Peter Kreeft (born 1739 inWieck auf dem Darß died 20 January 1811 in Barth) also spelled Kraeft or Kreft, was a German sea captain, shipping correspondent, ship owner and merchant inBarth,Swedish Pomerania, who invented an early version of a surface-supplied diving suit with helmet.
The invention of thesurface supplied helmet diving suit was a major development in underwater diving.A document from 1805 found by the diving historianMichael Jung in 1996 shows that the shipowner and captain Peter Kreeft had significant influence on the development of the diving helmet with his invention of aTauchermaschine [diving machine] in 1800.[1] The document describes the invention of diving equipment, which was already close to thestandard diving dress, and which was successfully used in the Baltic Sea. Kreeft also anticipated other developments, such as avoice communications system between the diver and the surface support team.
Peter Kreeft was probably the owner of the frigateDie Gewisheit (built inRostock 1769) and thePeter Kreft (built inPrerow 1780). He lived in Barth, Markt 12, in a house that still stands as of 2019. Between 18 and 23 July 1800 he presented his diving suit to KingGustav IV Adolf of Sweden inStralsund.
Peter Kreeft's sonChristoph Kreeft, and his grandsonSiegerich Christoph Kreeft, served as Consuls General in London.
