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. You can even train with dolphins! These are five reasons why you should consider joining the Army's underwater army. It is the only way to be a combat diver.
Da Vinci's underwater 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 at that time in turmoil, embroiled in a series international border disputes and even a full-scale conflict.
Leonardo da Vinci was an artist of Renaissance who was fascinated by the underwater environment. 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 never materialized, the underwater army he devised may have inspired the invention of the first scuba equipment.
Special Forces combat diving school for the 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 don't produce bubbles which makes them ideal for covert missions. Students will be trained in how to use a'mixed gaz' system like a Draeger LAR–V. This recycles the'mixed chemicals' that a diver exhales and returns them into the cylinder. During the course, students will also learn about diving physics and physiology. 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. It has been in existence in the Keys since 1960. Combat diving training includes instruction in how to navigate on the seafloor. This is essential because a contractor used to excavate munitions left over from the Civil War. 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: The most difficult course
The Combat Diver Qualification Course focuses on tactical aspects in combat diving. The Mark 25 Draeger Oxygen Rebreather (closed-circuit underwater breathing system) is taught. It emits no air bubbles and allows divers to go unnoticed. Combat divers are also taught how to navigate the oceans, perform various extraction and insertion 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 physical strength, but also mental challenges. Falkenstine admits that the training can be very challenging but she is proud to be part of this elite group. She describes the camaraderie among combat divers as unmatched.
Training with dolphins
It is not a novel idea to create an underwater army using dolphins. The Soviet Union has used dolphins to train its sailors. It also uses seals or other marine mammals in part of its training program. Although the Soviet Union collapsed the program, the Ukrainian navy revived the training program several years ago.
Dolphins are quicker than humans and have better swimming and diving skills. They can dive safely and are good patrol animals. Ethical concerns are raised by the use dolphins of weapons. Animal rights activists have long called for the end of this program.
Dive in the Gulf of Mexico: Dangers
Oil from the Gulf of Mexico has leaked into the waterways, contaminating them with liquid oil and volatile, inflammable gases. These chemicals are harmful to marine life and those working on the front lines of clean-up. Avoid any oily areas if you are diving in the Gulf of Mexico.
Despite being equipped with sophisticated equipment for breathing, commercial divers still find it difficult to navigate the waters. The water is extremely cold and the currents can be turbulent. Visibility is also often poor. Divers should also watch out for mud and sandy, sharks, and stinging flora. Additionally, they may be exposed to high baric pressure which can lead to death.