The Khimera Dual Flotation PFD offers 20.5 lbs of buoyancy (7.5 lbs of foam keep most bodies neutrally buoyant, 13 lbs additional buoyancy available when cells inflated via CO2 cylinder). Designed for paddling, it features wide arm slots.
There’s also a military version called the Rescue Swimmer Vest which incorporates PALs webbing and offers 9 lbs of inherent foam buoyancy, 26 lbs total buoyancy when manually inflated with CO2.
Most people wear something under their wetsuit to help with getting their wetsuit on and off easier. The other reason for wearing something under your wetsuits is that the extra layers can help keep your body warmer. Instead of wearing a thicker wetsuit that will restrict your movement, it allows you to wear a thinner suit that will give you more flexibility. You can wear a short sleeve top or bottom to help keep your core warmer. The other thing to think about is the air temperature/ wind on your way to the dive site. Suppose you are worried about the air temp/ wind when you are traveling to the dive site. In that case, you can wear heavyweight GoreTex or a linebacker jacket (the kind made for helo’s flights/ football players wear on the sidelines) is excellent to have as you can take it off before the dive and put it on when you are done.
SCUBAPRO 1.5mm Everflex SS top
For colder temperatures, adding layers underneath the suit is the way to go. You have several options to choose from. If you already have a thinner wetsuit that you usually use for warmer environments, a 1mm rash guard, or any other type of garment that’ll provide you with the added warmth around your chest will help. SCUBAPRO makes a great 1.5mm top and bottoms in short and long sleeves, shorts, and long pants. This 1.5mm is very warm, and to me, it feels like I am wearing a 2-3mm.
SCUBAPRO 1.5mm Everflex long pants
When you have to worry about the wind, most surf wetsuits or wetsuits glossy like surf suits are made to stop the wind. That all-suit surf suits are not great for diving as most are not made from a material (yes, surfing is different than diving) that is designed to be used underwater for long periods. Some people like to wear nothing between them and their wetsuits. This can be painful after wearing a wetsuit for a long time, especially on a long wet Zodiac ride. Due to the constant rubbing against their skin, it begins to chafe ( AKA Baboon a$$). Usually, the neck, armpits, behind the knees, and the crotch are the first to go. You can apply anti-chafing gel/ Vaseline to help with this on long dives and rides. There is also stuff like Butt Paste, Triple paste, or Anti monkey butt paste.
SCUBAPRO 1.5mm Everflex LS top
You can also wear dive skin or bike shorts; this will help with donning and doffing your suit on and off also. I have started to use Under Armor UA RUSH™ compression shorts. (They make tops also) They are made with a material called Celliant; it is a mineral-infused fabric to take the energy you give off when you work and reflect it into your muscles, increasing blood flow and helping them work harder. As your body emits energy, the mineral-infused fabric absorbs & reflects it, improving endurance. (I know this sounds crazy, but I am a big believer in Celliant)
Whatever you decide to wear, keep in mind the water/ air temperature, duration of the dive, and what you will be doing. Also, one reason you should make sure to keep a logbook of all your dives. That way, you can look up what you have used in the past for this situation. That should put you at a good starting point. Now that you’re aware of your options, it’s time to get to specifics. What type of undergarment is right for your needs, or do you even need to wear anything under your wetsuit at all?
SCUBAPRO 1.5mm Everflex
Well, that depends on you. In warmer waters, you can get away with wearing undergarments with minimal coverage (swimsuits, trunks, and other similar items)—or even nothing at all. Many people prefer to go commando under their wetsuits, but it’s all a matter of preference. If you plan to rent the suit, however, you’re probably going to want to wear something underneath.
SCUBAPRO 1mm Topical wetsuit
For colder temperatures, adding layers underneath the suit is the way to go. You have several options to choose from. Suppose you already have a thinner wetsuit that you usually use for warmer environments. In that case, you can opt to add a jumpsuit, rash guard, or any other type of garment that’ll provide you with the added insulation you need. This way, you won’t have to purchase another suit.
SCUBAPRO Hybrid Hood Vest
Or, if you’d instead go naked warrior underneath, you can get a thicker wetsuit. Deciding what to wear ultimately depends on the environment (and temperature) you plan to dive in, how sensitive your body is too cold, and many other variables. Make sure to consider all factors before you buy anything, and always try it in training before you use it for the first time when it matters the most.
