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www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk R.N. Diving Magazine Contents VOL. 15 SUMMER 1968, No. 2

EDITORIAL STAFF

PAGE Editor . . P.O. R. CHORLTON 1)11(11I', 3 Trea.yurer LT. E. W. J. SMITH, Q.D.D. NI VIII A 1)1111 N111,11111 4 NI ws ni Int iin I All 1 V,1 !IMO EDITOR'S NOTES Divirod Acciiii NI 7

ROYAL ALIEN NAVY ETTER late than never. The Blate issue of the Summer Maga- SELAB III .. 13 zine is regretted and is due to the lack of material sent in. NEWS FROM THE MED. 15 What is not received, does not go into print, and the response to the H.M.S. 'MINERVA' 17 Competition for Articles and Photo- graphs has been disappointing to say the least. It is now intended to give SAFETY AND MEDICAL ASPECTS OF 19 more time to intending contributors, and the Closing Date for the Second PROMOTIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS 25 Competition is now the 15th Feb- ruary, 1969. So how about it? You HISTORIC WRECKS IN THE SOLENT AREA—PART III .. 26 send it, and I'll print it. I will even send your photographs back. `LIGHT' FOCUSES ON `LUSITANIA' 33 If you didn't come to the Divers Dinner on the 17th, you missed a H.M.S. `DINGLEY' AND AFTER .. 38 good night out. This was the general verdict of over two hundred who TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT OF DEEP DIVING .. 39 attended and heard the after dinner speeches of the well known speakers : BOOK REVIEWS 49 Capt. Joe Blake and Harry Wardle, were introduced by Cmdr. P. White, S.O.D. The bar organisation took the strain of 200 divers wanting, a pint all at once very well, but as usual someone had to be last. All I hope for next year is a few Earlier Bookings?

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk Never a Dull Minute News from the Far East Team

UR ING a 9 month deployment The idea was to rob a nearby wreck Royal Naval Armament Depot. with gas masks, tin helmets, bayonets, east of Sue,, H.M.S. Cambrian's of her 3 ton, 4 bladed phospor-bronze thousands of tail pistols and a large bDiving Team has enjoyed an in- propeller in order to acquire some petty N Singapore this year, the monsoon number of Japanese Minesweeping teresting and varied diet in places cash for their club. The wreck was that rains ended early and the month of I floats. ranging the length and breadth of the of the N.Z. Shipping Company's Papenui February was one of the driest on record. As a result, a large number of Far last Station, including such ports which caught fire and sank in 40ft. of . as Simonstown, Mombasa, Rodriguez water. bush fires, occurred. Firemen, trailing in the wake of one of these fires, dis- The team has not been neglecting its Is. (300 miles east or Mauritius), Gan, A preliminary survey showed, apart covered what they thought to be a own backyard. In the last six months, ( leraldlon, Aukland, I long Kong, from a gigantic looking propeller, which mortar bomb. The F.C.D.T. were we have carried out a variety of jobs in Singapore and the Isle or St. Helena. appeared to be very well secured on its called in to investigate the find and and around the dockyard area. The In addition to a number or day and 14 inch diameter shaft, a plethora of discovered among other things a large silent service frequently call on our 1119111 'Awkwards', the divers have minor loot For the taking. Conveniently services and for a couple of months the answered the usual miscellany or cries accessible was the ships store with many quantity of Japanese picric cartridges and detonators. This picric was still in `business' was a going concern. rot twit) (tool screws, blocked inlets, bottles or obviously well matured grog. excellent condition and we established dome checks and so on). Unfortunately,h the 57 years of immer- Hong Kong. sion had been too much for the corkage it was 'Ha Nai', explosive type 172 During an unscheduled (well, the which had been manufactured in Hong Kong has now quietened down, Captain's brother, twin at that, did and the stuff was quite undrinkable. and with very few home made bombs Also of interest was part of her cargo of September 1939, for the Third Japanese happen to live there!) 13 day visit to Navy. It certainly went with a healthy still being placed, the team has now Aukland, New Zealand, we were most coloured and embossed china tiles ceased to take an active part. All agree which have survived their ducking bang! impressed by the welcome shown to us, that the work up there was of immense extraordinarily well. The whole area of jungle which the and we believe, to all other visiting R.N. value. ships, by the diving section of H.M. The propeller looked atoug hish nut fire had laid waste was, in fact, strewn N.Z.S. Philomel. We were offered the to crack, but the Captain, who has a free use of their very efficient and up to little experience in the use of under- date equipment, including a trial of water explosives, thought it was worth their wet suits, which are in general use a try. To cut a long and interesting story in the R.N.Z.N., and which made us short, it took 3 'blows' to get the screw envious in view of the troubles we have off the shaft using 201bs., 251bs., and experienced with our anything-but-dry 2lbs. of assorted fireworks to do so. If suits in the Far East climate. Of course, not handed to the islanders on a plate, the siting of our diving store atop No. 2 we left them happily contemplating the Boiler Room may have something to do raising of the, by now, 4 separate but with the rapid and almost total de- complete blades of the propeller. terioration of these suits ... ! We return to the U.K. with jaundiced Exped-wise, we have made the most regard for the chill and gloom of a north of warm and clear waters, pursued cray- European winter season, after what has fish and indulged in some interesting been a memorable cruise. salvage. During another unscheduled stop, The Team (this time the Gulf tanker went 'crook' Commander Canning, Lt. Scanes, and had to limp back to Gib. instead of Lt. Inskip, Mid. Mc('lement, E.R.A.1 fuelling us on our way home) of six days Hughes, Mech.! Cook, L.S. Higginson, at the historic and picturesque Isle of L. I letiley, 1„ M .E. Thrower, A.B. St. Helena, our services were co-opted ('lit hero and A.B. Jones. by a small, but keen, local Sub-aqua Club led by the very genial Rhodesian Police Superintendent.

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during his service. service. his during

off Fernando Po., Spanish Spanish Po., Fernando off

Kingfisher Kingfisher

Diving Accident Accident Diving

death of 34 years old Ex-Shipwright Ex-Shipwright old years 34 of death

The body was discovered at 180ft. 180ft. at discovered was body The

He died while diving from the oil rig rig oil the from diving while died He

T is with regret that we announce the the announce we that regret with is T

Art Diver Trevor Taylor who was well well was who Taylor Trevor Diver Art

Four miles of paddling brought out out brought paddling of miles Four

Now that the blisters are healing and and healing are blisters the that Now

verdict. verdict.

belt. The coroner recorded an open open an recorded coroner The belt.

before it went dead. dead. went it before

There was no sign of the divers weight divers the of sign no was There

with the arms outstretched and the the and outstretched arms the with inflated 'like a balloon' balloon' a 'like inflated suit diving

metallic noises came from the phone phone the from came noises metallic

had become fouled and a scream and and scream a and fouled become had

the rig, reported his air-line air-line his reported diver the rig, the

known in the diving world and served served and world diving the in known

Guinea in strange circumstances. Ac- circumstances. strange in Guinea

Glomar IV, IV, Glomar

cording to the Diving Superintendent of of Superintendent Diving the to cording

in H.M.S. H.M.S. in

I

Archimedes Principle! Principle! Archimedes

in 10 feet of water carrying same. A A same. carrying water of feet 10 in

slight miscalculation in depth—and depth—and in miscalculation slight

the sweat-and blisters! But all went well well went all But blisters! sweat-and the

40 pound sinker. He then discovered discovered then He sinker. pound 40 until No. 2 entered the water with a a with water the entered 2 No. until

just how fast you can run on the bottom bottom the on run can you fast how just

`Black and White Minstrels' the total total the Minstrels' White and `Black

effect was like `Steptoes Cart.' Cart.' `Steptoes like was effect

part looked like escapees from the the from escapees like looked part

canoeists, who, when dressed for the the for dressed when who, canoeists, that statement. With each canoe carry- canoe each With statement. that equipment, not to mention the reluctant reluctant the mention to not equipment,

ing a very full load of very miscellaneous miscellaneous very of load full very a ing

canoes that we outfitted lent truth to to truth lent outfitted we that canoes

divers can improvise with anything to to anything with improvise can divers

acquire the desired result, and the two two the and result, desired the acquire

I can hold a pen again, a few words on on words few a again, pen a hold can I

Beach Clearance—Canoe Style. Style. Clearance—Canoe Beach

a recent exercise. Someone said that that said Someone exercise. recent a

who helped helped who

found she had had she found

Relentless. Relentless.

Sheraton, Sheraton,

Relentless Relentless

Examine the cargo. cargo. the Examine

Ascertain why she sank. sank. she why Ascertain

Identify the ship. ship. the Identify

(c) (c)

(b) (b)

(a) (a)

We soon built up a clear picture of the the of picture clear a up built soon We

Our main objectives were:— were:— objectives main Our

In February, a few miles off Port Port off miles few a February, In

On arrival, arrival, On

were open! open! were

out if the main engine room sea cocks cocks sea room engine main the if out

very large grouper, we never did find find did never we grouper, large very

Captains cabin—a large saki bottle— saki large cabin—a Captains

empty! As the engine room housed one one housed room engine the As empty!

that it was a Japanese vessel, but we we but vessel, Japanese a was it that

found more evidence of this in the the in this of evidence more found

wireless operators log indicated to us us to indicated log operators wireless

crumple on the forward gunwhale. The The gunwhale. forward the on crumple

but regrettably we had to keep it, in case case in it, keep to had we regrettably but

ship. It was intact, except for a slight slight a for except intact, was It ship.

it was required as evidence. evidence. as required was it

locate the wreck, laid claim to the bell, bell, the to claim laid wreck, the locate

was now asking four million dollars dollars million four asking now was

for the Singapore Government. A A Government. Singapore the for

Wreck Alias Kien Kung. Kung. Kien Alias Wreck

nameless, had 'pulled the plug out' and and out' plug the 'pulled had nameless,

Chinese gentleman, who shall remain remain shall who gentleman, Chinese

compensation. compensation.

Swettenham, we investigated a wreck, wreck, a investigated we Swettenham,

pleased to say after slight adjustment by by adjustment slight after say to pleased

us, fitted, much to everybody else's else's everybody to much fitted, us,

to the dockyard. The new plates we are are we plates new The dockyard. the to

astonishment. astonishment.

correctly aligned, the template was sent sent was template the aligned, correctly

pletion, with the fairing plate angles angles plate fairing the with pletion,

position on the dome housing. On com- On housing. dome the on position

do this, a template was constructed of of constructed was template a this, do

sheet alloy and rivetted whilst still in in still whilst rivetted and alloy sheet

asked to make a pattern for a new set. set. new a for pattern a make to asked

(The blue-prints were not available.) To To available.) not were blue-prints (The

lost her dome fairing plates, so we were were we so plates, fairing dome her lost

Fairing Plates H.M.S. H.M.S. Plates Fairing

few—or perhaps we need more P.T. P.T. more need we perhaps few—or

been dredged up illegally. In all, the the all, In illegally. up dredged been

suddenly became very apparent to a a to apparent very became suddenly

and primers. The value of mud runs runs mud of value The primers. and team recovered nearly a thousand shells shells thousand a nearly recovered team

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ttrtOn ttrtOn

'"' '" '" '"'

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th• COIMPY COIMPY th•

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The job has been with us for many many for us with been has job The

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Putrl Narrow. Narrow. Putrl

Chth, of assorted ordnance, which had had which ordnance, assorted of Chth,

races, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. enjoyed. thoroughly all we which races,

years and we were recently requested to to requested recently were we and years

clear the l'oreshore near Tengah Yacht Yacht Tengah near l'oreshore the clear

area and had a grandstand view of the the of view grandstand a had and area

.14/Inge .14/Inge

fix Cleo Cleo fix

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14HIVOG INI NOMAC KONG .0M5 MENACE MENACE .0M5 KONG NOMAC INI 14HIVOG

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ova. Oa* Polly „Ille.r Doris al.M•5 al.M•5 Doris „Ille.r Polly Oa* ova.

