Laser induced fluorescence Doppler spectroscopy has been applied for the first time to atomic hydrogen using tunable VUV light at the Lyman- line. The dissociation of HI at 266 nm into H+I(P _1/2) and H+I(P _3/2) has been investigated. The recoil energy, angular distribution and branching ratio of the H atom have been measured, serving to test and study the feasibility and applicability of the technique.