There are a few reasons why you should consider joining the Army's underwater army. These include Da Vinci’s underwater army, to the most challenging course for combat divers within the Army. You can even train with dolphins These are five reasons why you should consider joining the Army's underwater army. This is the best way for combat divers to get certified.
Da Vinci's submerged army
Leonardo da Vinci invents the diving suit. This device could have helped the Republic of Venice defeat Ottoman Navy at the turn of 16th century. The Mediterranean Coast was in turmoil at the time. It was embroiled with a series of international border disputes that included a full-scale civil war.
Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance artist) was fascinated with the underwater realm. To repel enemy ships, he envisioned a diving army. They would be equipped with diving gear to make holes in enemy ships' hulls. Although this plan did not materialize, it may have been the inspiration for the creation of the first scuba equipment.
Special Forces Combat Diving School in Florida Keys
If you are interested in joining the military and want to learn how to conduct covert missions underwater, you can enroll in a Special Forces combat diving school in the Florida Keys. You will be able to use heavy, closed circuit dive equipment during this course. These equipments do not produce bubbles, making them very clandestine and perfect for covert missions. Students will learn how to use a'mixed gas system' such as a Draeger LARV that recycles any mixed gases exhaled by a diver back into the cylinder. Students will also learn about diving mechanics and physiology during the course. They will also learn how the to treat any injuries suffered by divers while submerged.
One of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Underwater Operations schools (or SFUWO) is located in the waters around the Florida Keys. It is part of the U.S. Army’s Southeast Command. Since the 1960s, this facility has been in Keys operation. Combat diving training also teaches students how the seafloor can be navigated. This training is important as a contractor once excavated munitions from the Civil War area. SFUWO divers were then partnered up with the NOAA Blue Star Program, which aims at protecting the marine environment from hazardous materials.
Army combat divers face the toughest challenge
Combat diver qualification courses focus on tactical aspects of combat dive. The Mark 25 Draeger Oxygen Rebreather underwater breathing apparatus is also taught in the course. It emits no harmful bubbles, so operators can swim unassisted. The course also covers how combat divers can navigate the oceans and use various insertion or extraction strategies. This course is usually the most challenging course for combat divers.
Falkenstine completed the Combat Diver Qualification Course over seven weeks and was then invited back to take the Supervisor Course. This prepares them for the role of directing combat dive operations. Although combat diving requires a high degree of physical fitness, it is also a mental challenge. Falkenstine said that while the training is difficult, she felt honored to be a part of such an elite community. She says she finds the camaraderie among combat divers to be unmatched.
Training with dolphins
This idea of an underwater army made up of dolphins is not novel. In Soviet Union, the Soviet Union used dolphins as a way to train its sailors. It also trains its sailors with seals and other marine mammals. Though the program was discontinued after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian navy resumed its training program a few years ago.
Dolphins can swim faster than humans, and they have superior diving and swimming skills. They can also dive without suffering from decompression sickness, making them excellent patrol animals. The ethical issues surrounding the use of dolphins for weapons are still present. This program has been opposed by animal rights activists for many years.
Dangers of diving in the Gulf of Mexico
Oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico has contaminated the water, leaving behind brown liquid oil and volatile, flammable gases. These chemicals are hazardous to marine life, as well as those involved in the cleanup. Avoid oily areas when diving in the Gulf of Mexico.
Even though commercial divers have sophisticated breathing equipment, it is still very challenging in the water environment. The water temperature is low, the currents and visibility are often poor. Divers must also be alert for mud, sand and sharks. In addition, they are exposed to hyperbaric pressure, which can be fatal.