A method and apparatus for carrying out air breathing diving operations using a wet diving bell (1) capable of housing a diver and having a closable access aperture (2) in which method the diver is deployed to a depth with the diving bell (1) with the access aperture (2) open and the bell flooding to level (M), the diver thereafter being recovered in a normal mode, by raising the bell and diver with the access door (2) open, and subject to decompression stops, to a recovery depth, thereafter clearing the chamber of water (W), closing the access door (2) and raising the bell and diver to the surface, connecting the bell aperture (4) to a decompression chamber and transferring the diver to said chamber all under recovery depth pressure.