Mission Success! The past two Aquarius saturation dives have proven to be most beneficial to both the U.S. Navy and to NURC. Our MK16 Mod 1 closed circuit underwater breathing rigs worked very well from Aquarius. In some cases, the divers were able to complete over 6 hours (two dive sets) on one rig. The maintenance and pre-dive procedures between dives proved to be very simple and easy to perform inside Aquarius. The closed circuit aquanauts were able to conduct various diver task outside Aquarius, requiring only minor daily support from above. As you can see from the postings from the divers, they have shared a variety of personal comments. Regardless of how critical they are of their personal skills and challenges, their accomplishments here in Key Largo have been significant. They have demonstrated extended excursion times, less re-charging requirements, minimum topside support, and may I add, “more time to safely concentrate on diver tasks”.
We sincerly appreciate the exceptional support and opportunity from NURC. Once again, we have demonstrated the benefit for having a facility like this available to the U.S. Navy Divng Program, and look forward to sharing future opportunities with NURC.
Again, our thanks to Craig and all the NURC divers for their tremendous support and making this a successful trade.
I would also like to thank Bernie Campoli for capturing and documenting our efforts underwater. Bernie has been diving professionally as an underwater photograhper since the SEALAB days. We appreciate your work Bernie, thanks!
CWO4 Rusty Deen
Another great diving day. I locked out of the wetporch on yet another NURCA NURCA mission-I dove the Bear drysuit with MK-16 rebreather. Team Aquarius- HooYah Total dive time- 2 hours
Woke up this morning at 0600 and had another wonderful breakfast. Corey and the XO made a dive out in the MK-16’s and I went out on the hooka. Being able to swim as opposed to walking around was a nice change. Although the bubbles from my exhaust did tend to scare away most of the wild life. Visability was poor again today, but the water was still warm and plenty to look at nevertheless. Locked out all of the dive gear and most of our clothing. Now we have entered the decompression phase of Saturation diving. The 3M phase, “Meals, Movies, and Mattresses.” Sleep until you’re hungery and eat ’til you’re tired. This has really been a great experence and really hope that we get the chance to do another mission with these guys in the future. All true professionals and great at their jobs.
Hooyah America
Jeremy Mullis
The food has remained good throughout the entire dive. I also slept well last night due to the calmed seas. The crew are well trained and extremely helpful. Our evening entertainment consisted of observation of the Goliath Grouper eating habits and the other fishes gathering for the crill that have congregated around the lights.
My last dive this morning went well again, and the rig never gave me many problems while outside. I spent most of the time stretching out the EGS hoses and gathering all the gear for tomorrow’s departure. We also spent a significant amount of time cleaning the structure of marine growth. That was a real treat for us and anyone that was watching online as several of the fish would eat while sitting in your hand. The rest has been prep for decompression.
After a great first day of diving and good food, we enjoyed a “change of the guard” as the sea life changed from the fast swimming, always moving day shift to the night shift. I had long night with little sleep due to the constant pressure changes of 4-6 ft seas. That plus the three Goliath Groupers that dine outside the bunk room viewport. They are incredible creatures! I believe the only predator that is constant is the school of barracuda that stay nearby. They are eating day and night.The dive today was again approximately 3 hours of minor work to the habitat’s anchoring gear and a large amount of cleaning on the gazebo deck. Our rebreathers were flawless again today and as before, the fish are not threatened and will allow you to observe them up close. The rebreather is so quiet they pay me no attention. I have observed that when doing heavy work the rebreather is easily overworked and if you are working in an upward looking posture it makes it very difficult to breath and work due to the nature of gases and pressure. I dove MDV’s dry suit today and it was dry for the entire dive. The suit is much more comfortable than mine, but not as thermally protective as Tim’s.
Sea life today consisted of the normal grouper, various snapper, snook, parrot fishes, angel fishes, tarpon, permit, stingray, eagle ray, moray eel, and countless other smaller fishes. The reef has an incredible variety of marine life and I don’t dare try to look up all of the different species.