Take a look at FirstSpear’s all American made short and long sleeve Rash Guards that are now back in stock!
Built from a premium poly/spandex blend the FS Rash Guard is an ultralight compression fit garment that helps to protect against abrasion and rub commonly found in a maritime environment.
• Ultralight compression fit
• Protects against rubbing and abrasion while wet
• Natural sun / UV protection
• Dries quickly
• Made in the USA
Quick to dry with natural sun / UV protection. Smooth flat seams, medium high collar, and integrated low profile thumb holes keep the sleeves in places when putting on equipment and other garments. Available and shipping now in short and long sleeve in charcoal and ranger green. Order your standard t-shirt size for a compressed fit and consider stepping up 1-2 sizes for a more relaxed fit. 100% Made in America.
For more information, check out www.first-spear.com/technical-apparel/rash-guard-7228.
Wing Group showed us their Wing P4.7 SOF MOD Upgrade which is an aftermarket inflatable rigid floor and keel for existing Combat Rubber Raiding Craft boats fielded across the force.
The main principle of the SOF upgrade are the drop stitch floor and drop stitch i-keel. These are inflated to 12PSI, as opposed to the standard inflation pressure of 4.5PSI. The drop stitch threads allow them to build beams and structures as opposed to round tubes. They can incorporate this into the boat to improve, ride, handling and performance of the standard craft.
The drop stitch deck and keel also offer a 50lb weight savings over a conventional deck. This lighter weight craft has inherent shock mitigation qualities that reduce impact of the craft, thereby reducing user fatigue while underway. The improved keel shape also allows the craft to better cut through the water improving the ride and allowing for better turning at both high speeds and slow close quarter maneuvers.
The second part of this upgrade is the addition of tracking strakes. These strakes act like chines on a conventional hull craft, drastically improving the maneuverability of the craft.
There is also the option of connecting it all with a rapid inflation system to inflate everything from a SCUBA bottle.
This SOF upgrade kit can be applied to any P4.7 craft in the field. Customers can order a P4.7 with all of these upgrades, or they can have these upgrades done to their existing P4.7s.
However, Wing’s new DBATS (Drop-Stitch Boat Advanced Tactical System) incorporates an actual hull made of drop stitch. Testing has shown a 50% reduction in vertical accelerations in heavy sea states over current inflatable craft. It can also plane quicker with heavier loads and allows users to operate in seastates where they’ve not been able to in the past.
Above you can see the hull of a DBATS.
Units and agencies can procure Wing Group products by contacting Atlantic Diving Supply.
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina – Some of the nation’s elite Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division and 3rd Special Forces Group have finalized testing the Army’s new Parachutist Flotation Device (PFD).
Preparation for the PFD test started in mid-April 2021 with the Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate performing intentional water landings in Jordan Lake, North Carolina, according to Maj. Camden S. Jordan, ABNSOTD’s executive officer.
“Planners synchronized early with local emergency management, law enforcement and state wildlife agencies to help support the Army’s water operations on Jordan Lake,” said Jordan said.
Jordan went on to say rehearsals took place for the multi-tiered and complex infiltration technique before final testing in June.
“Located just West of Raleigh, North Carolina, Jordan Lake is one of North Carolina’s most pristine waterways, so these agencies provided swift water rescue teams, emergency medical technicians, small boat support and assisted in routing boaters away from the water drop zone while airborne operations are underway,” he said.
“We relied heavily upon the support of the community to execute this test. Local emergency services were the lynchpin to this entire test and could not have been executed without their outstanding support,” said Sgt. 1st Class John Reed, ABNSOTD’s Operations NCOIC.
According to Dan Shedd, Senior Mechanical Engineer Developmental Command at Natick, Massachusetts, military planners try real hard to keep airborne operations away from bodies of water.
He said on occasion, though, paratroopers can engage high value targets near large bodies of water so they must be equipped accordingly for safety.
With flotation bladders that can be inflated using an internal carbon dioxide (CO2) gas cylinder or an oral inflation tube, once employed in the water, the PFD becomes critical in saving lives.
