Cornelis Drebbel's Oar

Cornelis Drebbel's Oar
Origin	Cornelis Drebbel
Type	Oar
Effects	Underwater submersion
Downsides	Causes the bends
Activation	Touch
Collected by	Warehouse 11
Section	Neptune-45R
Aisle	507983-5546
Shelf	401643-7843-207
Date of Collection	May 17, 1742
[Source]

Origin

Cornelis Drebbel was a Dutch inventor who helped create some of the first optical instruments for scientific use, such as lenses, camera obscuras and telescopes. He also had a heavy interest in chemistry, hydraulics and even constructed the first submarine for the English Royal Navy. He made three wood and leather crafts; the third was propelled by six oars and capable of carrying 16 people for up to three hours unfer the Thames. King James I was even a passenger, becoming the first ruler to travel underwater. Even with all these technological developments, Drebbel had died in near poverty.

Effects

Allows people to stay underwater for three hours without sickness, but prolonged use causes decompression sickness, commonly known as the bends. During uncontrolled diving, dissolved gases will bubble up across the body and cause symptoms ranging from rashes to paralysis, sometimes fatal. Many users must enter a decompression chamber or similar apparatus directly after use or suffer from excruciating pain.