It arm arm It

As part of the course ran alongside alongside ran course the of part As

to provide a unit to standby in case any any case in standby to unit a provide to

plunge. We parked in the marshalling marshalling the in parked We plunge.

of the competitors decided to take the the take to decided competitors the of

the waterfront, with a sharp bend at the the at bend sharp a with waterfront, the

end of the straight, the team volunteered volunteered team the straight, the of end Jahore Bahru Grand Prix. Prix. Grand Bahru Jahore

I I

150,100 and 50 feet. feet. 50 and 150,100

and 300 feet; and 4 hour stops at at stops hour 4 and feet; 300 and

With 2 hour stops at 750, 600, 450 450 600, 750, at stops hour 2 With

795-surface at 4 ft./hour ft./hour 4 at 795-surface

follows:- follows:-

825-795 feet at 1 ft./min. ft./min. 1 at feet 825-795

The routine was as as was routine decompression The

Our dive started on Wednesday, 20th 20th Wednesday, on started dive Our

On our return to Washington, we had had we Washington, to return our On

We spent three weeks at the Under- the at weeks three spent We

The Americans are P.T. fanatics, and and fanatics, P.T. are Americans The

On 25th February, the Alien Navy Navy Alien the February, 25th On

The dive was a complete success and and success complete a was dive The

March, reaching 600 feet early Thursday Thursday early feet 600 reaching March,

took our base-line tests for the studies studies the for tests base-line our took

and tests we were to make on the dive. dive. the on make to were we tests and

which we had our pre-dive Medicals and and Medicals pre-dive our had we which

started our saturation dive; during during dive; saturation our started

a week before Lieutenant Lafferty and and Lafferty Lieutenant before week a

for his future and hope to see him again again him see to hope and future his for

Australian Naval Attache in Washington Washington in Attache Naval Australian

soon. soon.

and doing well. We wish him all the best best the all him wish We well. doing and

removal from the project. He is up and and up is He project. the from removal

about at this moment, working with the the with working moment, this at about

Commander Shotter being involved in in involved being Shotter Commander an automobile accident, resulting in his his in resulting accident, automobile an

visit being marred by Lieutenant- by marred being visit

of Washington; the' the' Washington; of temperatures

a pleasant change from the freezing freezing the from change pleasant a

water Swimmers School, and it was was it and School, Swimmers water

Washington, D.C. D.C. Washington,

I actually saw him on the P.T. field field P.T. the on him saw actually I

the school. He was down from his his from down was He school. the

(once or twice). twice). or (once

Indian Head, Maryland, which is near near is which Maryland, Head, Indian

met up with Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant-Commander with up met

Diving Gear. Whilst at Key West, we we West, Key at Whilst Gear. Diving

James Majendie, who was on course at at course on was who Majendie, James

States Navy's Mk. Six Mixed Gas Gas Mixed Six Mk. Navy's States

acquaintance course with the United United the with course acquaintance

School at Key West, Florida, for an an for Florida, West, Key at School moved to the Underwater Swimmers Swimmers Underwater the to moved

their assigned tasks confidently. confidently. tasks assigned their

the divers Lugo and Risk carried out out carried Risk and Lugo divers the

.Explosive Ordnance Demolition job at at job Demolition Ordnance .Explosive

(b) (b)

9 9

Royal Alien Navy Navy Alien Royal

California, U.S.A. U.S.A. California,

July, 1968. 1968. July,

San Diego, Diego, San

was made welcome with a glass glass a with welcome made was

I I

Return to 825 feet for 24 hours hours 24 for feet 825 to Return

at 825 feet-26 hours hours feet-26 825 at

825 feet to surface-81days. surface-81days. to feet 825

Excursion to 1,025 feet-13 minutes minutes feet-13 1,025 to Excursion

Return to 600 feet for three hours hours three for feet 600 to Return

600-825 feet-51 hours hours feet-51 600-825

Excursion to 825 feet-20 minutes minutes feet-20 825 to Excursion

at 600 feet-27 hours hours feet-27 600 at

Lieutenant Cyril F. Lafferty, R.N., R.N., Lafferty, F. Cyril Lieutenant

N January 10th of this year, year, this of 10th January N

and I flew to Washington, D.C. to to D.C. Washington, to flew I and

The schedule for this dive was as as was dive this for schedule The

We remained in Washington until until Washington in remained We

When we arrived at the Experimental Experimental the at arrived we When

Within the month, we were joined joined were we month, the Within

follows :— :— follows

(a) 0-600 feet-15 hours hours feet-15 0-600 (a)

to 1,025 feet for thirteen minutes, which which minutes, thirteen for feet 1,025 to

established a world record for depth. depth. for record world a established

600 feet; the second with an excursion excursion an with second the feet; 600

Unit in Washington, they were in the the in were they Washington, in Unit

late February, during which time two two time which during February, late

middle of a saturation dive to 600 feet, feet, 600 to dive saturation a of middle

physiological studies, and after a couple couple a after and studies, physiological

saturation runs were made; the first to to first the made; were runs saturation

joined the watch-bill. watch-bill. the joined

chamber and associated equipment, we we equipment, associated and chamber

of days to acquaint ourselves with the the with ourselves acquaint to days of

in which they were carrying out various various out carrying were they which in

R.A.N. R.A.N.

Lieutenant-Commander M. F. Shotter, Shotter, F. M. Lieutenant-Commander

La Fontaine, R.C.N., Leading Seaman Seaman Leading R.C.N., Fontaine, La

Navy, Lieutenant-Commander L. M. M. L. Lieutenant-Commander Navy,

by the other members of the Alien Alien the of members other the by

(C.D.), W. P. Lukeman, R.C.N., and and R.C.N., Lukeman, P. W. (C.D.),

time. time.

parts. parts.

combination I would learn to enjoy in in enjoy to learn would I combination

of Bourbon and a hot sandwich, a a sandwich, hot a and Bourbon of

apartments with our American counter- American our with apartments

and within a few hours had moved into into moved had hours few a within and

SEA LAB III. We arrived at about 2200, 2200, about at arrived We III. LAB SEA

O take part in the U.S. Navy Project, Project, Navy U.S. the in part take

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',SEX ',SEX

in suits or casual casual or suits in

men. men.

wear by Coopers, Coopers, by wear active young young active

clothing for for clothing

masters of fine fine of masters

No Extra Charge. Charge. Extra No

or Banker's Order at at Order Banker's or

Payment may be made made be may Payment

by monthly allotment allotment monthly by

HEAD OFFICE: MAIN ROAD, HARWIC II, I I II, HARWIC ROAD, MAIN OFFICE: HEAD

49 QUEEN STREET, PORTSMOUTH PORTSMOUTH STREET, QUEEN 49 W. COOPER (Harwich) LTD. LTD. (Harwich) COOPER W. www.mcdoa.org.uk morning. After spending twelve hours arrived in Washington in time to Phase III— would only expect to read about: at depth, we made the excursion to 750 participate in the last saturation dive at Long Beach during September on Disneyland, which has a lot to offer feet for one hour. We left 600 feet on with the Canadian complement of the procedures, working up to a shallow and not only for the kids; Marineland Friday evening and reached surface Alien Navy. water dress rehearsal with all systems. with its trained dolphins, whales and 0730 Friday, 29th March. Unfor- seals; then the inexpensive trip up into tunately, I earned myself a further We have spent a lot of time training At the time of this writing, we the mountains or to the desert; all 184- hours in the chamber because of a in the equipment to be used during the have just completed a month's training within an hour's drive from San Diego. slight disagreement with my knee. SEALAB experiment. The training is of the civilian participants, in which Lieutenant Lafferty and I were actively We had a pleasant surprise in June The weekend was spent saying fare- broken into three phases:— engaged on the training side, Lieutenant when S.O.D. visited is with four well to friends in Washington prior to Phase I— Lafferty being Assistant Training British industrialists, amongst whom moving to San Diego on Tuesday, 2nd was the familiar figure of Harry April. at San Diego with equip- Officer. ment, and carried on till the end of 4 Wardle, who was looking very pros- Since arriving here we have been July. The teams have been tentatively perous. Unfortunately, the visit had to joined by Lieutenant R. R. Sutton, chosen, and Lieutenant Lafferty has be short and sweet. Earlier, during mid- R.A.N., who takes Lieutenant-Com- Phase fl— got the job of Team Leader for Number May, H.M.S. Fife paid a visit to San mander Shotter's place. He had a pier at San Francisco during August on Four Team. With him is Lieutenant Diego, and I just happened to find head jump on completion of his the Habitat, Decompression Chamber Sutton; Lt.-Commander La Fontaine is myself aboard at the 'right time', and M.C.D.O. conversion course, and Transfer Chamber and Support Ship. on Team Number Five and Bill was made very welcome by a most Lukeman and I are on the list of sociable P.O's mess, amongst whom, alternates. who should I find but Vic Humphreys. I can assure you a pleasant couple of Reference the article, 'Dip Chick in days were spent 'discussing Diving'. California' in Volume 15, Number 1; (hic). Vic hopes to be returning to the I would. like Lt.-Commander Hickson United Kingdom around Christmas to meet some of our U.S. Navy men. via the States, and we hope to meet up He would, I am sure, change his remark, in San Francisco, later this year. `The average U.S. Navy man parti- cipates in very little violent sport and Lieutenant Lafferty and I sent our eats extremely well'. A week of our regards to all, especially those in `mountain' and P.T. would soon change `Jannerland', from whom we departed his mind; and if any of you could run with such a hangover; or something. on our mountain run, you too would call it a 'violent sport'. Yours Aye, Our normal daily routine usually NOBBY. goes like this:- 0700—Muster 0710—P.T. and Run 0815—Prepare gear for dive ACTING SUB-LIEUTENANT 0900-1400—Diving J. C. WRIGHT, R.N. 1430—Lecture 1600—Secure. Ex- 1 received a sword The P.T., of course, is the hardest to at the S.D. Officers School, H.M.S. St. get used to. It hurt when we started; George, for gaining the best marks on it still hurts now, but it doesn't take course. He also gained two book prizes one so long to recover. in seamanship and navigation. His The Royal Alien Navy at U.N. Swim School, Key West, Florida. We have been lucky enough to have marks were the highest yet given to a candicate since the school opened five From Left to Right: our families join us over here, and each A Model on a Shurk I 1 weekend, I don my tourist hat and take years ago. P.O. C.D.1 Clark Lt. Lafferty C.D.O., R.N. Lt.Cdr. Shinier C.D.O., .A.N. li.Cdr. LaFontaine a look at some place one normally L.S.C.D. Lukenian it .C.N. C.D.O., R.C.N. 10 11 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk P. Kirkham's Patented and Designed 'SEAFIRE' ol 1945 has made possible Selab III.

