Well, I've looked at a whole lot of naval service record mages, but I haven't spotted the right one. I was so sure that there was one with "diver" as an activity.
I'll have another go later. Perhaps I can find it by using the Excel search on my "comments" in various plausible workbooks.
Christine
Researching: BENNETT (Leics/Birmingham-ish) - incl. Leonard BENNETT in Detroit & Florida ; WARR/WOR, STRATFORD & GARDNER/GARNAR (Oxon); CHRISTMAS, RUSSELL, PAFOOT/PAFFORD (Hants); BIGWOOD, HAYLER/HAILOR (Sussex); LANCASTER (Beds, Berks, Wilts) - plus - COCKS (Spitalfields, Liverpool, Plymouth); RUSE/ROWSE, TREMEER, WADLIN(G)/WADLETON (Devonport, E Cornwall); GOULD (S Devon); CHAPMAN, HALL/HOLE, HORN (N Devon); BARRON, SCANTLEBURY (Mevagissey)...
Thomas (Waldren) CHRISTMAS (b 1841 Basingstoke) [ADM/188/27: Seaman No. 53246]
20 Aug 1878 - 14 May 1879: HMS Warrior (Porthellic), AB, Cd boatman, diver
Christine
Researching: BENNETT (Leics/Birmingham-ish) - incl. Leonard BENNETT in Detroit & Florida ; WARR/WOR, STRATFORD & GARDNER/GARNAR (Oxon); CHRISTMAS, RUSSELL, PAFOOT/PAFFORD (Hants); BIGWOOD, HAYLER/HAILOR (Sussex); LANCASTER (Beds, Berks, Wilts) - plus - COCKS (Spitalfields, Liverpool, Plymouth); RUSE/ROWSE, TREMEER, WADLIN(G)/WADLETON (Devonport, E Cornwall); GOULD (S Devon); CHAPMAN, HALL/HOLE, HORN (N Devon); BARRON, SCANTLEBURY (Mevagissey)...
There is a diving museum at Weymouth, I remembered this article where the early divers used weighted upturned half barrels to work underwater such as the following snippet. From the sinking of the "Royal George"
In 1782 six iron 12-pounder guns and nine brass 12-pounders were recovered using diving bells. After that no further work was carried out on the wreck until 1834, when Charles Anthony Deane, using the first air-pumped diving helmet, began work. From 1834—1836 he recovered 7 iron 42-pounders, 18 brass 24-pounders and 3 brass 12-pounders
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