Leon Lyons has become the foremost authority on vintage and late model diving helmets. Collectors throughout the world contact him with questions on the authenticity of helmets

Leon G. Lyons was born on January 17, 1942 in the Inwood section of New York City. He attended elementary school at Holy Redeemer Convent in the downtown area of Manhattan before moving to Edgewater, New Jersey at the age of 10. There he finished the elementary grades at the Epiphany School in Cliffside. He graduated from Saint Cecilia's High School in Englewood and attended St. Peter's College in Jersey City and Fairleigh

Dickinson University in Paramus. During that time he worked for the Aluminum Company of America, starting in the mailroom, and then working in their computer department.

In 1963, Lyons joined the U.S. Army. On completion of basic training, he was assigned to the Signal Corps. He served for two years in Japan on a transmitter site in the prefecture of Kashiwa.

While stationed there, he joined the rifle team which competed in major competitions in Hawaii.

After the Army, he worked for the family business. Jerry's Bar and Restaurant in Edgewater, and the Duro Test Company in Union City, in their computer department. In 1968 he moved to Puerto Rico where he is in partnership with his father in a gun

shop. He has competed in international shooting events and represented Puerto Rico in the Central American Games in Cuba, 1969, and the Dominican Republic, 1974. Leon G. Lyons is a major collector of diving helmets and other equipment pertaining to diving. He also collects U.S. coins and World War II firearms.

But his favorite pastime, besides diving helmets, is enjoying Puerto Rico's year-round sunshine and beaches.

Lyons says, 'These last four or five years getting this book ready have sharply cut into my beach time. Now that it is finished, it's back to the beach with a nice tall vodka and orange juice on ice."

Leon Lyons Diving

Leon Lyons is heralded as one of the most leading authorities on dive helmets and other maritime collectibles. The first edition of his book, Helmets of the Deep, will sell as high as $5,000 on popular auction sites. It was published in 1988 and has been sold out for years. He is writing the second edition and hopes to have the book ready by the end of the year. He will be writing very intriguing articles for the Quarry website exclusively.

The Lyons Maritime Museum

Leon has reopened his diving maritime museum in his home in St. Augustine, FL, and for those who wish to see it should call him to make an appointment. The tour is usually around two hours, and for only two people at a time. There is a tour fee involved. He can be reached at 904-825-0184, or through email.

Recently there has been a flood of phony late models being passed off as vintage. Leon can tell you in a second whether the helmet is a complete vintage helmet. He will be writing articles and stories of his adventures in search of vintage dive equipment.