PERATION Selab III is due to The Animal team will work with a KIRKHAM commence in October 1968. It will variety of animals—dolphins, seals and Oconsist of an underwater house sea lions—to assess the value of animals (habitat) being lowered to 600ft. off to assist divers in their various tasks. VIXEN PHIL San Clemente Island, near the coast of California. It is planned that 5 teams of However, the overiding object of the Its conception and development was Influenced by the 8 men will live in the habitat for 12 days whole experiment will be to see if man can function normally and perform following KIRKHAM innovations:— each and each team will require about 7 days decompression. useful functions for prolonged periods KIRKHAM at these depths. PAT. No. By the extraordinarily generous in- We have already undertaken several Non Feed Shield 636242 vitation of the United States Navy, five long 'saturation' dives in the com- Successful 2 Hose Cutter foreign divers are taking part in this pression chambers in Washington. The Nozzle Mix 611720 programme. There are two from most outstanding of these was one in Canada, one from Australia, and two, Balanced which 5 men 'saturated' at 825ft. and Automatic Shield Feed 594811 Lieutenant C. F. Lafferty and Petty then two of the team went on down to Diver Controlled Striker Plate 603958 Officer D. J. Clark, from England. Of 1,025ft. for 13 mins. This dive estab- Low Cutting these, it is expected that three will take lished a world record for chamber dives, New Shield Feed and Cut Out part in the sea dives and the rest will be though it was quickly followed by employed as surface support team American and French teams to 1,100ft. Our No. 2 Nozzle which has a cutting jet less than I/16in. diameter will cut lain. thick members. steel when using our recommended surface pressure of 351bs. Recently a diver receiving The five teams diving will each have This dive was followed by one in under-water cutting instruction in Messrs. 's Training Tank made two which Clark and Lafferty saturated to satisfactory cuts using the above pressure. The pressure was then reduced to 301bs. specific tasks to perform and we expect and afterwards to 251bs., even at this extremely low pressure the cuts made were them to be as follows:— 600ft. with the two of us `excurting' to complete, proving the vicious efficiency and undeniable economy of this latest VIXEN 750ft. for one hour with no stops on the cutter. Lighting was 100% successful. This confirmed other users and our own ex- Team 1 Physiological Tests. way back to 600ft. The total length of perience with this cutter. We therefore claim that our two latest cutters the Salvage this dive was 9 days which, believe me, and Mk. 2 models are the most advanced Oxy-Hydrogen under-water torches available Team 2 Construction Programme. today. YOU CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO USE VIXEN EQUIPMENT. is quite long enough to be stewed in a Team 3. Salvage Programme `toe! Team 4 Oceanographic Tests. For those of you who, like me, be- Team 5 Animal Training and Tests. lieved that wet suits were only useful Mk. I Harbour Set Standard Vixen in shallow water, have another think. I Mk. 2 Harbour Set Mk. 2 Vixen The construction programme will test have seen them now in use at 1,025ft. the feasibility of building temporary Mk. 2 Sea-going Set Salvage Vixen After a few hours at depth, the rubber underwater refuges and working habi- absorbs sufficient gas to re-assume its Mk. 2 Salvage Set Striker Plate tats to enable teams of divers to work thickness to nearly normal size. A Lance Cylinder Coupler on a job in a gas atmosphere. These slightly larger suit than your normal Surface Cutter Regulator habitats would be built round the job size is advisable, and, because of the on hand and then evacuated of water. Heavy Duty Cutter Regulator 2 Stage reduced thickness of the material, the insulating properties are not as efficient Hose 60ft. length Regulator Salvage The Salvage team will test methods of salvaging large objects, such as aircraft as normal. Because the of the water at 600ft. is expected to be Prices on application and submarines with modern techniques from these depths. about 40 degrees F., we require added insulation. We will use various types P. KIRKHAM & SON, 8-9 LADY BEE WHARF, The Oceanographic team will under- of heated undersuits, including two 4 RING ROAD, and SOUTHWICK, take a large series of oceanographic and types of hot water suits, one was LANCING, SX. SUSSEX. biological studies for various institutes. originally designed as a cooling suit for

12 13 www.mcdoa.org.uk

The present team is as follows:— follows:— as is team present The

It is generally well-known, that the the that well-known, generally is It

In the sporting field, we have decided decided have we field, sporting the In

A.B. ShD. Bryant. Bryant. ShD. A.B.

A.B. C.D.2. Roberts. Roberts. C.D.2. A.B.

A.B. C.D.2. Curtin. Curtin. C.D.2. A.B.

L.S. C.D.2. Flynn. Flynn. C.D.2. L.S.

L.S. C.D.2. Shea. Shea. C.D.2. L.S.

P.O. C.D.2. Dadd. Dadd. C.D.2. P.O.

P.O. C.D.2. North. North. C.D.2. P.O.

P.O. C.D.2. Neave. Neave. C.D.2. P.O.

P.O. C.D.1. Newman. Newman. C.D.1. P.O.

P.O. C.D.1. Slingsby. Slingsby. C.D.1. P.O.

Lt. Bartlett. Bartlett. Lt.

Lt.-Cdr. Parry. Parry. Lt.-Cdr.

Fleet Team. Team. Fleet

by 4-1. Volleyball, we have tended to to tended have we Volleyball, 4-1. by

it will continue to be complemented as a a as complemented be to continue will it

play. play.

work to do in Malta and we hope that that hope we and Malta in do to work

play amongst ourselves, but as we have have we as but ourselves, amongst play future composition of the team is under under is team the of composition future

on this issue, there remains plenty of of plenty remains there issue, this on

review, but whatever decision is taken taken is decision whatever but review,

minesweepers and we ran out winners winners out ran we and minesweepers

played last week against one of the the of one against week last played

store, there is ample opportunity to to opportunity ample is there store,

volleyball. Our first football match was was match football first Our volleyball.

that we shall compete at football and and football at compete shall we that

constructed our own pitch next to the the to next pitch own our constructed

M.S.C., U.S.N. and Captain George George Captain and U.S.N. M.S.C.,

vocabulary 'Well it has worked for 20 20 for worked has it 'Well vocabulary

years, why change it now.' now.' it change why years,

Bond, U.S.N. they have driven that that driven have they U.S.N. Bond,

dreaded sentence from the divers divers the from sentence dreaded

the instigators of the Sealab programme programme Sealab the of instigators the

such as Captain Walter Mazzone, Mazzone, Walter Captain as such

with the foresight and skill displayed by by displayed skill and foresight the with

15 15

News from the Med. Med. the from News

In Malta itself, the E.O.D. task is far far is task E.O.D. the itself, Malta In

Contrary to what many people think, think, people many what to Contrary

Having taken over from John Gratton Gratton John from over taken Having

busy for some time. time. some for busy

nearly finished, the other will keep us us keep will other the finished, nearly

entrance, and, although work on one is is one on work although and, entrance,

present, we are working on the wrecks wrecks the on working are we present,

of two destroyers near the harbour harbour the near destroyers two of

the wrecks in Grand Harbour. At At Harbour. Grand in wrecks the

shells, depth charges and the like from from like the and charges depth shells,

of our time and effort, is the removal of of removal the is effort, and time our of G.T. Another task, that takes up much much up takes that task, Another G.T.

German buoyant mines, a G.Z. and a a and G.Z. a mines, buoyant German

pass when our searching does not pro- not does searching our when pass nance. Amongst items found last month month last found items Amongst nance.

were a 4,0001b. German 'Satan' and two two and 'Satan' German 4,0001b. a were

duce some form of unexploded ord- unexploded of form some duce from finished. Very rarely does a day day a does rarely Very finished. from to Cyprus and Tobruk. Tobruk. and Cyprus to

been to Italy and Crete, with Greece Greece with Crete, and Italy to been

tasks have taken members of the team team the of members taken have tasks

time away from Malta on N.A.T.O. N.A.T.O. on Malta from away time

exercises, and, so far this year, have have year, this far so and, exercises, travelling and undertaken a variety of of variety a undertaken and travelling

the team have done a great deal of of deal great a done have team the

and Turkey yet to come. Other diving diving Other come. to yet Turkey and

diving jobs. We spend a good deal of of deal good a spend We jobs. diving

increased tremendously, and, as a result, result, a as and, tremendously, increased

the team is still based at Manoel Island, Island, Manoel at based still is team the

and in recent months the work load has has load work the months recent in and

up to during the past few months. months. few past the during to up

Malta Clearance , and also, also, and Team, Diving Clearance Malta

to let you know what the team has been been has team the what know you let to

readers were brought up to date on the the on date to up brought were readers

in March, I feel that it is time our our time is it that feel I March, in

the future of diving into the modern, modern, the into diving of future the

specific task in hand. Let us hope that that hope us Let hand. in task specific equipment will be designed for the the for designed be will equipment

of possibility. It is an ambitious, imagin- ambitious, an is It possibility. of

a great thrill to be able to help to direct direct to help to able be to thrill great a possibly more, well within the realms realms the within well more, possibly

ative and exciting programme, and it is is it and programme, exciting and ative

sophisticated world where ideas and and ideas where world sophisticated years, with depths of 1,000ft., and and 1,000ft., of depths with years,

www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

canister canister

2 2

or He levels are rising and he he and rising are levels He or

2 2

Sealab III is not intended to be the the be to intended not is III Sealab

This particular set is now being used used being now is set particular This

ultimate experiment, but is just one in a a in one just is but experiment, ultimate

long series of tests over the next few few next the over tests of series long

true. true.

or bags. I know it sounds like like sounds it know I bags. breathing or

no danger of flooding, no CO no flooding, of danger no

space fiction but I am assured it is all all is it assured am I but fiction space

eliminated. There are no moving parts, parts, moving no are There eliminated. mixture to suit the divers depth. In In depth. divers the suit to mixture

cally purified and any foreign gas is is gas foreign any and purified cally

addition, the gas supplied is automati- is supplied gas the addition,

be used at any depth. Its endurance at at endurance Its depth. any at used be

it automatically supplies the correct gas gas correct the supplies automatically it

weighs 501bs. It will supply a diver at at diver a supply will It 501bs. weighs

shallow depths is almost indefinite and and indefinite almost is depths shallow use. The most exciting of these is a a is these of exciting most The use.

