DIVING.
Diving is the most exhilarating enjoyment to which a swimmer can attain. The ability to dive successfully is the ambition of every novice. He feels a certain amount of exultation in his power to descend beneath the surface, either for pleasure or to recover lost articles, or, if need be, save the life of one who has sunk and is in danger of drowning.
The primary essentials in diving are courage, and the lung Capa city for retaining sufficient air to enable one to remain under water for a considerable time. Courage is an inherent virtue with many, but timidity may be overcome by constant practice. The usual length of time men can generally remain under water is about one minute. This time may be prolonged to a minute and a half or two minutes by the following method, which the author has found very successful. Prior to entering the water, the lungs should be inflated to their fullest capacity by taking in great draughts of pure air, retaining the breath as long as possible, then allow the air to escape, until the lungs become quite empty, continuing this practice until all the foul air has been discharged. This method will give you one-third more lung capacity than you would otherwise possess. Then take one large, full inspiration and dive into the water. The correct position for diving is that shown in. Fig. 31, ch. xxviii. (see also illustration of ladies div ing). The dive may be made either from a bank, vessel, or platform, and if the impetus given is not sufficient to enable him to reach the point aimed at, he can strike out with his limbs as in the breast stroke, until he reaches the object, precisely the same as if it were a floating one.
The objective point having been obtained, the swimmer shoull as sume an upright position, pressing his feet firmly against the bottom, spring upward toward the surface, aiding himself in his ascent by using his arms and legs vigorously. Rapid movements underneath the water soon exhaust the quantity of air contained in the lungs, whereas if the person keeps perfectly still, he can remain below for a much longer period. On one occasion Professor Blatt (whom the author met in 1882) remained under water in a glass tank, at a public exhibition in Rochester, New York, for the extraordinary space of four minutes eleven and three-quarter seconds. On this occasion he assumed a sitting posture at the bottom of the tank, dis tinctly visible to the spectators through its glass sides ; after a time his eyes closed, his head drooped forward on his chest, and his body rolled to one side in such a manner that the people became alarmed and insisted on his being taken out of the tank. This was instantly done, but it took some time to restore the Professor to consciousness. When able to stand upright, he staggered forward to the front of the platform and addressing the audience in a spirit of bravado, said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I can beat that." Professor Blatt had great lung capacity, and with his lady companion, who also possessed great lung power, performed many interesting feats in their glass tank beneath the surface of the water, such as sewing, calculating sums on a slate, the figures being by the audience, and other curious feats. Willie and Agnes Beckwith, of London,' England, with whom
I became personally acquainted during their stay in Toronto, also performed many extraordinary feats in a large glass tank at the Toronto Industrial Exhibition in 1883. The pearl and sponge divers of Ceylon cannot remain below the surface longer than two or three minutes, expert divers though they be, owing to the fact that in obtain ing these articles the body is kept constantly in motion, thus exhaust ing their stock of air, and compelling them to return to the surface for a fresh supply.
The proper method is to enter the water with closed eyes, this, however, you will do naturally, but when beneath the surface they should be opened in order to see where you are going. The range of vision is necessarily limited under the water, and varies greatly with its purity or otherwise. In the clear, fresh water of our great Cana dian lakes, especially Lake Superior, the waters of which are cele brated for their _purity, objects can be discerned with wonderful clearness for many fathoms beneath the surface. This fact is so well known, that passengers on our palace steamers frequently tlflow small silver coin into the water pleasure of seeing the skill and dexterity displayed by some of the Indians in recovering them.
A remarkable case of rescue under the most trying circumstances, which coutij only have been successful by plucky diving, is worthy of record here.
In December, 1867, the French ship, Nouveau Caboteur, was cast ashore in the Bay of Zurriola, on the north coast of Spain, during a gale of wind ; the sea at the time was running so heavily that no boat would venture to put off There was also a general belief that it was impossible for a boat to be of any service.
At this crisis the British Vice-Consul of San Sebastian, Mr. E. B. March, after unsuccessfully entreating some of the bystanders to accom pany him, plunged into the sea, swain to the vessel, and succeeded in bringing a rope to land. The rope was then secured, and one of the crew came ashore safely; the second (a lad) lost his hold, dropped into the sea, and sank. Mr. March, though benumbed with cold, at the greatest personal risk, again swam to the vessel, dived under her keel, recovered the lad, and brought him to land. The remainder of the crew (which consisted of six men in all), got safely to land.
Mr. March was for a time completely prostrated from the effects of his exertions and the intense cold, but by care and attention he was restored, a result scarcely to have been expected under the circumstances.
For this highly meritorious act of bravery, Mr. March received the Royal Humane Society's Medal and the Albert Medal of the first class.