Underwater Exploration: Make a Dive Bell Science Experiment University of Wisconsin Sea Grant
Kids and Teachers Underwater Exploration home
Cool Science Diving Experiments Quizzes Timeline Tools and Gear

What is a diving bell?

The invention of the diving bell enabled people to stay underwater for longer periods of time.

Read about the many other inventions in the Underwater Exploration Timeline

illustration of dive bell/Wisconsin Sea Grant


You need: an empty glass + a larger bowl or pan of water.

Hold the glass upside down and push it down into the bowl of water, being sure to keep the glass level so the air bubble won't get out.

Notice that the pocket of air stays trapped in the top of the glass even when the glass is completely underwater.

The first diving bells were this simple. The diver inside breathed the trapped air.