50 years ago today...

[fishb0y]

50 years ago today the last episode of Sea Hunt aired on TV. Thank you Mike Nelson for showing my the correct way to swim through the water and the proper technique for cutting the breathing hose on a villain’s regulator.

[Jeff Pack]

thank you for reminding me how old I am... Although I dont think that is quite accurate, as I would only have been 5 years old when the last episode aired, and I know I watched many episodes of it. Since I have but few memories of that young, I think it was on longer than that, in re-runs or something.

[Dmitchell]

I'm sure it re-ran and was syndicated, but the final original episode did air September 23, 1961.

4 seasons 155 episodes.

[airsix]

Best T-shirt ever.

[guitarmaker]

Best T-shirt ever.

Where's that "LIKE" button when I need it!

[LCF]

It's funny to look at that first picture. What I have heard is that they made him a set of tanks out of Balsa wood, because he complained that the real ones were too heavy. If you look at the harness straps, they're not making any significant indentation in his skin, so I think the story is probably true.

[CaptnJack]

It's funny to look at that first picture. What I have heard is that they made him a set of tanks out of Balsa wood, because he complained that the real ones were too heavy. If you look at the harness straps, they're not making any significant indentation in his skin, so I think the story is probably true.

Maybe, someone actually gave me a set of tanks just like that. I think they are short steel lp45s, specs are a bit nebulous. I tossed the single outlet manifold (which I should have kept) and use them as boat inflation tanks now. They are 3AA 1800+ psi rated tanks. Each weighs about 22lbs

[sitkadiver]

I think I remember reading somewhere that those are Voit double 38's in the 1st photo. Although the stunt divers and Mike Nelson used whatever gear they had during filming, Voit was a big sponsor, if not the only sponsor, so most of the ad photos used Voit gear exclusively.

There's a guy on vintagedoublehose.com restoring a set of double 38's and they look pretty good.

Are your 1800 psi tanks stamped US GOVT anywhere on the neck? I have a small Vigo Aqua Lung Tank that was sold in 1959 and 1960 in my collection.

US DIvers bought surplus military O2 tanks from the DOD and added a 1 in. to 1/2 in. reducer to fit the valve on the tank. I cannot remember the exact price, but I think the 1960 catalog had the Vigo Aqua Lung, which included Aquamatic regulator, tank and harness for about $70.00. Was marketed for shallow water training.