Catalogue description Admiralty and Ministry of Defence: Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit (AEDU): Reports

The Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit (AEDU) was formed in 1933 on the recommendation of the Admiralty Diving Committee, in order to meet the problems posed by port clearance, submarines and other naval activities which needed divers. Although staffed by naval personnel and scientists, it began its operations at the works of Siebe, Gorman and Co, the diving equipment firm. After the Second World War, it moved for a short period to Brixham, Devon, and then to HMS Vernon in Portsmouth in 1945 where it found a permanent home and came under the direction of the Naval Superintendent of Diving. This arrangement lasted until 1967 when AEDU was rationalised to bring the diving techniques and equipment research and development it performed under the control of the Director of Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE), Portland. It remained at HMS Vernon however, and later became part of the Human Factors Group of Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment (AMTE).