Shedd explained how the PFD must suspend a combat-equipped jumper in a “lifesaving” posture for an extended period following an airborne infiltration.
“In real-world scenarios,” he said, “this critical time allows recovery teams time to locate and extract jumpers in the event of a water landing.”
Reed said operational testing with Soldiers during early June saw participating paratroopers undergoing intensive training cycles geared toward preparing for deliberate water operations.
That training began with new equipment training (NET) so the Soldiers could practice the proper rigging techniques and activation procedures required using the PFD.
“Anytime two lifesaving devices are being employed by one Soldier, intense attention to detail is required for both proper fit and wear as well as how these systems interact during airborne infiltration,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan R. Copley an ABNSOTD Military Freefall Master Jumpmaster.
The rigorous NET training test jumps required the test Soldiers of 82nd Airborne Division and 3rd Special Forces Group to complete a full combat water survival test (CWST) conducted in Fort Bragg’s Mott Lake.
Sgt. 1st Class Steven Branch, a platoon Sergeant and Jumpmaster assigned to C Company 2nd Battalion 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, gave the PFD a thumbs-up.
“The PFD is much easier to rig for static line operations,” he said. “We barely noticed having it on, and it can easily suspend a Soldier with combat equipment for a long time if needed.
“Overall I was very impressed with every aspect of the PFD.”
ABNSOTD used the PFD test to train parachute riggers from across the airborne and special operations community in the proper maintenance and care of the new life-saving apparatus once they return to home station.
This “maintainer” training included system maintenance, repacking, repair, proper storage, handling, as well as rigging and employment during water landings.
Sgt. Issa Yi, a parachute rigger with the 151st Quarter Master Company said, “The PFD was easy to pack and required no special tools or materials to maintain.”
Story by Mr. Mike Shelton, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
Photos by Mr. James L. Finney, Mr. Barry W. Fisher, and Mr. Chris O’Leary, U.S. Army Operational Test Command, and SFC Timothy D. Nephew, Airborne and Special Operations Video Flyer
The formal history of the Coast Guard dates to August 4, 1790, when the first Congress ordered the building of 10 vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade regulations and combat smuggling. The Coast Guard, also known as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, rose in number and responsibility as the country grew. The Coast Guard is one of the federal government’s oldest agencies, and until Congress founded the Navy Department in 1798, it was the country’s only afloat armed force. Throughout their lengthy history, the Coast Guard has defended the country and has proudly served in all of the country’s battles. Even now, our national defense responsibilities are one of our most critical functions.
The service was given its current name in 1915 when Congress combined the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life-Saving Service to create a unified maritime service focused on saving lives at sea and enforcing the nation’s maritime laws. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard in 1939, the Coast Guard began to maintain the country’s aids to marine navigation, including running the nation’s lighthouses.
During World War II, the Coast Guard’s participation in amphibious operations was possibly the most critical war-related task the organization undertook. Surprisingly, the Coast Guard operated about 350 naval ships, including 76 LSTs, 21 cargo and attack-freight ships, 75 frigates, and 31 types of transport. In addition, the Coast Guard had almost 800 cutters, nearly 300 Army ships, and thousands of amphibious assault vessels on standby.
A group of small landing craft sped toward the beaches of Guadalcanal on September 27, 1942. About 500 troops from Col Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller’s 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were huddled on the beach, fighting for their life.
The Marines had landed on the beach earlier that day by the same group of landing craft, and now they were being retrieved. Coast Guard Signalman 1st Class Douglas Munro guided his LCVP between the departing Marines and the Japanese as the LCVPs (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) and LCMs (Landing Craft, Mechanized) approached the shore. Munro permitted the landing craft to safely evacuate all the Marines, including the injured, by placing his craft between the men on the beach and the enemy.
Munro guided his vessel away from the beach as the last men boarded. When the skies were nearly clear, Japanese gunfire struck Munro, killing him instantly. Munro received the Medal of Honor after his death. Given the Coast Guard’s rescuing legacy and the pivotal role the service played during WWII, it’s fitting that the service’s lone Medal of Honor recipient was involved in not only a rescue but also an amphibious operation.
The Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation of the Commerce Department was permanently transferred to the Coast Guard in 1946, bringing merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety under their jurisdiction.
The Coast Guard also played a significant role in Vietnam, doing everything from installing aids to navigation to supporting the war on the rivers and in the sky. The installed and manned Long-Range Aids to Navigation (LORAN) stations, allowing mariners and aviators to fix their positions correctly. The initial goal of the LORAN system was to offer electronic aids to mariners and aviators in places where there were no surface aids, relatively unexplored waters, or skies that were regularly clouded.
The Navy’s campaign to minimize coastal infiltration was aided by Coast Guard cutters, forcing communists to rely on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to maintain their insurgency in the south. According to wartime records, Coast Guard cutters boarded a quarter-million junks and sampans and took part in 6,000 naval firing exercises. The LORAN station in Tan My, Vietnam (U.S. Coast Guard) port missions caused significant damage to the enemy.
The Coast Guard-Air Force Aviator Exchange Program brought together Coast Guard and Air Force pilots. The program included two Coast Guard C-130 pilots, while the rest of the aviators were HH-3 helicopter pilots. The first of several Coast Guard helicopter pilots were posted to the Air Force’s 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Da Nang in the spring of 1968. Four Silver Star Medals, 15 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 86 Air Medals were among the medals and awards given to Coast Guard aviators as a result.
The Coast Guard has been part of the Department of Homeland Security since 2003, serving as the nation’s front-line agency for enforcing maritime laws, preserving the marine environment and the country’s enormous coastline and ports, and saving lives. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard underwent significant modifications as part of the War on Terror. Before the 9/11 attacks, the Coast Guard used boat stations and cutters to safeguard U.S. ports, waterways, and coastlines. After the attacks, the Coast Guard shifted resources to serve additional maritime security functions required in the post-9/11 environment.
President George W. Bush signed the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) in 2002 to secure the nation’s ports and waterways from terrorist threats. The MTSA established a Coast Guard maritime security unit as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered approach to protecting seaports and waterways. The Coast Guard formed Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) in the same year to assist the Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security missions and provide non-compliant vessel boarding capabilities for service missions. Waterside security, marine law enforcement, and K-9 explosives detection units are among the 11 MSST teams that exist today.
Military force protection, U.N. General Assemblies, national political conventions, international economic summits, disaster relief efforts, and major sporting events such as the Super Bowl have been MSST duties. They play a significant role in the war on drugs and keeping our streets safe. In F.Y. 2019, the Coast Guard removed 207.9 metric tons of cocaine and more than 63,000 pounds of marijuana from getting into the U.S. and Canada.
Lastly and possibly most importantly, they responded to 19,790 Search and Rescue cases, saved 3,560 lives, and more than $77 million in property. Some of the 3,560 are fishermen in Alaska, and the Coastie’s put their lives on the line every day to keep them safe.
I remember watching this movie/ video more than once when I was getting ready for BUD/S. It was old, but I used it to look for clues on what would happen and what exercises I should be doing to get prepared. I still like to watch it once a year or so just for fun and to help motivate me to stay in shape. Its, also great to hear the guys talk about being quite professional and that they are doing the job for their brother standing next to them and not so they can write a book when they get out. Maybe they should start having people watch it before they start training.
You learned to practice specific skills when you first started diving. One of the main reasons you learn skills like buddy breathing, clearing your mask, and other drills like this are designed to help you relaxed in and under the water. Buoyancy management was one of those skills. When you start diving, you continuously use your buoyancy control system during the dive. Most people begin by being a lot heavier than they need to be and control themselves by adding or dumping air, so you use those controls a lot. You also practice buddy breathing, but again most of the time, it is just to help you relax. But you need to make sure you practice your skill a lot, so you know what to do when you need it. There are two basic ways to share your spare air sources—the octopus or alternative air supply system. In an out-of-air scenario, responding appropriately will make the difference between a successful dive or a disaster. So, having an alternate air source as part of your regulator system is mandatory. Most divers (hopefully) will never have to use their secondary air system. Even if you never have to use it, it will always be an essential part of your gear if you ever run into a situation where your buddy runs low on or out of gas or you have a malfunction on your primary Regulator. If this ever happens to you, you will be thankful to have a well-working alternate air source.
