Waterfront in Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Purisima

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 10, 2023

1. Purisima Marker

Inscription.
Purisima, the world's first commercial diving lock-out bell, was used to support the deepwater oil and gas exploration taking place offshore of Santa Barbara in the 1960's. Named after Purisima Point in Santa Barbara County, it was rated to 1,000 feet.

Purisima was conceived and designed by the late Hugh D. "Danny" Wilson in 1962, a Santa Barbara abalone diver and deepwater diving pioneer. His company General Offshore Divers, an affiliate of Union Carbide, built the bell in 1964. The system was launched and tested here in the Santa Barbara Harbor before being used on various offshore projects.

Although Purisima had several design shortcomings, it set a standard and served as a catalyst for future commercial deep diving systems and equipment used worldwide today. It remains one of many historical icons that have made Santa Barbara the birthplace of deepwater commercial diving.

See the full exhibit on the Purisima in SBMM.

Erected 2011 by Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 34° 24.243′ N,

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119° 41.61′ W. Marker is in Santa Barbara, California, in Santa Barbara County. It is in Waterfront. It can be reached from Harbor Way near Shoreline Drive. Located near the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara CA 93109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Central Coast,

specifically on the Coast Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Naval Reserve Building (a few steps from this marker); Red Abalone (within shouting distance of this marker); Santa Barbara Yacht Club (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Los Baños del Mar Pool (approx. ¼ mile away); Sambo's Birthplace

Purisima and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 10, 2023

2. Purisima and Marker

(approx. 0.4 miles away); Burton Mound (approx. half a mile away); Santa Barbara Veterans' Memorial Building (approx. half a mile away); Trussell-Winchester Adobe (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Barbara.

Also see . . . Purisima: The First Commercial Lock-Out Diving Bell. ScubaBoard website entry (Submitted on October 27, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

The Purisima - Overlooking the Harbor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, November 10, 2023

3. The Purisima - Overlooking the Harbor

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.