1,000ft. with gas for 7 hours and can can and hours 7 for gas with 1,000ft.

other sets under development for future future for development under sets other

closed-circuit cryogenic unit which only only which unit cryogenic closed-circuit

to be used because, if an open circuit circuit open an if because, used be to

to supply the divers. However, there are are there However, divers. the supply to

tested set we have. In addition, it has has it addition, In have. we set tested

store sufficient helium at the diving site site diving the at helium sufficient store

set were used, we would be unable to to unable be would we used, were set

because it is the most reliable and well well and reliable most the is it because

heated suit, or hot water for his hot hot his for water hot or suit, heated

water suit. suit. water

bilical give the diver power for his his for power diver the give bilical

recall him before an accident occurs. In In occurs. accident an before him recall

communications, light and electrically electrically and light communications,

addition, the set will, through the um- the through will, set the addition,

the CO the

the supervisor. In this way, the super- the way, this In supervisor. the

can inform the diver to ty-pass' or to to or ty-pass' to diver the inform can the gas content in the bags is known by by known is bags the in content gas the

will be monitored in the habitat so that that so habitat the in monitored be will

in the water. The divers breathing bags bags breathing divers The water. the in

visor will know long before the diver if if diver the before long know will visor

handle, though surprisingly comfortable comfortable surprisingly though handle,

be supplied with gas primarily through through primarily gas with supplied be

1351b., and it is large and difficult to to difficult and large is it and 1351b.,

mixed gas set, and is, in effect, a highly highly a effect, in is, and set, gas mixed

They should, however, give the diver diver the give however, should, They

the Mk. 8. It is a semi-closed circuit circuit semi-closed a is It 8. Mk. the

an umbilical hose and his bottles will will bottles his and hose umbilical an

serve purely as an emergency reserve. reserve. emergency an as purely serve

about I hour at 600ft. The set weighs weighs set The 600ft. at hour I about

sophisticated C.D.B.A. The diver will will diver The C.D.B.A. sophisticated

14 14

F. water and was if if was and water F.

°

The diving set we are using is called called is using are we set diving The

Communications with helium, of of helium, with Communications

One of our major problems has been been has problems major our of One

There are several methods of heating heating of methods several are There

thing the diver does will be monitored monitored be will does diver the thing

write in the habitat. Of course, every- course, Of habitat. the in write

over closed circuit television. television. circuit closed over

an electronic writing pad, which will will which pad, writing electronic an

addition to this, we will be able to use use to able be will we this, to addition

write our message on the surface as we we as surface the on message our write

the gas has passed. However, the un- the However, passed. has gas the

scramblers do help a great deal, and in in and deal, great a help do scramblers

ments with lips, tongue and mouth after after mouth and tongue lips, with ments

are trying to make the correct move- correct the make to trying are

to me that we are unable to adjust our our adjust to unable are we that me to

speech to the fast flowing lighter gas and and gas lighter flowing fast the to speech

correct badly formed sounds. It seems seems It sounds. formed badly correct

easy to correct the note the diver diver the note the correct to easy

while breathing helium, and, where it is is it where and, helium, breathing while

produces, it is almost impossible to to impossible almost is it produces,

learned how to form words correctly correctly words form to how learned

is still rather limited as no diver has yet yet has diver no as limited rather still is

have been developed. Their effectiveness effectiveness Their developed. been have

this series of dives, several unscramblers unscramblers several dives, of series this

is extremely comfortable. comfortable. extremely is

course, is always a problem, and for for and problem, a always is course,

to speak freely without a mouthpiece, mouthpiece, a without freely speak to

oral-nasal mask which allows the diver diver the allows which mask oral-nasal and which, despite its cumbersome look, look, cumbersome its despite which, and

a spacemans helmet. This employs an an employs This helmet. spacemans a

used is a helmet, which looks rather like like rather looks which helmet, a is used

the diver are going to be essential. So So essential. be to going are diver the

far, the most successful mask we have have we mask successful most the far,

projects, good communications with with communications good projects,

powered heater, which he will also carry carry also will he which heater, powered masks for the divers, For some of the the of some For divers, the for masks

with him. him. with

battery operated pump, which will will which pump, operated battery

the most revolutionary method is one one is method revolutionary most the

circulate water through a small nuclear nuclear small a through water circulate the water for the suits to be used, but but used, be to suits the for water the

in which the diver will carry a small small a carry will diver the which in

blanket. blanket.

heated, and works like an electric electric an like works and heated,

have an undersuit, which is electrically electrically is which undersuit, an have

anything too warm. In addition, we we addition, In warm. too anything

for 3 hours in 40 in hours 3 for astronauts. I have personally used it it used personally have I astronauts. www.mcdoa.org.uk H.M.S. Minerva P.O. Uniform Diagonal Serge Suits N completion of building and In January, we returned to U.K. and commissioning in Newcastle in vanished to Chatham, where we stayed OMay 1966 we moved down to for three months having a turbine £9 19s. 6d. Portsmouth for six weeks of acceptance change. During this period we all Ready to Wear 34-42" Chest trials. This period afforded a grand managed to keep in practice sawing opportunity for welding together the through logs and piping-in the mud and Exceptionally Good Value nine members of the diving team. We oil of No. 2 Basin. In May we again sensibly began at Horsea Island, where sailed from U.K. This time we finished we unpacked our hoses, connected up up in the West Indies with a team of Admiralty Quality Serge Suits our S.D.D.E. and panels, charged up only six, now reduced to five. Diving our S.A.B.A. sets and leapt into the here is superb in spite of the shark and water for a day of getting used to each evil looking baracuda. £14 14s. other. Od. In October, we found ourselves in St. Vincent has so far proved to be Ready to Wear Portland for our work-up but by then our best visit as far as diving is con- we had been working together for some cerned. A charming blonde Marine £17 17s. Od. Made to Measure time and all went smoothly. We sailed Biologist, befriended by another equally from England on 30th January 1967 charming resident blonde, were in- for a year in the Far East. Throughout volved in diving for a bronze cannon OUR CIVILIAN TAILORING AND the year, we had some excellent diving, believed to belong to the Man-Of-War particularly in Mombasa. In Subic Cornwall. On sight, we immediately MEN'S OUTFITTING DEPT. Bay, we were able to get in a 120 feet dip offered our assistance and spent a and in Hong Kong, we just missed diving glorious day diving, although we did The latest style suitings on an aircraft which had missed the not find the cannon. We did, however, find three clay smoking pipes which and Menswear stocked runway. As luck would have it, the Far East C.D. team got there first. Our have subsequently been dated—one was more operational dives included diving 1730, another 1840 and the third is probably 1870. Some of the pottery EMBROIDERED BADGES and on Nubian's wasp which ditched off Mombasa. Minerva being faster than recovered was the first glazed earthen- SPECIALLY WOVEN MOTIF TIES Nubian, arrived at the scene first and the ware made in England in the late 1700's. a speciality T.A.S. Officer, Lt. Harrison, went in to We are due to return to St. Vincent later secure a rope around the rotor head and in the year and our diving blondes are collect our wet mail that the pilot had going to be there to meet us. SPORTS KIT and accessories for all outdoor carelessly left in the half submerged In St. Lucia two of our divers were games at keenest prices helicopter. Nubian's team, complete, put down to recover a fishing net arrived eventually and took over for the snagged on coral at 100 feet. They are lifting of the beast. rather valuable nets as the locals hire We had a similar job with Ajax's them and hardly ever manage to net GREENBURGH BROS. LTD. wasp which ditched in the Johore Straits enough fish to buy them from the whilst ferrying our weeks mail. By the government. Needless to say the locals time we arrived, the beast had been were very relieved to get them back and underwater for an hour with the mail rum and our two divers were flowing PORTSMOUTH stowed inside. The depth was only 16 through the streets that night. feet, but the helo was well broken and TEL. 26331 we spent two hours securing lifting strops We have managed to dive in most also at Devonport, Gosport, Chatham, Portland, Scotland, Valletta Malta and searching for bits and pieces whilst places out here, and have been able to cursing the Air-arm and crying over the create a good deal of interest in this large bags of sodden mail. great 'sport' by way of exped. diving. 16 17 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk The following article is reproduced from the July issue of The other day, our equipment main- Lt. Plumb Assistant Diving Officer the Royal Naval Scientific Services Journal. tainer O.E.A. Tickner, shortly to join thinking of his pension. Safeguard, who was heard to say 'a pack of wild horses wouldn't get me under P.O. Farnell , Ex. D.2. and story teller Safety and Medical Aspects of Deep Diving the water', had his first dip in 33 years. (flanneling B*****.) He stayed under, with controlled by SURGEON LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER D. H. ELLIOTT, M.B., D.Phil., R.N., L.S.A. Wilson, Stores fiddler. breathing, for a whole 5i minutes, and Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory. it is rumoured it was the wettest he had L.S. Haywood, Dhobey Wallah and been, since the after bathroom flooded Assistant Blonde Liason. HERE are many aspects to deep Increased Gas Density. A third direct in the Iron Duke. , but for the purposes effect of pressure is the increased density R.0.2. Goff, Diving Yeoman and Tof this brief review we are con- of the gas. At 10 atmospheres absolute, Our Honours list is as follows:— only member of the team fitted with cerned with only the human aspects. 300 feet of sea water, the density of the Lt. Davison, Diving Officer and gills instead of lungs. A future C.D. we I am not going to cover those associated gas is increased ten-fold and this puts Blonde Liason. hope. G.S.D. with the problems of seamanship and an extra load upon the lungs. Bodily of engineering. Before we outline the effort is limited by the breathing basic principles of safety, I think it capacity of the individual and the would be wise just to summarize very secondary effects within the body lead briefly the of diving. to disorientation and possibly an accident. THE HAZARDS Indirect Effects of Pressure The Direct Effects of Pressure The second main category of hazards The body behaves as a fluid, with the are the indirect effects of pressure, the exception of those spaces which contain effects of the so-called inert gases, air. Therefore only the air-containing nitrogen, helium and even hydrogen. People who spaces are affected by pressure and Acute oxygen poisoning leads to epilep- provided that the body is supplied with tic fits and long-term oxygen posioning gas compressed to the pressure of the leads to damage of the lungs. You have depth of the diver, then no untoward also been told about the uptake of inert really know beer effect will occur. gas by the body and thus the importance Compression . If for some of adhering to calculated decompression reason an air space is isolated then dur- schedules. will ing compression the gases within will still occur in spite of such schedules, take Courage obey Boyle's law and cause distortion of though to a lesser incidence than without the surrounding tissues. This affects the them, following nearly all deep diving. sinuses, the teeth, the ears and, under The final indirect effect of pressure is particular conditions of standard diving, that prolonged exposure to pressure the entire chest, a 'squeeze'. will cause an alteration in certain Decompression Barotrauma. On de- constituents of the blood. compression there is an expansion of the gases in all the air-containing spaces Effects of Breathing Apparatus and, again, provided the openings to The third group of hazards are those these spaces are patent the expanded gas due to particular forms of breathing is able to vent from the body quite apparatus; here I am considering only safely. If the gas is trapped in the lungs the semi-closed re-breathing apparatus the effects can be fatal. It may rupture which is commonly used to conserve the lungs and may lead to intravascular oxy-helium gas. We have used open- bubbles of gas lodging in the brain and circuit apparatus because each exhaled causing death. breath is passed straight into the sea and

