Technically SpeakingTechnical Diving; Canadian Forces Style By Bill Nadeau | |
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The only lights in the dark sky are streaking 'Skud' missiles. Distant explosions can be heard at sea where a Canadian Forces
Navy vessel is quietly preparing to engage in an underwater mine-countermeasures operation. A couple of well-trained divers
equipped with CUMA rebreathers make a silent entry so that their presence does not set off the explosive drifting aimlessly in 270
feet of water. Their mission; to approach, identify and defuse a mine. They are only two of the 120 Clearance Divers in the
Canadian Armed Forces who represent a small but very important part of, not only wartime operations, but also diving research
and science. As much as any other field in the diving industry, Canadian Forces (CF) Divers apply technical diving applications to
each and every aspect of their trade.
During an interview with Master Seaman Rob DeProy, a Clearance Diving Technician with the Pacific Fleet Diving Unit, he commented that he felt that CF Divers are nothing like technical divers. If it were dive objectives that were being compared I would have to agree. Yet in many other fields such as scientific or commercial diving, when particular diving practices are employed to safely engage in underwater exploration or operations, the techniques are similar. The Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (DCIEM), CF Divers and National Defence Canada have contributed to a wide variety of diving research for almost 30 years. The 'Diving Systems and Operations' project at DCIEM employs a 25 member Experimental Diving Unit (EDU) to enhance the safety and effectiveness of many Canadian Forces operations includ ing sub-sea engineering and the development of diving procedures and equipment. These procedures have included the develop ment of air and mixed gas tables that are now used by over 40 other sport, military and commercial diving organizations around the world. In addition to dive tables and procedures, work is continuing on projects such as improved protection for CF Divers in contaminated waters and further development of countermeasures systems. In the Canadian Forces there are a variety of roles that involve diving responsibilities. A Ship's Team Diver has limited training and primarily engages in operations that involve relatively shallow scuba dives such as hull inspections and prop entanglement. Combat Diver training is somewhat similar to that of a Ship's Team Diver but more relevant to infantry operations. In either case the role of these divers is primarily as a tool to meet other ends. Ship's Team Diver and Combat Diver are not recognized as trades within the forces.
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