Ted Eldred's Porpoise Oxygen Rebreather 1946

After the first publication of the Oxygen Rebreather Database in 1999, I had never expected so many oxygen rebreathers were built world-wide. Now with over 300 models I finally have one from Australia. The photos from Ted Eldreds' units are breathtaking. Stephan Taylor from Melbourne, Australia was so kind to send me these sensational pictures. The research that followed lead me to the excellent article written by Des Williams and first published in Historical Diving Times, newsletter of the Historical Diving Society. In the article you can read all the aspects of Ted's inventions. The HDT article was edited by Dr. Bill Taylor a close friend of Ted, sitting beside Ted Eldred on the picture below. It is a pleasure to be able to show you the first Australian oxygen rebreather built in 1946!

A special thank you to Peter Dick for his permission to use the HDT article; a big thank you to Des Williams, author of the excellent article about Ted Eldred; Stephan Taylor for sending the pictures in the first place; and especially to Tony Eldred, son of Ted Eldred, for his permission to use some unique pictures from the Eldred family archive!

'First published in the Historical Diving Times, newsletter of the Historical Diving Society'
Article written by Des Williams, edited by Dr. Bill Taylor

Picture: Published with the kind permission of Tony Eldred, send to me by Stephen Taylor

Picture: Published with the kind permission of Tony Eldred, send to me by Stephen Taylor

Picture: Published with the kind permission of Tony Eldred, send to me by Stephen Taylor

Ted Eldred (left) and Dr. Bill Taylor in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria
Picture: Published with the kind permission of Tony Eldred, send to me by Stephen Taylor

Ted Eldred (middle)
Picture: Published with the kind permission of Tony Eldred, send to me by Stephen Taylor

This picture is the last time Ted Eldred dived. He was teaching his grandson, Adam how to dive his invention, the Porpoise. The picture was taken at the Melbourne City Baths, the location of the first SCUBA diving school to teach modern single hose SCUBA
Picture: Published with the kind permission of Tony Eldred, send to me by Stephen Taylor

Ted Eldred passed away 26 August 2005.

Janwillem, 

Attached are rare photographs of the Australian Porpoise rebreather. The Ted Eldred invented the single hose SCUBA in 1949 Australia. He began by developing an oxygen rebreather called the Porpoise. It would stop oxygen flow at 10 meters as a safety precaution. However, he decided that rebreathers were not safe for the average diver and turned to air. He designed the single hose because the Cousteau model was protected by a patent. It was called the Porpoise also. Ted is pictured with Dr Jim Taylor, his diving buddy. 

These pictures are from Ted Eldred's personal collection.
Ted passed away a couple of years ago and these pictures are submitted for your site, on behalf of Ted's son Tony Eldred.

Stephen Taylor

Peter Dick, Des Williams, Jan de Groot and Stephen Taylor, thank you very much for sharing this important information with the readers of my web. Be sure it is highly appreciated!

first published 02 August 2007