The Purisima was the first commercial diving lock-out bell, designed in 1962 by Dan Wilson, one of Santa Barbara’s commercial diving pioneers. Built in 1964 by Wilson’s company, General Offshore Divers, it was launched and tested off the City Pier before being used for offshore projects. Built for deep-water oil and gas exploration in and around the Santa Barbara Channel, the Purisima was rated to 1,000 feet and used to increase the safety and efficacy of deep dives by keeping the divers warm and dry on the trip to and from the job site.
Two dry spheres were utilized to transport and protect both divers and subsea engineers. The upper sphere could be kept at surface pressure to house engineers and observers, while the bottom sphere was pressurized at depth, permitting divers to lockout and work on subsea structures at depth, and providing a space for decompression after the dive, allowing them to reach depths unattainable by surface divers. Although the design wasn’t perfect and ended up needing a third bell for stabilization, it helped shape the next generation of commercial diving technology, including the development of lightweight diving gear that became important in allowing divers ease of exit and entry through the hatch of the bell. The Purisima has been located on SBMM’s front patio since 2011, and there is an exhibit and video inside the Museum.
Learn About Our Other Museum Exhibits
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum has several other fascinating exhibits, and there's something fun for everyone in the family. Come learn about 13,000 years of human history in the Santa Barbara Channel, including the Chumash Indians, deep sea divers, shipwrecks, commercial fishing, and so much more. We also have several contemporary exhibits about the evolution of surfing, oil spills, whales, and marine life. There are several fun and interactive exhibits and activities for kids too.