19 18 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk each inhaled breath is therefore of pure, be fit to go under pressure. His teeth, diving is done there shall be at least a pressure and 2 atmospheres pressure for fresh oxy-helium. In the semi-closed sinuses, ears and chest X-ray must all be Closed circuit television camera with a short exposures, but since most deep apparatus however the carbon dioxide normal. There is also the need for wide angled lens in the submersible diving is prolonged the upper limit of is removed by soda lime and a further psychological fitness, the ability to chamber so that if surface control wishes oxygen should be 0.4 atmospheres. flow of gas, replenishes the oxygen used. remain clear-headed under extremes of to ask a question the divers can be seen Although a maximum In these forms of apparatus there are stress, but in my opinion there is no to make a visual response. There is no of carbon dioxide of 0.03 atmospheres therefore additional hazards, carbon requirement for the medical practitioner doubt that the presense of this facility is acceptable under certain conditions, dioxide poisoning and, secondly, hyp- to assess this. It is part of the natural minimized the seriousness of this nevertheless an upper limit of 0.01 oxia which causes a loss of consciousness selection which is already complete. particular incident. Eventually elec- atmospheres (i.e. 1 % of one atmosphere, with no warning. Special Investigations. There are tronic unscramblers will be available to surface equivalent) is considered to be a certain investigations required of every reconstitute oxy-helium speech but until The Physical Effects reasonable limit to insist upon. This deep diver in order to have them avail- then we must rely on codes such as requires an efficient scrubber, the design The physical hazards include verbal able as a base line for some future hammer taps and on visual corn- of which presents some problems in an communications. There is not only a dis- occasion. The electroencephalogram, mun ications. atmosphere which must be kept free of tortion effect due to pressure itself but the audiogram and X-rays of the joints also an effect which is specific to helium. and long bones are needed. Good verbal communication from the 270 feet,20 minute Immediate Pre-Dive Check. One must diver to the surface is essential. Fire Schedule 13 OXY-HELIUM TRIALS ensure that the diver has no upper 802 fel& 202 oxygen risks, due to the high partial pressures thoughcot the dive ALVERSTOKE , 1966 respiratory tract infection and is not of oxygen, need to be considered. suffering from the dehydrative effects of Neutral is not exactly a D .Y.Ptam-free excessive alcohol. He should be in a Schedule 17a 0 "niggle" and is most important because it affects 902 httlourn 107. ox Aten at depth good state of physical training and also, BOO lode 201oxygen front arm.' the ergonomics of work underwater, but recompression perhaps, in the state of diving `work-up'. at 12011 until sox faced it is important as a contributory factor because if vertigo occurs underwater, During the Dive particularly with the usual poor vis- bility, the seeming weightlessness gives Stand-by Diver. The first safety con- 10.11. Schedule 14c the diver no bodly sensations of position sideration is best illustrated by an actual 90% het.) 107.oxygen until incident. Using open-circuit apparatus, 1007.oxygen from arrival at 50ft Schedule 17c and has, on occasion, led to dis- luZ oxygen at depth 802 helaln 20konygen from arrival or orientation and thus accidents. The so there was no question of any CO2 at 12011. MO% oxygen from arrival at 300. final effect of the sea is that of extreme build-up due to the use of inadequate cold against which of course the diver or inefficient soda lime, two divers were must be protected. For dives of worth- working extremely hard at about 360 while duration it is necessary to discuss feet on oxy-helium. Both suffered the same unusual effect, both became quite 3 NOURS the designs of heated suits. toot, unable to help themselves particularly when they were to a certain degree SAFETY fouled with their hoses. It took some Before the Dive minutes of rest before the divers were capable of assisting each other. FIG. 1. Pre-selection Tests. Is there any value in pre-selection tests? Particularly for This demonstrated that when two men oxygen poisoning or bends? The are sent down in a submersible chamber, Atmosphere Control. When the diver electric motors. It also presents the answer, regretfully, is no. Most deep one should go out to do whatever work is no longer in the water he discards his problem of accurate analysis because it divers are chosen by the process of is required and the second should remain breathing apparatus and decompresses means that due to the expansion of a natural selection. From the divers with within the submersible chamber ready with his attendant, breathing chamber sample of gas from, for instance, 600 whom one has to deal the unsuitable to assist the first should he require it. atmosphere. The engineers will describe feet one must be able to analyse in more detail with the principles of accurately 0.05 % carbon dioxide. On candidates have already gone. Communications. The second con- controlling an atmosphere within fine prolonged decompressions we must also sideration, which on that occasion we Annual Medical Examination. The limits. At this stage it is merely necessary insist upon a controlled environmental had previously insisted upon, is that of diver must be fit enough to undertake to point out that the oxygen should be temperature because oxy-helium has a efficient communications. When deep hard physical exercise and he must also between at least 0.2 of one atmosphere very high thermal conductivity and less 20 21 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk SEA-TRIALS GIBRALTAR ,1967 12 DIVERS Continental Tent Hire DIVERS WHO HAD 6 DIVERS WHO HAD NOT RECENTLY COMPLETED COMPLETED SUCH A A PREDETERMINED •WORN UP" OF SERIES OF AIR DIVES COMPRESSED AIR DIVES and Sales Service (Fareham) Proprietors: F. C. MITCHELL P. V. MITCHELL A. C. MITCHELL

300 I t. f or 300 I 1. 1 or THE CAMPING AND SPORTS SPECIALISTS OF THE SOUTH 15mMutos 13 mlnulw lanadUA20e1 ischodulo 204 FIG. 2. CAMPING CENTRE Main Showroom and Head Office:

27011. for 270 It. for 137 GOSPORT ROAD, FAREHAM. Telephone 3697 20 minutes 20ninules Dehodole DO lochodulotlo Continental Frame and Ridge Tents

❑ symptom-tree ❑ "nipple" recompression Main Agents: Andre Jamet, La Prairie, Blacks of Greenock, Raclet, Pneumatic Tent Co., Aquatite, Trigano, Sombrero, Marechal, Relum, Goodall, Uniform, Etc. than 82°F. is considered by the divers to hour schedule. Then, on another three Air-Beds, Camp Chairs, Tables, Sleeping Bags, Trailers, International be cool. Humidity is therefore another hour schedule from the same exposure Gaz, Water Containers. All Camping Accessories. factor which must be controlled and a but using oxygen on the shallow stops, compromise between man's require- there was again no case of decom- Hire Purchase and Credit Terms Available ment and the efficient scrubbing of pression sickness. The final dive of the Balance over 9-12-18-24 months CO2, aims to achieve a relative humidity group of four, 17a, shows the same ALL SIZES OF TENTS TO SUIT YOUR REQUIREMENTS of around 75 %. schedule as was used originally, 13, in fact with a slightly greater partial FOR SALE OR HIRE Decompression Sickness pressure of inert gas, and only one bend Book now for your Summer Holidays out of 10 dives. The results show that Contributory Factors. The design of variation of these other factors can affect Lowest Terms decompression schedules has already the success of a given decompression been described and mention has been time-course. Similar dives were taken * Top Quality Products Only used for Hire * made of the inevitable incidence of to sea (Fig. 2) and six divers who had a decompression sickness on all dives predetermined 'work-up' of air dives had FULL RANGE OF below about three or four hundred feet. only one incident in 12 dives, whereas SPORTS EQUIPMENT There are also some factors which are six other divers, who had not done the believed to influence this incidence and, `work-up' but who were subjected to the IN STOCK of course, the estimate of depth must be same conditions in the water, all had accurate and the supervisor must Football, Cricket, Badminton, Tennis, Squash, Table Tennis, some kind of trouble. It is important to Ski Equipment, Hockey, Darts and Sports Games, Etc. adhere to the decompression table remind you that no matter how good selected. The significance of the different any table, the variation between different Sports Clothing factors which affect the safety of decom- divers is so great that there is inevitably Anoraks, Track Suits, Football, Rugby, Cricket, Ski-Wear, Etc. pression schedules is illustrated in Fig. 1. a very small incidence of decompression Thus a three hour decompression from sickness on every table. Footwear a 270 feet, 20 minute dive gave a 30 incidence of bends. By changing the Long Term Effects of Decompression. Football, Rugby, Track Shoes, Climbing Boots, Walking Boots, various factors such as work-load, gas About aseptic bone necrosis we know Ski-Boots, Tennis, Hockey, Etc. mixtures, water temperature and 'work- little. From compressed air workers it We extend a Ten per cent Discount to all members of your Club ON PRODUCTION up' it was possible to decompress from is known to be more common in those OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD the same exposure quite safely on a two who have been treated for decom- 22 23 www.mcdoa.org.uk in the sea

Kester

A.B. M. A.B. M. Ward A.B. G. Hadley M.E. C. Coldwell A.B. A. Lettice L.S. P. Still A.B. P. R. Goldsmith A.B. M. Buoy M.E. R. Eastman N.A. P. Plevey A.B. Egginton L.S. A. Reed A.B. J. Stevenson L.S. Prictor A.B. C. Parker A.B. J. B. Fisher M.E. P. Heald A.B. R. C. Imray N.A. D. Gillard A.B. I. Morrison L.S. D. Hilton A.B. D. Howson R.E.M. P. Robinson

Advancements

unacceptedly high incidence of decom- use. It is also important that not only this reason that we insist that all new decompression tables must be tested not pression chamber, as already defined, is pression sickness in the sea. It is for before being released for operational only in the laboratory but also for trial dives but also for operational oxy-helium dives that a suitable recom-

available.

25

Promotions and

J. Cook

Sub.-Lt. Lusty Sub.-Lt. Pilling Sub.-Lt. Wright P.O. C. Ballinger, C.D.2 C.P.O. Gibson, C.D.1 C.P.O. Haines, C.D.1 P.O. P. Edge, C.D.2 C.P.O. Atkinson, C.D.1 P.O. N. Slingsby, C.D.2 P.O. R.O. M. Murphy L.S. B. Barnard A.B. K. Reynolds A.B. D. W. Stone L.S. Hutchinson

To Sub.-Lt. (S.D.) (M.C.D.): To Chief Petty Officer:

To A./Petty Officer:

To C.D.2:

fully on each selected dive of the table. depths are accurately recorded, that the up'. Nearly always it is found, for These trial dives are very carefully supervised, making certain that the diver works to a certain physical

reasons which are not wholly under- standard, that the diver has fulfilled certain conditions of pre-dive 'work- successful in the laboratory may give an stood, that trials which have been www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

It is

within the chamber and the

control of the oxy-helium

Again with deep recompression ther-

Sea Trials of New Diving Tables.

this. This is because the mask cannot be tolerated for more than a few hours and because a patient with labyrinthine decompression sickness may vomit and therefore be unable to breathe from his mask. It is essential to be able to recompress the diver in a chamber at

the surface to at least the depth of his original dive. This is the minimum re- quirement because there have been occasions when the diver has had to be recompressed to depths considerably in

excess of his original dive, for instance, 450 feet depth of relief had followed a 400 feet dive. apy there is the need for complete and atmosphere accurate need for the recompression chamber or because of the risks of severe cases of maximum pressure to which the diver need for closed circuit television to deck chamber and the submersible chamber to be able to withstand the proposed new decompression tables. has been subjected. supervise the diver. There is also the meticulous about the careful trials of all

decompression sickness that we must be It is the convention in the Royal Navy that we will accept a dive for testing in the sea only when 10 individuals have

the minimum number only because of completed that dive successfully in a dry the difficulty in allocating men and time chamber or preferably in the wet to this task. At least 30 divers are needed section of a pressure chamber. The to achieve an answer that is going to be sample of 10 individuals is accepted as that the results might still be incon- this number, biological variation is such

statistically significant and even with pression chamber trials the new tables clusive. On completion of the com- are taken for trials at sea, and again at least 10 individuals must dive success-

24

If decompression sickness

Treatment of Acute Decompression

pression sickness than for those who have not. The incidence of bone the diver in order to shrink the size of bring the diver back to the surface very necrosis in those who are deep sea divers is not yet known. occurs then it is necessary to recompress Sickness. the bubble causing the lesion and to treatment must be thorough and the to get rid of the excess inert gas. The depth of recompression must be to at least the depth of complete relief of slowly in order to give the body time paralysis or other damage. The correct symptoms. Adequate treatment should ensure that the diver returns to the cases, not of Royal Navy divers, in therefore very important but today we whom treatment has been inadequate bend begins on the surface the patient is surface 100 % fit. There are a number of and who now suffer from permanent treatment of decompression sickness is ments of recompression therapy. If the breathing either the compressed air in recompressed with compressed air, shall consider only the basic require-

the chamber or oxygen from a mask. The maximum depth which this is normally taken to is 165 feet although

on occasions 230 feet have been used quite successfully. However occasionally when one would like to take the diver complete cure and there are occasions deeper. Compressed air is no longer pression while the diver is still on oxy- such depths are inadequate to secure a depths. Therefore, for decompression breathing oxy-helium. One can breathe suitable because it is toxic at greater for those cases of decompression sick- ness. that may arise during the decom- helium from his original dive, divers occasionally need to be recompressed sickness following deep dives, as well as oxy-helium from a mask while sitting 300 feet is considered to be the limit of in the compressed air environment but www.mcdoa.org.uk Historic Wrecks in the Solent Area PART Ill

