Rebreather Technology and Armed Forces Diving
For decades the military has used rebreathers for a wide range of activities. Typical operational uses include covert access, defusing mines, and specialized covert operations. The post-9/11 environment has seen the use of rebreathers extend from traditional military users to other paramilitary groups focused on anti-terrorism and drug interdiction activities, such as county SWAT teams, Coast Guard, and other harbor monitoring groups. In the decades to come, we can expect both the quantity and scope of activities requiring Rebreather use to increase.
Navy SEALs & EODs
The U.S. Navy has been actively seeking to upgrade and replace the rebreathers in fleet use. While many commercially available units have been tested, none have met the criteria being sought. The U.S. Navy is considering replacement of the units used by both their Special Forces teams, like the SEALs, as well as their Explosive Ordinance Demolition (EOD) units.
Special forces teams routinely utilize oxygen closed circuit rebreathers when making covert insertions into enemy occupied territory. They also use oxygen rebreathers when planting devices on enemy ship hulls, such as listening or tracking devices, or mines or other explosives. Oxygen rebreathers are used because they are small, light and compact. The problem with these devices is that any time spent below 20 fsw / 6 msw is hazardous, subjecting the user to high risk of seizures from oxygen toxicity. If they had a mixed gas rebreather with similar physical properties, it would significantly increase the safety of some operations. While not yet available, Blu Vu’s technology promises to provide such a solution.
Mixed gas closed circuit rebreathers are often used by military EOD teams to defuse or explode mines. Rebreathers can be manufactured to have low noise and magnetic signatures, and also allow divers to spend hours at depths up to 60 fsw / 18 msw with no decompression penalties, ideal for this type of work. The rebreathers under development by Blu Vu provide these same capabilities, in a much small, lighter, and more reliable package.
