helium Helmets commemorating the raising of the USS Squalus in 1939. The 26 helmets were in honor of the 26 souls lost in the sinking.

Historical Diver Magazine Historical Diver Magazine Historical Diver Magazine

#5 Summer 1995 #11 Summer 1997 #56 Summer 2008

Presentation Helmets

DESCO can stamp the manufacturers tag with a significant date as long as it it near the date of manufacture. We can also supply and install engraved Brass presentation tags above the manufacturers tag on the breastplate. Special tag size is limited to the space between the breastplate loops.

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