FTER about 1650, information when she blew up on 16th October, regarding warships from docu- 1711. Magazine explosions are of course Amentary sources becomes more always a hazard and the destruction is frequent, and by 1700 is virtually com- usually so complete that the cause is plete. After that date, shipbuilders' difficult to ascertain in retrospect. plans and scale models are plentiful, and shortly afterwards, actual ships For many years the wreck was begin to be preserved, of which the buoyed and shown on Admiralty charts. Victory, laid down in 1759, is the the marked depths varying from 75 to earliest. Administrative records are also 78 feet. Colonel Pasley had a nibble at plentiful, ranging from gun-states to the her guns on several occasions, in the names of all the officers and crew; and hope that they might be brass—alas, these are frequently amplified by nar- they were iron—and finally claimed to ratives which tell us almost everything have destroyed the wreck in 1844. On we want to know about life at sea at the 23rd May of that year, his divers located relevant times. All we can expect to the main body of the wreck, which was learn from ships wrecked after 1700 is the midships section, the bows and stern some minor detail. There is only one having apparently been blown off by the possible exception locally. magazine explosions. The visibility was exceptionally good that day and Cor- 32-pdr. iron cannonball and concretion recovered from the Royal George wreck dispersal poral Richard P. Jones was presented area by Southsea BS-AC in 1965. The cannonball has been conserved and the concretion EDGAR, 70 GUNS, BUILT BRISTOL with the spectacle of the wreck standing which surroundsed it has been re-assembled. (Photo: ALEXANDER MCKEE.) 1668, BLOWN UP AT SPITHEAD, two gundecks high, to a height of 13i 1711 feet off the seabed. the muzzles of about `Mother Ocean', whereas there is no not been established, although John such thing. Sea areas differ very widely, McKie of Southampton B.S.-A.C. While Tudor ships were severely a dozen guns arrayed in two tiers, and the Solent seems to be particularly carried out a very thorough piece of functional, a note of gaiety being struck pointing out from the ports 'as if ready for battle'. The woodwork was in a kind to wrecks. As a check both on research during 1966. No lives were by means of paintwork and banners Corporal Jones and Miss Croome, I lost, and at one time it was thought that only, the European warship of the 17th fragile condition, however, and the managed recently to identify one wood- the ship might be refloated. She was century blossomed out with elaborate cannon could literally be hauled up straight through the docks. The guns and-iron wreck still in good condition, aground for a week before breaking up, carvings and scrollwork, as evidenced which proved to have been submerged and the £60,000 treasure on board, by numerous paintings and of course were heavily covered in concretion, but were still in recognisable shape. At that for 87 years, and I therefore have no belonging to a passenger, the ex- the , built in 1628. These 'capital' hesitation in deciding for Corporal Governor of Jamaica, was reported ships are really large galleons, and the time the ship had been under the sea for 133 years. Jones. West of the Isle of Wight, how- mostly saved, the rest 'stolen'. About stern decorations are art concealing, ever, matters might be very different. half the guns seem to have been re- not art, but the officers' latrines. The This seems extraordinary, when one covered. In spite of the obvious diffi- openwork of the beakhead at the bow recalls the dictums of the early pioneers culties of the site, particularly the very ASSURANCE, 44 GUNS, WRECKED served the same purpose, more un- in the Mediterranean, such as Cousteau fast combined with very short ON THE NEEDLES, I.O.W., 1753 comfortably, for the crew. and Dumas, who stated that wood did slacks, Southampton Branch proved that The end of the Edgar is a matter of not last longer thean 20 yars, and iron, This ship was a 5th rate of the frigate it was possible to dive there. On one some mystery, as she was destroyed by no more than 60 years. Even as recently class, i.e., not a 'capital' ship and occasion, however, a visibility of about internal explosion while some important as 1967, a science journalist, Angela roughly equivalent to a cruiser. At the 15 feet just below the surface gave way documents concerning the failure of an Croome, writing in the Daily Telegraph, time of her loss, there were more needles to a sudden and complete zero, caused attempt upon French Canada were, declared that 'all organic material will on the Needles than there are today, the by the mixing of fresh water from the surprisingly, still on board although the have vanished within 40 years'. Like tallest of them, Lot's wife, not collapsing chalk with the sea water, a condition Admiral had gone to London to report. the early French, she was doubtless until 1764, so the exact location of the which caused the Branch to dub the Between 400 and 500 lives were lost thinking in terms of a standardised site where the frigate grounded has Needles 'Sea Area Clammy Death'. 26 27 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk TORBAY (1758) AND IMPETEU X barrels, by the light of wire-caged (1792): BOTH BURNT IN lanterns. As oxygen was present the PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR gunpowder did not explode, but it did A SINGLE ALLOTMENT catch fire, suffocating some of the men. The Torbay, a British ship-of-the-line, She burnt for over a day before sinking. caught fire after a magazine explosion; Eleven lives were lost. WITH BERNARDS the event is depicted on the tombstone Bernards of Harwich provide a first-class Tailoring and Outfitting of one of the casualties in Warblington ROYAL GEORGE, 108 GUNS, BUILT Churchyard. The Impeteux was a service for the Senior Service, whereby every Uniform and Civilian 1746-55, SUNK AT SPITHEAD, French 74 taken by Lord Howe on the 1782 clothing requirement may be met expeditiously. Glorious First of June. The scenes in- Additionally, there are many other Bernard Departments through side the prize were shambolic; in Similar to the Victory, the Royal which practically every need of the Serviceman and his family may particular, tons of loose gunpowder George, 2,041 tons, was designed as a be obtained, including: Fancy Goods, were lying on the floor of the magazine. fleet flagship, that is, a 1st Rate. Her captors flooded the magazine, Principal dimensions: length-178ft. ; Toys and Games, Clocks, Rings, Watches turning the gunpowder into wet paste, breadth-51ft. ; depth-21 aft. Struc- and Jewellery, Cameras and Cycles, Radio and in this state, she arrived at Ports- turally, she was in a bad state in 1782, and Record Players, Electrical Equipment, mouth where working parties were but the dockyard patched her up in the Cutlery, Household and Nursery Furni- employed'scooping up the powder into hope that she would last another ture, Musical Instruments, and Chocolate, Biscuit and Floral Bouquet Services. The Bernard Bulletin is published fre- quently, and a Gift Catalogue annually, to, keep customers fully informed on prices, style trends, etc., while illustrated cata- logues and leaflets on various items are freely available. Where preferred to paying cash, a Credit Account may be arranged for settlement by monthly Admiralty Allot- ment or Banker's Order and full details of this facility will gladly be given on request at a branch or through Head Office.

You really do BUY BETTER at BERNARDS C. H. BERNARD & SONS LTD.

8 Queen Street, Portsmouth Telephone 23535 -rarso'riest Branches at : Chatham, Southampton, Portland, Deal, Grimsby, Londonderry, Harwich, Helensburgh, Dunfermline, Gibraltar, Valletta and Sliema, Malta, and at Lossiemouth, Arbroath, Brawdy, Culdrose, Yeovilton, Corsham, Lympstone, H.M.S. Dolphin and H.M.S. Pembroke. Artifacts recovered from Spithead wrecks by and William Edwards 135 years ago. The bones are human bones from the Royal George and the white plate marked Officers' Shops at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton WARDROOM is probably also from that ship. The glass bottles are probably 18th Head Office: Anglia House, Harwich, Essex. Telephone Harwich 2281 century, whereas the 'witches cauldrons' could be any date. The original Picture is a water- colour drawing from the recently discovered Deane Portfolio, an excellent example of early archaelological recording. (Photo: ALEXANDER MCKEE.)

28 29 www.mcdoa.org.uk

www.mcdoa.org.uk summer. She didn't. She sank while vented the first -practical taking on stores at Spithead, among an and dress, and wrote and published the assembled fleet, which was being des- first Diving Manual (in 1836), began patched to resolve a crisis, which had salvage operations in 1832. He raised arisen over Gibraltar. At the court many guns, one of which may be seen martial, the findings of which were in Southsea Castle, to the value of over kept quiet at the time, the verdict was £3,000, receiving half this sum as a structural failure. But a well-known salvage award. In 1839 Colonel I.W. poet was allowed to state that she had Pasley, R.E., made a 'take-over bid' for been overset by a land breeze, because the wreck, claiming that he could clear this impossibility was preferable to the Spithead anchorage of this ob- publishing abroad the straits to which struction in one year. It took him five the Royal Navy was reduced. We were years, and he did not really complete then facing a combination of foreign the job. Although a tremendously powers, whose populations greatly out- ambitious undertaking for the time, it numbered us by something like four or revealed that Pasley had certain faults five to one. as a director of diving operations. Two of his divers ended up in the cemetery, The sinking of the Royal George still many arrived at Haslar Hospital in a ranks as the greatest single disaster to lamentable condition, and almost every occur at Portsmouth, 900 lives being lost. As seamen were not normally man was 'bent' in some degree, the symptoms being passed off as being due allowed ashore, for fear that they would to hard work, cold water, nervous ex- desert, the amenities of the shore were haustion, etc. After the first year or so, brought out to the ships lying at Spit- no civilian diver would work for him head, and these included both floating and he had to employ Service personnel, shops and the cream of the Portsea all novices. What he wanted out of prostitutes, as well as wives, sweethearts, them was a four-hour day at around 70 and children. It was customary for the feet, without decompression. Con- Officer of the Watch to inspect boarding sequently, only a few exceptional in- parties of prospective prostitutes and to dividuals lasted any time at all. reject those he considered unsuitable for the entertainment of the lower deck. Apart from this rather important Even this 'screening' did not prevent point, however, the scientific back- some unsavoury characters getting on ground to the operations generally was board, such as the whore who climbed first class. The deterioration of materials the mainmast and waved her drawers and also their inter-action when sub- at the flagship. merged, was scientifically studied, and Probably more diving has been done records were kept. At one time, one on the Royal George than on any other diver was working in the wardroom wreck. As the taffrail was only 2 area, while another diver was employed fathoms under at low water, the poop on the forecastle, and the interesting 3 fathoms, and the forecastle 41- fathoms, social contrasts in the nature of the diving operations began almost at once artifacts which emerged from these two and a number of items were recovered, places, were noted. Wine bottles, good including the ship's bell and sixteen quality crocks, navigational instru- guns. In 1817, an inspection by Dock- ments, candle-sticks and inkstands came yard showed that the hull up from aft. From foreward came a was beginning to warp and collapse in crudely-carved chequer-board for play- 24-pdr. brass gun recovered from the Royal George in 1834 by Charles Anthony Deane. places. John Deane of Whitstable who, ing draughts, and 'a black earthenware Shown here by the Garrison Church, it has recently been moved to Southsea Castle. with his brother Charles Anthony, in- teapot, much cracked, which must have (Photo: ALEXANDER MCKEE.) 31 30 www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk belonged to some thrifty personage, as size, the other much smaller, clearly a of the wreck site (based on soundings) of Pasley's exertions is a layer of modern it is tied round and across with wire- child's. 'It is probable, from these shows an enormous mound between 2 surface litter, dating mostly from just string, not only at the top, but at the cloaks being intertwined, that their and 3ft. high, and covering an area prior to 1900 to the late 1950s. The bottom, to prevent its falling to pieces; wearers—perhaps mother and daughter about four times larger than that of the genuine Royal George artifacts are the handle also is tied on. The lid of —perished, at the same moment, in one ship in its complete state. Nowadays, usually either wholly or partly buried, this elegant affair is gone, but in its another's arms', wrote Captain Basil trawlermen have 'marks' to miss the part of the 'compost heap, whereas Royal George, stead, another has been found, bearing Hall, R.N., naval correspondent of the and the remains consist recent 'gash' is entirely on the surface. on its top a very solemn lion for a han- Hampshire Telegraph at that time. of a mound some 5 to 6ft. high con- In order to see what I mean, please dle'. There was also a woman's hat, In 1843, Pasley declared the task taining shingle ballast, bones, period proceed on a bearing of 1894 degrees the headlining 'slightly drawn together completed, although 19 of the guns pottery, concreted ironwork, and so on for a distance of 1.94 sea miles from with a silk thread, where a neat handed were missing and irate fishermen were —not so much a wreck as a veritable Portsmouth Cathedral. The wreck compost heap of wreckage mixed with person would have hemmed it', and complaining that the wreck was tearing mound is aligned nearly, but not quite, two cloaks intertwined, one a woman's their trawls to pieces. His final plan mud and clay. On top of this evidence along an East-West axis.