You have a couple of choices regarding which type of alternate air source you can have. There are two basic types. The octopus or octo is the common term used to describe your secondary air source regulator. It is a second regulator that you carry and is usually yellow, with a yellow-colored hose to make it stand out in an emergency. Usually, it is tucked away on your right side, ready for emergency use.
The next choice is the SCUBAPRO AIRs2 that stands for Alternate Inflator Regulators. In 1979 SCUBAPRO created an integrating second stage regulator and a balanced inflator in the same compact housing, and the AIR2 was born. In 2006 they introduced a restyled fourth-generation AIR2 which is more streamlined, modern, ergonomic, and overall lighter than previous generations. AIR2 is more than a simple inflator. Its components design takes advantage of the best regulator technology to guarantee maximum efficiency and reliability. As an inflator, AIR2 provides perfect pressure control for excellent buoyancy management. The ergonomic shape makes it easy to handle in any circumstances, and it can be emptied by simply pressing the exhaust button. Its air-balanced power inflator provides smooth and reliable inflation at all tank pressures.
They are essentially octopus second stages built into the inflator mechanism of your BCD. You will need a BCD inflator, and when upgraded to the AIRs, it does not add much weight. There is no need for an additional hose as the one feeding your BCD inflators supplies the Regulator within the AIR. Usually, when someone is out of air, you will always give them the Regulator directly from your mouth. There are a couple of reasons for this; the main one is that the person asking for air is already in a panic-type situation. So, handing them a regulator you know works (because you were breathing on it) will help calm them down. If you reached for your secondary and handing them that, and it doesn’t work, or there might be seaweed or something living in it because you are underwater, that might freak them out more.
The 5th generation of the Air 2 by SCUBAPRO is a second-stage regulator and balanced inflator in a single, compact housing. The Air 2 – 5th Generation builds upon an already superior product. The Air 2’s air-balanced power inflator valve means you’ll have a steady stream of air, regardless of the pressure in your tank. The Air 2 has a fixed Venturi Initiated Vacuum Assist (VIVA) Flow Vane for safe and uncomplicated use now has a dive/pre-dive switch. This switch allows the regulator mechanism to be set more like that of a standard second-stage regulator. The Air 2 – 5th Generation breathes like a dream, rivaling some primary second-stage models.
The Air 2 provides a one-hand operation for intuitive and straightforward operation. The self-flushing mechanism requires just one push-on-the-purge to clear away all dirt or to purge water. The regulator mechanism is a simple yet reliable classic downstream demand valve. Air 2 is equipped with a larger hi-comfort ergonomic mouthpiece, soft second stage cover, and one-button purge function. The Regulator’s pre-tuned system is housed in precision-molded carbon fiber and the techno-polymer case for strength and durability.
The SCUBAPRO Second Stage Octopus features a classic downstream valve technology, well known for its safety and reliability. Its simple and robust construction offers the utmost reliability. Thanks to its reversible hose attachment, it makes the R095 the ideal second stage for new divers and a perfect choice for deco tanks. It is Pre-tuned for safe and uncomplicated use, and the downstream valve opens in the same direction as the incoming airflow. To close the valve and stop the airflow, a spring counteracts the force of the incoming air. Therefore, a specific inhalation effort is always required to overcome the spring tension and open the valve.
So, what is better, the Octo or the Air2? Well, honestly, it depends on the person. I like the Air2 as it makes it easier to have it all in one. It is easier for me to grab it right there on my left as I hand my primer off with my right hand. Some people say that an incorporated octo/inflator can add uncertainty to your dive buddies in an out-of-air situation. Others say that a panicking diver is more likely to catch your primary Regulator anyway, so it is better to have the integrated inflator/octo, which is still near at hand. You should address emergency protocols before any dive, including what kind of alternative air you bring. You have to practice this to know how to use it and be more comfortable in the water, which will help you know panic. Remember, that’s why you practice this stuff; it doesn’t matter which one you use; what matters is practice, practice, practice, that will make the difference between life and death. Either way, make sure you talk to whomever you are diving with and make sure you know what gear they have, and they know what you have.
