The Wetsuit's History The diving suit's history began with a maritime technology breakthrough in the early twentieth century, the Mark V suit, which allowed divers to work at large depths for the first time. Before this new design, humans could only dive up to about 30 meters (100 feet) because of the effects of nitrogen narcosis, which makes it difficult to think clearly and causes the body's fluids to be drawn into the brain where they can cause serious injury or death. . The modern wetsuit was developed by Fred Lebow in California in 1958. Before this innovation, divers wore heavy cloth suits that were almost impossible to move in and kept them warm only by sweating. The wetsuit is so named because it is waterproof and breathable, allowing a diver to remain underwater for longer periods. There are several different types of wetsuits: open-water suits, drysuits, and semi-drysuits. Open-water suits are worn by free-divers who need to stay submerged for long periods of time, while drysuit divers wear protective enclosures that completely surround the body except for an opening for the head. Semi-drysuit divers are given a choice between dryness and warmth. They wear a jacket with sleeves but no pants, and a rubberized cap covers their head. This allows them to continue working while staying warm.