DIVING HELM ET AND DRESS. "Light" focuses on Lusitania

FTER 37 S.C.U.B.A. dives down do better than give you brief details of to the ill-fated Lusitania which was the equipment John has assembled for Asunk in May 1915 in 300 feet off the his venture:— Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, John Light, ex-U.S.N. diver decided that this Diving Ship—`Kinvara': historic wreck had something to offer. 380 tons He may have even decided this before 151 feet length these impressive, personally executed 28 feet beam dives, but the fact is that whatever he 16 feet draft gleaned from these sorties, added no 850 H.P. Diesel Main Engine doubt, to the information he derived Crusing range 40 days at 12 knots. from others who dived with him, was sufficiently convincing to persuade his ELECTRICAL POWER: backers that further investigation, in a highly professional manner, was well 150 K.W. 110v A.C. 3 phase worth while. In passing, he frankly ad- generator mitted that these exploratory dives were 50 K.W. 110/220v A.C. single somewhat 'awesome' on occasions, and phase generator An authentic picture of the Siebe helmet designed to make a closed seal with the suit, those of us that heard of them in the 6 K.W. 110v A.C. Single phase which was used in the later stages of Colonel Pasley's operations and is the basis of modern press, doubtless formed the same generator `standard' gear. The picture is from a report on diving apparatus written by Pasley in 25 K.W. 220v A.C. 3 Phase December, 1840, and recently discovered in the Public Record Office (PRO/W044/613). impression. However, whatever the This was the third stage of development of Charles Anthony Deane's patent for a smoke risks taken, he has certainly proved generator helmet and dress (Patent Office A.D.1823—No. 4869), which became Deane's open dress them worthwhile inasmuch that when I and then Siebe's closed dress. The only major difference between the two types of diving visited him at Kinsale at the end of July DECK POWER: dress was that in the former the suit came up to the chin and the helmet merely rested on the shoulders whereas, in the latter the helmet screwed on to the top of the suit. Deane he had the most impressive operational 5 ton Diesel Winch pattern diving gear is still used in America for such shallow water jobs as feeding dolphins assembly for deep diving that I have 14 ton double Drum in Marinelands. seen to date. To illustrate this I cannot Two 2 ton Winches (ALEXANDER MCKEE COLLECTION.)

32 33 www.mcdoa.org.uk

training and 180°

°

designed control panel brings

movie camera.

The control room also contains a gas

External battery to power independent 16mm. Two Units, each capable of cleaning A well Two Corblin Diaphragm pumps. All doors except the medical lock and 2 ton releasable ballast. One Control panel so arranged that Drager F.G.G. III sets. U.S.N. Mk. VI sets. Open circuit hot water diving suits. 70mm. still camera.

This equipment is all mounted on a

The T.V. camera is detachable to be

T.V. with 360

the D.D.C. atmosphere.

Man Lock, like the mating action, is

the system within the control of a single ing with video recording and compre= 600 cubic feet of gas per hour. One unit operated hydraulically. Cryogenic System: ball valves is an outstanding feature and Oxygen sensors coupled with an alarm is balanced and the upper door of the top hatch of the S.D.C. are 30 inch instrument room. The exclusive use of hensive communications. Control Room: operator in a sound proofed control and chromatograph analyser, T.V. monitor- runs for 24 hours before blocking. diameter. The lower door of the S.D.C. system give warning of any deviation from the permissible oxygen content of

Doors: dirty gas can either be routed through

dirty bank to await processing.

Cameras: the cryogenic system or dumped in a

Diving Apparatus:

life support for 12 hours.

framework with illumination by strobe held by the diver and quartz iodine hand

elevation. lamps are also available. and floodlight.

35

S.D.C.)

scrubbers

2

scrubbers

2

foot sphere to faciliate transfer

S.D.C.

tions backed by five-channel emerg-

connections to each Radar ency system.

Decca Navigator

conical to give wide angle vision.

Two Radio Telephones Three Echo Sounders

Two-way loud speaker communica-

Four Internal fluorescent lights

Four CO 4 bunks — one dining table Temperature and humidity control The D.D.C. is lagged overall ex- 500 feet working depth Two manifolds with four B.I.B.S. Three 4 inch diameter viewing ports, 18 inch diameter hand lock 7 feet diameter From surface, or from three banks

17 feet long A 5

5 foot diameter 2 CO Loud Speaker communication with

f6 oot 4 inch height (internal)

NAVIGATION:

ternally with polyurethene foam injected

which gives a very 'with it' finish, sug-

gestive of space travel. Diving Tender `Doonie Braes' -- 96 feet through an external aluminium sheath

Deck Decompression Chamber (D.D.C.) men to sit in comfort.

Man Lock: from S.D.C. to D.D.C. with much the to the

same facilities as the D.D.C. but on a secured to a removable cage attached smaller scale to accommodate three men for 30 minutes. The shape enables three Diver's Gas Supply: Submersible Decompression Chamber five-channel back-up emergency system.

S.D.C. Equipment: www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

...(••••••:••'.....:"•• •

,

1

34

than this

Imported from England

Could anything

superb gold box?

be more luxurious

Yes. The cigarettes inside

BOX IS GOLD —THE PLEASURE PRICELESS

THE BOX

BENSON HEDGES

A"B"

DECK OECOMORESS108

6

inini/W

I/

Hill/

AND OCH.MOIPYIN

CONTROLS

COOLING

iht/MU

f

Whatever the outcome, and I per-

The exposed situation of the wreck

been rude for me to have enquired out of

ical thoroughness, all the information Light and his team deserve to succeed by virtue of the dedicated, honest

T.V. rights may well play a financially that John has amassed, through con- valuable propellors, could well be con- process his plans. I think he is basically what I have read elsewhere however, ferrous metals, including the four

siderable painstaking research and typ- a camera man so I see that film and put into the project. backers happy.

verted into a small fortune. sheer curiosity. It would appear from pictures and token recovery to keep the and documents he, requires to efficiently significant part of the scheme and non- professional endeavour that has been men and equipment with perhaps a few

restricted to a thorough work out of

suggests that this years' activities will be

sonally feel it will be successful, John

37

and

Alaska

He, which un-

2

will appreciate the need for

to enable him to locate and

An outrigger scheme was also

Affray

The objectives of the venture and

Reclaim.

under construction and/or consideration

have always advocated for our own

with overhead travelling lift which I rough weather. Both schemes have yet violent contact with the ship's side in

for keeping the S.D.C. from making pre-laid moorings for this type of work, to be tested, but even at the stage of our visit served to show the serious pro- Divers who particpated in the 'sustained' noteworthy that John was in the process fessional approach to open water diving later deep diving operations of hold a precise position over the wreck. Lusitania time.

at deep depths. In similar vein, it was of laying an eight point moor around the necessity being almost equal to the

fortunately were we unable to do at the desirability of using 0

where the financial support comes from were not my concern and it would have www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

Certainly those aboard at the

Incidentally, although somewhat out

So much for the equipment, but what

S.D.C. goes over the side on a gantry

of context, I must just mention that the

business agent operating from an office

in Kinsale with, I would guess, con-

Roger Hanson is John's shore-side

siderable effectiveness.

the ship to their entire satisfaction. Jim's welding was that of an artist. Hazelwood, seemed bent on rebuilding

led by Retired Navy Lieutenant, Jim

time we were at Kinsale looked excellent material with the typical Jack-of-all-

Trades approach that divers have, and

personal possibilities John has engaged

understand, since we were there, an

properly and in addition to his own ex-Navy divers, a Diving Officer and I Kinvara.

ex-A.S.R. Skipper as the Master of

to be there at the start of operations to

of the personnel to help John Light ensure his equipment is functioning operate it! Hannes Keller has agreed

36

Interior view of D.D.C. showing bunk and table arrangement.

Power velocity bolt gun outfit.

Oxygen cutting lance.

The chamber complex, its controls

Twelve inflatable pontoons of various

engineering.

He did not speak of any future personal truly 'submerged' in diving design and

diving plans but appeared to be well and

his knowledge, keeness to explain things

Bladh (he inspired the visit) and I had with Keller we were most impressed with and of his design plans for the future.

weeks. From the long discussions Lt.

was assured that the S.D.C. was manu- delivery. To illustrate the last point I factured and delivered to the ship in six

to be impressed ,by the standard of

workmanship, low cost and speed of

headquarters at `Unterwassertechnik%

Aadorf, Switzerland. One could not fail

and cryogenic system were all designed and supplied by Hannes Keller from his

doubling up.

sizes from 2-10 tons with couplings for

Salvage Equipment: www.mcdoa.org.uk The following article is reproduced from the July issue of H.M.S. Dingley and after the Royal Naval Scientific Services Journal.

by LIEUTENANT D. P. SELWOOD, R.N., A paper presented by the Superintendant of Diving at a recent gathering Western Fleet Clearance Diving Team, H.M.S. Vernon of representatives of British Industry.

