ARLINGTON, Va. —
The Navy diver hoisted a 60-pound life-support regulator onto his back, then donned a 30-pound metal helmet.
Fellow divers connected his diving suit to an “umbilical” hose pumping in breathing gas and establishing communications with the surface. After receiving approval to enter the water, the diver descended into a large test pool at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Florida, home to the Navy Experimental Diving Unit.
New System
The diver's mission: demonstrate the effectiveness of the MK29 Mixed Gas Rebreather — a prototype system that's the first of its kind within the Navy diving community, developed by Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division.
The technology is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research Global TechSolutions program. TechSolutions is ONR Global's rapid-response science and technology program that develops prototype technologies to address issues raised by sailors and Marines, usually within 12 months.
“This rebreather system is an awesome opportunity to enhance the capabilities of Navy divers and accelerate their deployments,” said Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Matt Matteson, who heads up TechSolutions for the Office of Naval Research.
Navy diving missions include underwater rescues, explosive ordnance disposal, ship hull maintenance, recovery…
