10 Incredible Things to See at the History of Diving Museum
The Florida Keys offer visitors a unique blend of tropical beauty, marine adventures, and rich history. Among the hidden gems in this chain of islands is the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada. If you love scuba or have a passion for the ocean, this museum is an absolute must-see!
With exhibits that span centuries, visitors can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of underwater exploration at this impressively curated museum. For a scuba diver like me, I was captivated by the history of these endeavors and all the cool artifacts. If that doesn’t convince you, here are the ten coolest things to see at the History of Diving Museum.
1. The Mark V Diving Helmet
One of the museum’s most iconic pieces is the Mark V Diving Helmet. This heavy copper and brass helmet evolved from the Mark I, II, II, and IV and was used for much of the 20th century. Utilizations of this helmet include military operations like recovering vessels from Pearl Harbor and underwater construction.
Though it looks medieval now and I am sure most divers would hate to be constricted in during a dive, the innovation of the Mark V was a pivotal step in improving underwater exploration. In addition to seeing an actual Mark V diving helmet, this exhibit also includes a fully-kitted military diving suit that weighs over 150 pounds!
2. 17th Century Diving Bells
Long before modern scuba gear, there were diving bells. I had no idea what these devices were until visiting, but they are enclosed chambers that allowed divers to descend into the depths while still having access to air.
The History of Diving Museum contains a collection of diving bells from the 1600s and 1700s. Edmund Halley’s is among the most prominent you can see here, as well as the diving barrel created by John Lethbridge in 1715. For a fun photo op, you can even get a picture of yourself in a diving bell!
3. Diving in Ancient Greece
History buffs will not want to miss the Early Diving exhibit which shows diving artifacts from ancient times. Sponge diving in Ancient Greece is shown to be one of the earliest examples of underwater exploration and visitors can see ancient diving artifacts and goggles used for this.
The museum offers a comprehensive look at how different civilizations attempted to explore the underwater world using various methods that I found fascinating. It’s a great way to learn how far humanity has advanced while also realizing how much more underwater exploration can be done.
4. Parade of Nations
Undeniably a highlight of the museum, the Parade of Nations displays diving helmets from every country that has created one. This collection features over 20 unique diving helmets each with their own intricacies and uses.
Though some look similar, I appreciated the ability to spot the changes in the different iterations. This included Canada’s diving helmet with an ice-breaking crown on top and the Soviet Union’s plexiglass helmet. Along with the expansive display, the museum’s founder Dr. Joe Bauer provides an audio narrative with information on each of the country’s innovations.
5. The Jules Verne Gallery
Both literary enthusiasts and Disney World fans will appreciate the Jules Verne gallery in this museum. Since his writing captivated the public with the pursuit of ocean diving, the exhibit displays some of the many influences he had on the industry.
A functional Captain Nemo helmet from the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as well as a piece of the very first trans-Atlantic cable that was laid by a ship Verne was on board for are just some of the historical pieces in this part of the museum. With detailed models, artistic renderings, and excerpts from Verne’s writings, this gallery transports visitors into a world where fantasy meets real-world underwater exploration.
6. Art McKee’s Treasure Room
One of the main draws of scuba diving for humans was the ability to find treasures on the ocean floor. Among prominent treasure hunters, McKee is a Florida Keys legend, known for finding the remains of the 1733 lost Spanish fleet. He found so many bars of silver that they even have one he salvaged on display and visitors are encouraged to see if they can lift it!
Authentic artifacts, his actual diving tools, and historical photos are all on display in the treasure room. I found this section to be a fun way to learn about Florida’s diving history and see some of the fruits of pursuing it.
7. William Beebe’s Lab
Another celebrated figure here is William Beebe, one of the first marine biologists. This portion of the museum displays what his lab looked like aboard the Arcturus, as well as history and tools from his life and studies.
One of the most unique pieces of this is the Model II Miller-Dunn helmet, which is a rare piece of diving history. However, I really appreciated seeing his work on identifying underwater creatures unbeknownst to man at the time. His diving led to the discovery of the anglerfish and many other bioluminescent deep-sea creatures.
8. Atmospheric Diving Suits
The ability to scuba diving in just a bathing suit and a BCD took centuries to get there and seeing the evolution of scuba diving suits really exemplifies that. The Diving Suits exhibit shows diving armour of the past and present, including Atmospheric Diving Suits.
These bulky suits that look like an underwater Iron Man allow divers to explore underwater while maintaining surface pressure inside the suit. I found it interesting to see how this seemingly antiquated technology has evolved and may allow humans to explore greater depths of the ocean.
9. Playmobile Scavenger Hunt
The History of Diving Museum is not just for adults—it also caters to younger visitors. In addition to interactive exhibits, another way it does this is by providing a scavenger hunt.
Hidden throughout the exhibit are over ten Playmobile divers that guests can search for. Some of these are pretty hidden and we only found about half of them but we enjoyed the searching experience nonetheless. It’s a treasure hunt for all ages that you don’t have to put on scuba gear for!
10. The Art of Underwater Photography
The final must-see is the museum’s underwater photography collection, which captures the beauty and mystery of the ocean in stunning detail. The exhibit displays a variety of underwater cameras used throughout the years and the many ways humans have documented life underwater,
You can see photos all the way back from 1856 and find out how these early cameras worked. There is even a replica of the camera used by Lous Boutan who took the world’s first underwater portraits. It’s hard to not want to grab a camera and go take some underwater pictures for yourself after seeing the many breathtaking images.
Know Before You Go
If you are looking to learn something new on your trip to the Florida Keys, I highly recommend a visit to the History of Diving Museum. No matter if you are a scuba diver or barely able to swim, I believe most visitors will be amazed by the history and future of diving endeavors. This is an especially great attraction for a rainy day, as you can stay inside and still appreciate the beauty of the Keys!
Before you visit, be sure to keep these tips in mind.
- The museum is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the exception of a few major holidays.
- Most people will spend an hour or so at the museum.
- Dogs under 50 pounds are allowed in the museum as long as they stay on a leash.
- Admission costs $15 for adults and $7 for children.
- There are discounts for seniors, children under 5, active military, retired military, college students and SNAP recipients.
- Make sure to peruse the gift shop, as there are so many fun souvenirs!
Let me know if you have been here and how your experience was! Check out my ultimate guide for things to do in the Keys if you are looking for experience ideas!
