Monday, April 11, 2011

Take a deep breath (by Marty Carey)


And hold it all the way through this post.  GO!

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NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, Bahrain

Navy Diver 2nd Class Alan Dewitt, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU‐2), attached to Commander Task Group (CTG) 56.1, begins his descent to the bottom to perform a MK 16 MOD 1 familiarization dive. The “Mark 16” is a re‐breathable underwater system used for bubble‐free operations. MDSU‐2 is attached to CTG 56.1, to provide maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Martin L. Carey / NOT REVIEWED)

The "Mark 16" is a lot like a Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, or SCUBA as you're familiar with, except a few differences. When the diver exhales, the air is re-circulated back into the device, sending the air through a series of filters. When the exhaled air passes through these filters, it is scrubbed of CO, replaced with O2, and sent back to the diver to be breathed again. By sending the air back through and not releasing it in the water, like in normal SCUBA, it allows "bubble-free" diving operations, allowing the diver to be more stealthy, should the mission require.

So to summarize, these divers were practicing using the "Mark 16" in calm-pool waters, prior to going out into the open sea. It helps keep the divers prepared for real-world operations, should they need to dive with this type of equipment in support of the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.




NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, Bahrain

Navy Diver 1st Class Dean Bates, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU‐2), attached to Commander Task Group (CTG) 56.1, simulates an equipment failure by breathing from a different regulator as part of an MK 16 MOD 1 familiarization dive. The “Mark 16” is a re‐breathable underwater system used for bubble‐free operations.  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Martin L. Carey)


 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, Bahrain

Senior Chief Navy Diver Anthony Mabry, the Master Diver for Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU‐2), attached to Commander Task Group (CTG) 56.1, watches while the diving supervisor prepares a diver to perform a MK 16 MOD 1 familiarization dive. The “Mark 16” is a re‐breathable underwater system used for bubble‐free operations.  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Martin L. Carey / NOT REVIEWED)



I can't talk about this one.



Catching rest after running hard all day, and hanging out with Anderson Bomjardim's family.

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