Company
Information
as of 05/07/13
Current
Products
All current production DESCO helmets
Commercial and Pool Cleaning Masks
Light Duty Diving Outfit
DESCO Two Diver Telephone and available communications options
Third party dry suits
sold by DESCO
Composite Beat Engel Demand Helmet
as of 05/07/13
Current
DESCO, CBE,
& Viking price lists.
Product
Support
Update 8-13-12
Contaminated Water
Diving
Product warnings and
cautionary notes
General
Information
What gear it takes to dive.
What goes into making a diving helmet
Real or Replica?
Features of the various helmet models
Magazine or News articles related to diving.
Links to online diving videos.
Historical
How DESCO started
Those who built DESCO
Historical
DESCO Product Information
General product history. Catalogs, significant orders, etc.
Discontinued
DESCO Products
DESCO A, B, C Rebreathers Recirculating Helmets
SCUBA Lungs, Water Skis, and Miscellaneous Water Sports Products
Photo Galleries
DESCO company photos
and photos from our archives
Commercial Diving Photos supplied by customers
Classic equipment &
hobby diving photos
Photos of helmets from
other manufacturers
Photos of equipment in museums
Photos from some of
our repair projects
DESCO Historical Item Collection
Miscellaneous Photos, Old diver and/or equipment photos
Note: Shipping weights are for the product only. Actual weight of shipment will be different.
Hose Connections
All Classic Style DESCO Helmets are fitted to accept 1/2" Navy air hose with a 1 1/16" -17 Submarine Thread. Adapters are available to other fitting configurations. The air inlet elbow and non-return valves are male threads to the female hose end.
The DESCO Air Hat and Browne Masks accept 5/16" or 3/8" air hose with a 9/16-18 Oxygen Thread. This fitting is a standard CGA welding fitting.
Air Requirements
Helmets
DESCO uses the air flow requirements as set forth in the U.S. Navy Diving Manuals for the Mark V Helmet as a benchmark. Any DESCO Classic Style Helmet or the Air Hat has an absolute minimum necessary airflow rate of 6 cfm at rest to properly ventilate the helmet. As activity increases the airflow rate must be increased to offset buildup of Carbon Dioxide in the helmet. For the Air Hat a minimum working flow rate of 10cfm is recommended. Overbottom pressure is 100psi constant.
Masks
The Browne Mask was developed for the US Navy during World War Two. They have the most extensive and complete working knowledge of the performance of these masks. DESCO defers to them on the air requirements for the Browne Masks.
Excerpted from the 1985 USN Diving Manual:
Flow requirements 6.4.3.1 The Jack Browne mask requires constant gas flow to prevent excessive accumulation of metabolically produced carbon dioxide. When planning a diving operation ensure the primary air supply system is capable of providing an average sustained flow of 4.5acfm for each diver including the standby diver. In addition, for short durations of heavy work, the air supply system must be capable of providing each diver in the water with a flow of 6acfm.
Pressure requirements 6.4.3.2 When using the Jack Browne mask, an overbottom pressure of 50psi must be maintained.
DESCO Air Hat
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet (double elbow) 1/4" NPT
Non-Return Valve (inlet, umbilical) 9/16"-18 Oxygen (CGA 022 B size)
Non-Return Valve (outlet, helmet) 1/4" NPT
Window Screw #10-32 NF
Video Block 3/8"- 16 NC
Double Exhaust Valve Retaining Screw #6-32 NC
Clamp Bolt Threading 1/4"-20 NC
Lock Bolt Threading 1/4"-20 NC
Clamp & Lock Nut 1/4"-20 NC, Self Locking
Communications Pigtail Port 1/8" NPT
Minimum air flow rate for DESCO Air Hat = 6cfm @ 100psi over bottom pressure.
Microphone/Speaker is held in place with 3M® VHB Double Sided Foam tape.
Inside Air Elbow and pigtail bulkhead fitting is epoxied in place with 10 minute two part epoxy.
Neck ring gasket is glued in place with sanding disk adhesive.
Approximate shipping weight is 34lbs.
The Air Hat can be used with the provided neck dam or with drysuits fitted with a DESCO type yoke.
The complete DESCO Air Hat Manual is available for download on the Downloads Page.
DESCO Air Hat Welding Shield
Lens dimensions 4 ½" x 5 ¼"
Screws #10-32 x 7/8" Stainless Steel
U.S. Navy Diving Helmets
The DESCO Mark V and Helium Helmets are made to U.S. Navy specifications as prescribed in the Bureau of Ships drawings.
Helmets listed below all use the Navy Mark V style dress collar.
U.S. Navy Mark V Diving Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Communications elbow threading is 1.715 - 11.
Front Door Toggle Bolt threading is 1/2" - 13 NC.
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Breastplate Stud threading is 1/2" - 12 NS.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) 9 13/64" - 6 NS
Head opening in Neck Ring 8 9/16"
Approximate shipping weight is 68lbs
U.S. Navy Helium Helmet
Threading Specifications;
The common parts between the Mark V Helmet and the Helium Helmet are identical (see Mark V specs).
High Pressure Nozzle threading : 3/4"-16
Discharge Nozzle threading: 3/4"-16
Canister Elbow threading: 2 3/4"-8
Approximate shipping weight is 93lbs with canister.
Communications is via a standard Navy Mark V type plug.
DESCO Commercial Diving Helmets
The DESCO Commercial helmets all use a common breastplate and bonnet platform. This breastplate style was used by multiple manufacturers. Some DESCO Commercial Helmets were produced using the Mark V bonnet shell in lieu of the standard "bubble" shell.
