The Army's submarine army is a great option for you. These reasons can range from Da Vinci’s underwater army to the most challenging course available for combat divers in Army. You can even train with dolphins! Here are five great reasons to join the Army's underwater army. It is the only way to be a combat diver.
Da Vinci's submerged army
Leonardo da Vinci was the inventor of the diving suit. The device could have helped Venice defeat Ottoman naval forces at the beginning of the 16th Century. The Mediterranean Coast was in chaos at the time and was involved in several international border disputes.
Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance artist, was fascinated about the underwater world. He envisioned a diving army to repel invasions of enemy ships. The soldiers would be equipped in diving suits to cut into enemy ships' hulls. Although the plan was never realized, his underwater army may have inspired the invention the first scuba gear.
Special Forces dive 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. The course teaches you how to use closed-circuit, heavy dive equipment. These equipments don't produce bubbles which makes them ideal for covert missions. Students will be taught how a'mixedgas' system works, such as a Draeger LARV. It recycles mixed gases that a diver exhales back to the cylinder. Students will also learn diving physics and physiological principles 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, the facility has been operating in the Keys. Combat diving training also teaches students how the seafloor can be navigated. This is vital because an area contractor used to dig up Civil War munitions. SFUWO divers were later partnered by the NOAA Blue Star programme, which aims protect the marine environment.
Toughest course for combat divers in the Army
The Combat Diver Qualification Course focuses on tactical aspects in combat diving. The course also teaches the use of a closed-circuit underwater breathing apparatus, known as the Mark 25 Draeger Oxygen Rebreather, which emits no bubbles and allows operators to swim undetected. Combat divers are also taught how to navigate the oceans, perform various extraction and insertion strategies. This course is typically the most difficult 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 is physically demanding, but it can also be mentally challenging. Falkenstine states that although the training is very difficult, it is an honor to be part of such an elite club. She said she is astonished at the camaraderie between combat divers.
Dolphin training
Developing an underwater army with dolphins is not a new idea. The Soviet Union has used dolphins to train its sailors. It also uses seals and other marine mammals 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 can also dive without suffering from decompression sickness, making them excellent patrol animals. However, ethical concerns surround the use and possession of dolphins to be used as weapons. Animal rights activists have called for an end to this program since long.
The dangers of diving in 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 dangerous to marine life and the people who work on the frontlines of cleanup. Avoid areas that could contain oil if you dive in the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite commercial divers being equipped with advanced breathing equipment, the underwater environment can still be extremely difficult. The water can be very cold, currents can make visibility difficult, and visibility can sometimes be dim. Divers need to be aware of sand and mud as well as sharks or stinging fauna. Additionally, they may be exposed to high baric pressure which can lead to death.