Liverpool newspapers May 1836:
Mr. Deane, the celebrated diver. - who has so successfully
gone down to the wreck of his Majesty's ship Royal George, of 120 guns,
which was sunk at Spithead, upwards of 50 years ago, and raised, in 72
feet water, several of her guns, 32-pounders, weighing upwards of
5000lbs each, which are deposited at Portsmouth, is on a visit to this
town. Mr. Deane, having also been very usefully employed in raising
vessels and recovering goods which have been wrecked, as well as in
clearing away obstructions near the gates of the London docks, clearing
anchors which have got foul of the moorings of other ships, etc.; the
dock committee have invited him to come to Liverpool, in the hope that
his services may not only be available to the dock establishment, but to
the merchants and underwriters in general in cases of wrecks, the
position of which have not been clearly ascertained.
Mr. Deane was
employed, we understand, on Tuesday afternoon, in clearing behind the
gates of the Clarence Dock. and will go down to examine the position of
several wrecks, as soon as the weather will permit.
In general, in cases of wrecks,
the position of which have not been clearly ascertained, his operations
differ materially from those of a person in the diving bell, as he is enveloped
in a water-proof dress, with a helmet furnished with hoses, etc
Liverpool Dock Board accounts list: on 24-6-1836, £51; to C A Deane for the use of his diving apparatus and services.
This "promotional visit" seems to have worked, since he was employed to salvage a Liverpool vessel with a valuable cargo: the Intrinsic lost in early 1836.
Liverpool Dock Board Accounts also list: on 25-6-1837, £85; to C A Deane for the use of his diving apparatus. This larger sum suggests that Liverpool may have set up their own helmet diving capability.
The first ever Diving manual was that published by the Deane Brothers in 1836 to accompany their diving apparatus. See Manual here[courtesy of Historical Diver 1995].