Models vary by window configuration, exhaust type, and optional features. Refer to the helmet pages for detailed information on each model's features.
Helmets listed below all use the Commercial style dress collar.
Three and Four Light Commercial Helmets
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Front faceplate threading is 5 13/16" - 20 NF
Communications elbow threading for Navy communications elbow is 1.715 - 11 .
Communications elbow threading for Commercial style elbow is 1 1/4"-12.
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Breastplate Stud threading is 1/2" - 12 NS.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) 9 13/64" - 6 NS
Head opening in Neck Ring 8 9/16"
Approximate shipping weight for Three Light Helmet 54 lbs.
Approximate shipping weight for Four Light Helmet 58 lbs.
DESCO Nuclear Diving Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Front faceplate threading is 5 13/16" - 20 NF
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Breastplate Stud threading is 1/2" - 12 NS.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) 9 13/64" - 6 NS
Head opening in Neck Ring 8 9/16"
Approximate shipping weight N/A at this time.
DESCO Commercial Fisheries Diving Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Communications elbow threading is 1.715 - 11.
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Breastplate Stud threading is 1/2" - 12 NS.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) 9 13/64" - 6 NS
Head opening in Neck Ring 8 9/16"
Approximate shipping weight is 58lbs.
DESCO Lightweight Helmets
DESCO Lightweight Helmets are constructed on a common breastplate and bonnet shell platform often referred to as a "Sponge" type. the breastplate type was made by multiple manufacturers.
Models vary by window configuration, exhaust type, and optional features. Refer to the helmet pages for detailed information on each model's features.
Sponge Divers Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Front faceplate threading is 5 13/16" - 20
Side window frame threading is 4 5/8" - 20
Top window frame threading is 4 5/16' - 20
Exhaust valve cover threading is 1 3/4" - 16
Exhaust valve cover lock screw threading is #8 - 32 NC
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) is 8 15/16" - 6
Head opening in Neck Ring is 8 3/8"
Breastplate stud & wing nut threading is 7/16" - 14
Shipping weight is approximately 39 lbs.
Abalone Divers Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Front faceplate threading is 5 13/16" - 20
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) is 8 15/16" - 6
Head opening in Neck Ring is 8 3/8"
Breastplate stud & wing nut threading is 7/16" - 14
Shipping weight approximately 39 lbs.
Agar Divers Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Front faceplate threading is 5 13/16" - 20
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) is 8 15/16" - 6
Head opening in Neck Ring is 8 3/8"
Breastplate stud & wing nut threading is 7/16" - 14
Shipping weight approximately 39 lbs.
Browne Commercial Diving Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air inlet port in block (for Non-return valve) 1/2" NPT
Communications cable port in block (for bulkhead fitting) 9/16" - 20
Front window threading is 5 13/16" - 14
Side and top window threading is 5 1/8" - 14
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) is 8 15/16" - 6
Head opening in Neck Ring is 8 3/8"
Breastplate stud & wing nut threading is 7/16" - 14
Shipping weight approximately 45 lbs.
DESCO Lightweight Fisheries Diving Helmet
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) is 8 15/16" - 6
Head opening in Neck Ring is 8 3/8"
Breastplate stud & wing nut threading is 7/16" - 14
Approximate shipping weight N/A at this time.
DESCO Special Helmets
DESCO Stillson Concept Diving Helmet
The DESCO Stillson Concept Helmet uses a Commercial pattern breastplate and bonnet shell.
Threading Specifications;
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Communications elbow threading is 1.715 - 11.
Window Guard Screws are #8 - 32 NC.
Breastplate Stud threading is 1/2" - 12 NS.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) 9 13/64" - 6 NS
Head opening in Neck Ring 8 9/16"
Approximate shipping weight is 59lbs.
DESCO Browne Utility Diving Helmet
The DESCO Browne Utility Diving Helmet uses a "stove pipe" yoke to attach to a drysuit. A DESCO yoke can be used.
Air Inlet Elbow threading is 1 1/16" - 17 (Submarine Thread).
Communications elbow threading is 1.715 - 11.
Window Guard Screws are 1/4"-20 NC.
Neck Ring Threads (interrupted) 9 13/64" - 6 NS
Head opening in Neck Ring 8 9/16"
Approximate shipping weight is 21lbs.
DESCO Browne Masks
Threading Specifications;
Non-Return Valve (inlet, umbilical) 9/16"-18 Oxygen (CGA 022 B size)
Air Inlet Elbow 1/4" NPT
Air Inlet Elbow retaining screws 10-32 NF
Exhaust Body to Mask frame 7/8"-18 NS
Exhaust Cover to Body 6-32 NC
Air Control Valve to Air Inlet Adapter 3/4"-16 NF
Air Control Valve Inlet and Outlet 1/4" NPT
Breather Bag Outlet (Navy Three Way Valve) 7/8"-18 NS
Inlet Nipple and Retaining Nuts (DVM) 3/4"-16 NF
Freeflow Valve Handle (DVM) 1/4"-20 NC
DVM Air Inlet Adapter 1/4" NPT inlet, 3/4"-16 NF outlet.
Diving Dress Collar Dimensions
Navy, Cat No 26005
Front to back OD = 25.625” ID = 17.875”
Across shoulders OD = 18.125” ID = 10.375”
Commercial, Cat No 26056
Front to back OD = 22.250” ID = 14.750”
Across shoulders OD = 19.625” ID = 12.125”
Lightweight, Cat No 26055
Front to back OD = 23” ID = 16”
Across shoulders OD = 17.750” ID = 10.750
