"The first diving -bell we read of was nothing but a very large kettle, suspended by ropes, with the mouth downwards, and planks to sit on, fixed in the middle of its concavity. Two Greeks at Toledo, in 1588 made an experiment with it before the Emperor Charles V. They descended in it with a lighted candle, to a considerable depth.
In 1683, William Phipps, the son of a blacksmith, formed a project for unloading a rich Spanish ship sunk on the coast of Hispaniola. Charles II, gave him a vessel with everything necessary for his undertaking; but being unsuccessful, he returned in great poverty. He then endeveavored to procure another vessel; but failing, he got a subscription, to which the Duke of Albemarle contributed. In 1687, Phipps set sail in a ship of 200 tons, having previously engaged to divide the profits according to the twenty shares of which the subscription consisted. At first, all his labors proved fruitless; but at last, when he seemed almost to despair, he was fortunate enough to bring up so much treasure, that he returned to England with the value of 200, 000 pounds. Of this sum he got about 20,000 pounds, and the Duke of Albemarle 90,000 pounds. Phipps was knighted by the king, and laid the foundation of the fortunes of the present noble house of Mulgrave." (The Dew-Drop and the Stream - The Living Age, Volume 10, Issue 114 published July 18, 1846)  As far as is known, Phips used the diving bell on only 1 day while salvaging the Concepcion.