Por Redaccion 
The Andalusian Historical Heritage Institute, under the Ministry of Culture and Sport, announced the results of the restoration of a classic costume from the first half of the 20th century held by the Port Authority in the Bay of Algeciras (Cádiz). The presentation conference was attended by the sub-Gibraltar government, Javier Ros, the territorial delegate for tourism, culture, and sport, Tania Barcelona, the president of APBA, Gerardo Landaluce, and the general manager of IAPH, Juan José Primo.
The work carried out by IAPH has allowed, on the one hand, to address the damage to the parts, processed due to the fragility of the materials and the passage of time, and, on the other hand, to maintain the structure and shape of the costume for vertical display so that anyone looking at it can see it as if it were being worn.
Given the diversity of constituent elements, the actions were addressed in the two IAPH locations, in Seville and Cádiz. While the intervention center, in its workshops at the Cartuja monastery, carried out textile treatments and strengthened the internal polyethylene foam costume, the Center for Underwater Archaeology (CAS), which depends on IAPH, was responsible for cleaning, stabilizing corrosion, and protecting the metal pieces.
The IAPH workshop also intervened for the waterproof fabric costume.
The restoration criteria were based on previous study and exhaustive knowledge of the work, as well as the utmost respect for its integrity and cultural values. The recovery of the diver was achieved with minimal and strictly necessary intervention, using proven methods and materials in heritage conservation.
Research by the Institute suggests that the complete costume could have been made entirely in Barcelona by Gimeno Carbonell, a provider of diving equipment for the Spanish Navy in the mid-19th century and a major contributor to the development of this activity in our country. This hypothesis is confirmed in the case of the diving suits, which bear the appropriate author marks. It is likely that the textile support was prepared by the same company, which between 1953 and 1957 advertised as a «rationing process for underwater diving.»
The diving team used equipment from the former Port Algeciras Labor Council, a body created in 1906. Their work consisted of repairing ships, building ports, and recovering sunken ships and objects.
On the other hand, it should be noted that in Cádiz, along with El Ferrol and Cartagena, the first diving school in Spain was established in the 18th century. This occurred after the shipwreck of the San Juan in 1786 off the coast of Peniche (Portugal). These three Navy departments participated with thirty Spaniards and five foreigners to recover 150 tons of gold and silver coins.
The classic Algeciras Diver costume is a unique and singular piece in the cultural heritage of Andalusia. In Spain, there are few copies preserved, some in museum collections such as Massó de Bueu in Pontevedra and Marítimo de Barcelona. All of them are inspired, although evolved and perfected, by the milestone that was the first closed diving suit, invented in 1837 and patented by Augusto Siebe.
Outside of the costume, in detail
The costume, made of waterproof canvas by natural vulcanized rubber, measures 147 x 189 cm. It is completed with two bronze and brass or brass breastplates, two boots, and a lead protector, whose weights served as ballast to stay at the bottom of the sea without rising to the surface.
At the neck opening, it has a rubber gasket and twelve holes to match the nuts and screws welded to the helmet. This way, the set was sealed, and the diver could operate in any position, dry and insulated from the cold.