The diving bell was an early predecessor to the submarine. Essentially a large bell with an open bottom, a diving bell can be lowered into the water by a ship on the surface and hold air to support a passenger. Descriptions of diving bells date back to the 4th century, and the first known diving bell was built in the 16th century.

16th century diving bell

A 16th century painting of Alexander the Great in a diving bell.

In 1578, the English mathematician William Bourne created the first known design for an independent submarine, but his design was never tested. The first reportedly successful submarine was made in 1620 by Cornelius Jacobszoon Drebbel. It was powered by oars, and no known images of it exist.

Initially designed in the name of scientific inquiry, submarines were quickly recognized for their military potential. The Turtle, pictured below, was the first military submarine, designed in 1776 by David Bushnell for the American Revolution. Several attempts were made to attach explosives to British ships with it, but all failed. The French Nautilus, Ecuadorian Submarino Hipopótamo, Bavarian Brandtaucher, and the Chilean Flach followed suit over the next century, with little success, and it was not until the 20th century that submarines successfully aided navies in wartime.

The Turtle

Although primarily used by militaries, commercial submarines do exist. In the 1980s, the first submarine tourism company opened, and now dozens like it exist. In recent years, South American drug smugglers have begun using them to cross national borders undetected.

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