The Army's submarine army is a great option for you. These include Da Vinci's underwater army and the most difficult course for combat divers in Army. Even dolphins can be trained! These are five reasons why you should consider joining the Army's underwater army. It is the ultimate way to become an combat diver.
Da Vinci's underwater army
Leonardo da Vinci invented the diving suit, a device which could have helped the Republic of Venice defeat the Ottoman navy at the turn of the 16th century. The Mediterranean Coast was at that time in turmoil, embroiled in a series international border disputes and even a full-scale conflict.
Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance artist, was fascinated by the underwater world. To repel enemy ships, he envisioned a diving army. The soldiers would be equipped with diving suits, which they would use to cut holes in the enemy ships' hulls. Although the plan was never realized, his underwater army may have inspired the invention the first scuba gear.
Special Forces combat diving school for the Florida Keys
A Special Forces combat school in Florida Keys is available to anyone who is interested in joining military service and learning how to perform covert missions underwater. You will be able to use heavy, closed circuit dive equipment during this course. These equipments don't produce bubbles which makes them ideal 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 they can treat diver injuries that occur underwater.
One of the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Underwater Operations schools, or SFUWO in the U.S. Army’s Southeast Command, is located around the Florida Keys. Since the 1960s, the facility has been operating in the Keys. As part of the combat diving training, students learn how to navigate the seafloor. This training is important as a contractor once excavated munitions from the Civil War area. SFUWO divers were subsequently partnered with NOAA Blue Star, which is designed to protect marine environments from harmful materials.
Army combat divers face the toughest challenge
Combat diving's tactical aspects are the focus of the combat diver qualification course. The Mark 25 Draeger Oxygen Rebreather is a closed-circuit underwater breathing device that emits no bubbles. This allows operators to safely swim unnoticed. This course teaches combat divers how navigate the oceans as well as various insertion and removal strategies. This course is the most difficult one for combat divers.
Falkenstine successfully completed the seven-week Combat Diver Qualification Course and was then invited to return to the supervisor course. This allows them to supervise combat dive operations. Combat diving requires high levels of physical fitness. However, it can also present 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.
Dolphin training
The idea of creating an underwater army of dolphins is not new. The Soviet Union has used dolphins in training its sailors. It also uses seals as part of its training program. The program was ended after the collapse Soviet Union. However, the Ukrainian navy has resumed its training program some years back.
Dolphins can dive and swim faster than humans. They are excellent patrol animals and can dive without getting decompression sickness. However, ethical concerns surround the use and possession of dolphins to be used as weapons. Animal rights activists have long called to end this program.
The dangers of diving in Gulf of Mexico
Oil from the Gulf of Mexico has leaked into the waterways, contaminating them with liquid oil and volatile, inflammable gases. These chemicals are hazardous to marine life, as well as those involved in the cleanup. Avoid any oily areas if you are diving in the Gulf of Mexico.
Commercial divers are outfitted with sophisticated breathing equipment but the environment in the ocean is still challenging. The water can be very cold, currents can make visibility difficult, and visibility can sometimes be dim. Divers also must watch for mud and sand, as well as sharks and stinging flora. They are also exposed to hyperbaric tension, which can prove fatal.