Cave Diving Group - The Beginnings of Exploration Two Post Office engineers, F.G. Balcombe and J.A. Sheppard who were among the leading climbers and cavers of their era, combined their energies into solving the problem of passing the Swildon’s sump. Their pioneering dive on the 17th February, 1934 used a home-made respirator, designed by F.G.B, that incorporated part of a ladies bicycle frame. The attempt was unsuccessful but the foundation of Cave Diving in the U.K. had been laid. -- x -- After WW2. surplus oxygen rebreather equipment became available, enthusiasm and the number of divers increased. Graham Balcombe - Wikipedia
Balcombe was a friend of my father and they went back caving in the Dales together. I have an original of the report they published of that first dive. Robin