Ama diver with pressure equalising goggles, 1962. Photo Yoshinobu Nakamura.
“From a technical point of view, all ama divers work on breath-hold (apnea). As documented in older material, early amas dived with no googles, then started using used low-volume diving goggles while freediving in the shallows. These low-volume diving goggles, called mīkagan were developed in Okinawa in 1884 by Yasutarō Tamagusuku. Some of these goggles were fitted with pressure equalising mechanisms for use in deeper waters in the late 19th century, which recently became an inspiration for competitive freediving equipment.”
From “Ama Woman Sea Divers in Japan” by Yoshinobu Nakamura, 1962.