1. H.M.S. Dingley finally paid off in 3. The functions of the Team are Techniques and Equipment of Deep Diving mid-summer 1966 and many people many and varied and the essence is by COMMANDER P. A. WHITE, M.B.E., R.N. flexibility—`played off the cuff some say'. were needless to say sorry to see her go. Superintendent of Diving, Royal Navy. She had been the home for the Home Frequent trips down to Portland for Station Clearance Diving Team for a Flag Officer Sea Training occur as well number of years, during which time she as numerous trips to the wilds of Scot- EFORE the physiologists — a reed or a piece of bamboo. It was not had fulfilled many onerous operational land either for 250 foot continuation engineers — scientists and doctors until the Middle Ages, loosely speaking, and social tasks. Upon her paying off dives or helping Flag Officer, Scotland Bare let loose among you, I think it that we find attempts to supply air to a the Team became shore based and after and Northern Ireland, or exercising would be wise to commence with our man underwater. Many odd devices juggling between temporary lodgings in with Captain, M.C.M. Frequent trips feet firmly on the ground (well perhaps and techniques were forthcoming until the Vernon were finally housed in No. 28 to Malta for Western Fleet Exercises, just in the water). I intend, therefore, to finally the copper helmet, standard, Building, better known as the old plus helping out at the Deep Trials Unit, look a little into history, to review the diving dress was evolved. The attendant Regulating Officer, where it will remain all go to keep the Team more or less present state of the art of the Royal problems of , Rapture until the completion of the new Triton fully occupied. All this amounts to Navy, and take a brief look into the of the Great Depths—(NARKS to the Building sometime in the 1970's. The little time in H.M.S. Vernon, lots of future. R.N. diver), and Decompression Sick- completion of this building will then see travelling, and some interesting jobs. To those of you who are actually ness accompanied the indroduction of under one roof the Portsmouth Com- Amongst the recent achievements have involved in activities this type of diving. These problems will mand Clearance Diving Team and the been the salvage of a Wessex off I apologise, and would ask them to bear be dealt with in detail later. Home Station Clearance Diving Team Portland, recovery of an engine from a with me if initially I cover basic ground. Throughout today you will frequently together. Boeing 707 for B.O.A.C., an extended I consider this necessary, however, and hear the term Deep Diving and period in the Outer Hebrides for I hope of value, because although many 2. In order to achieve the mobility mentioned. It might F.O.S.N.I., and backing up Reclaim's of you are involved in one or more required, after the passing on of Dingley, be appropriate at this stage to explain divers for the Aer Lingus salvage, and aspects of underwater operations you the meaning of these terms:— the Team was eventually fitted out with tasks of this nature almost too numerous may not necessarily see the diving a converted 3-ton Bedford RL lorry, a to mention. problem as a whole. DEEP DIVING—This is regarded as long wheel-based landrover and a 10 any dive deeper than 30 fathoms. cwt. trailer. On 1st October 1967 after 4. Members in the Team fluctuate and If diving be defined, merely, as des- having been worked up by the Plymouth it seems that no sooner is a new member cending underwater and remaining SATURATION DIVING—Is consid- Command Clearance Diving Team, the worked up and fully capable of 250 foot there for a short period, then there have ered to be a dive of such a duration that Home Station Team became opera- diving than he is drafted to warmer or been divers in all ages. Man must have even if the diver remained at depth tional to 250 feet in addition to their colder climates. Members in the Team learned to dive almost as soon as he longer he would have to pay no extra other normal C.D. tasks. The final at present: one C.D.O., one C.D.1 and learnt to swim, but he must also have penalty in decompression time. In other words, SATURATION, degree of mobility was achieved when 11 C.D.2's. Anyone with a draft chit learned that his physiological structure, as the word im- the 3-ton Bedford lorry finally modified to the W.F.C.D.T. in the near future as an air breathing land creature, plies, means that the body has taken up to fit into a Hercules aircraft, which can almost guarantee to be 02 swim- imposed very definite and narrow limits as much inert gas as possible. This is the put the Team very much on a world- ming at Portalnd one night and 250'ing upon his activities underwater; limits technique employed in SEALAB and by several U.S. commercial firms. wide basis. As from September this the next. which remained unaltered for many year, the Home Station Clearance centuries and which have only been History Diving Team (a name which has long extended in recent times. Our first been inaccurate anyway) becomes the Extract from Class Fair Book. . . . If a attempt to enter this foreign environ- Prior to 1933, diving in the R.N. was Western Fleet Clearance Diving Team diver is not wearing suit inflation, he is ment ,was confined to the limit of one limited to depths of approximately 200 operated by Commander-in-Cheif, also susceptible to Rupture of the deep breath, much the same as the Far feet. Equipment used was the hard-hat Western Fleet, but administered by Depths. East fishers today. This technique was standard dress, supported by hand- H.M.S. Vernon. probably followed by breathing through operated air pumps. In practice very 38 39 www.mcdoa.org.uk volunteer.

special.

For Explosive Ordnance Dis- posal. Six months training — highly skilled.

Deep Diving —

Full-time — professional — 250

Intrepid aviators — plane guard. feet on air.

Equipment —

Clearance Diver

S.A.R. (Search and Rescue) Diver

Techniques In the Royal Navy, deep diving at

Deep Diving — Present System and

present is based on a technique of During descent, the lower door of the lowered to the working depth in the chamber remains open, the ingress of employing a submersible compression water being prevented by filling the chamber with transfer-under-pressure facilities at the surface. Divers are where it is mated to the larger deck- mounted transfer-under-pressure cham- the lower door is closed, and the submersible compression chamber. appropriate pressure. After completion of work outside the divers re-enter and chamber with oxy-helium gas at the chamber is winched to the surface

Reclaim

41

H.M.S.

Reclaim

diver:—

Part-time — anyone (officer/man,

A ship diver — extends his trade underwater — emergency repairs. fernal machine placed by un- friendly natives). padre/cook). Four weeks training to 120 feet — bottom search (in- on compressed air. Duty — diving

Unfortunately this 600 feet capability

Artificer Diver

I think at this point I will cover the

Ship Diver

equipment designed by the Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit at Ports- mouth. represented the limit in depth set by the equipment had been replaced by lighter still only be regarded as experimental. No progress has since been attempted

old equipment fitted in H.M.S.

and the decompression schedules could

towards the ultimate aim of this plan. There ended the first lesson. diving structure in the R.N. and the are four grades of R.N. Diving Structure and Equipment of divers and their capability. There equipment used by the various grades www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

was

was

was

Reclaim

Reclaim

today we would

Reclaim—Kingfisher

Reclaim

and

Of the two R.N. Deep Diving ships—

In 1962, deep diving trials recom-

A series of laboratory experiments,

operational diving was no longer Diving in the R.N. was then limited to required to these depths and in this role.

180 feet.

the foresight of a staff officer in the Admiralty at the time. retained as a Minecountermeasures sold' to the Argentine and Kingfisher saved from a similar, or worse fate, by use). Without

diving equipment for possible future Support Ship (still keeping her deep menced with a five-year programme not be in the deep diving business. Captain Blake, the officer who foresaw Directorate of Weapons (Underwater). this return to Deep Diving is now in the it was decided that a depth of 1,200 feet 600 feet for periods of up to one hour.

capability of 800 feet. To achieve this By this time the hard-hat standard aimed at producing a Continental Shelf should be our goal. when a total of 18 divers operated at and sea trials, terminated in June 1965

40

Standard (copper helmet) diving dress

In 1933, the R.N. Deep Diving

Oxy-helium trials were carried out

Because of a change in submarine

little diving was carried out beyond pumps and the submersible chamber 90 feet. made until after 1946. mum depth limit be increased to 300 was introduced. It became evident then that the limit of air breathing had been reached. No real progress was then Committee recommended that the maxi- feet. At the same time mechanical air-

research was carried out and in 1954, R.N. diving capability was increased to

between 1946 and 1948, as a result the prove that limited work could be carried 360 feet for a maximum time on the bottom of 20 minutes only. Further maximum depth for work was extended to 410 feet for short periods. In 1956 one dive was achieved to 600 feet to programme was allied and the intro-

out at this depth. In fact this dive was for a very short period and almost still using hard-hat equipment, the duction of the Free Ascent method for escape from a sunken submarine, amounted to a bounce dive. escape policy to which the Deep Diving www.mcdoa.org.uk

COLLYER SMITH & CO. LTD. 1 INCORPORATED INSURANCE BROKERS MORTGAGE BROKERS

(Members of Services Insurance Brokers Association)

219 West Street, Fareham Phone: Fareham 2211/2/3

THE COMPLETE INSURANCE AND MORTGAGE SERVICE t CONSULT US FOR YOUR REQUIREMENTS S We specialise in Life Assurance and the arrangement of Private Dwellinghouse Mortgages either by Building Society Repayment or Endowment Assurance The submersible compression chamber slung from H.M.S. Reclaim We arrange and service all other forms of Insurance (Fire, Accident, Household, Motor, etc.) ber. Pressure between the two chambers Techniques for operating divers from For SERVICE PERSONNEL all forms of Life Assurance arranged FREE of any is then equalized and the divers trans- surface ships or installations must ferred to complete their decompression extra premium whatsoever for cover of: depend to a certain extent on the task. in relative comfort. In general, the R.N. must anticipate the WAR RISKS WORLD-WIDE SERVICE : Ideally, the submersible compression need to operate in open sea. This SUBMARINING : DIVING : FLYING ON DUTY chamber must be able to withstand an introduces a considerable seamanship internal pressure equivalent to the maxi- problem, location, accurate mooring, AS PASSENGERS IN SERVICE AIRCRAFT mum depth of dive in order that, in an precise plumbing of the submersible FACILITIES ARE READILY AVAILABLE FOR THE ARRANGEMENT OF emergency, the diver can be immedi- compression chamber over the task and ately brought to the surface, transferred finally, operating in tidal and/or bad 1 PRIVATE DWELLING HOUSE MORTGAGES WITH LEADING BUILDING to the larger compression chamber surface conditions. Many of these SOCIETIES IN CONJUCTION WITH THE M.O.D. (NAVY) "HOME LOAN i., where he can receive medical attention problems are minimised or are not SCHEME" FOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS, PETTY OFFICERS AND LEADING i should this be necessary. applicable when operating from an oil- RATINGS 1 During R.N. trials, it was essential to rig. be sure of the precise gas mixture being 1 (All Mortgage advances are subject to valuation of property and income i In order to cover the problems of breathed, and divers therefore used status of the applicant) i techniques and requirements for Deep open-circuit breathing apparatus where- i i Diving it would be wise to take 'an all It costs only a postage stamp or a phone call to obtain our advice. Every enquiry 1 by the gas was exhaled directly into the round look in high power' — as they ! i receives the personal attention of one of our principals sea. There is no doubt that a require- say in the Submarine Service — at the i i ment exists for a semi-closed or com- project as a whole. Experience has i pletely closed circuit breathing equip- shown that only by complete team work L.•••••••••••••••••.110.1.4111.1.1.,.....••••••••••• ".•••••••••••••••••••••11*•••••••••-••••••••••••00.1.4.10.4.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••44 ment to conserve helium. throughout between the sailor, the

42 43 www.mcdoa.org.uk existing arrangements

Keeping the diver warm presents

Good communications present quite

to cater for everybody, including one's

that some men make better and safer

divers than others. It is also a fact that which is the now accepted fact that one deep diving techniques, not the least of cannot produce a safe diving schedule

granny! There is no doubt, in my mind,

to get into trouble than one who is out

percentage of incidents one will have to body heat loss. Obviously, there is a quite a problem. In addition to the a helium mixture. Various organisations include 'bends'. I also personally be- lieve that the deeper one goes the higher an 'in practice' deep diver is less likely of practice. Within this trouble I also

particular, when the diver is breathing very real requirement for heated suits. water, beathing helium exaggerates the accept. At present, the R.N. is making do just obvious difficulties of diving in cold

These have been proved to be far Communications

superior to the normal standard woollies a problem with all deep diving and in

adequately with nylon for underwear.

45

Reclaim's

A model of H.M.S.

This installation, which I

Situated within the confines of the

Various problems have shown them-

pletely Bend free and should not be used miles south of the Lizard in 1966. The

be covered later.

without adequate precautions which will

covered from a depth of 370 feet 10 schedules used then are still not com- a ditched Buccaneer aircraft was re-

Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory

Unfortunately, there are indications that

Deep Trials Unit

Deep Trials Unit which consists of a

at Alverstoke, the Royal Navy has a

dives to a depth of 1,200 feet. It is also this complex before being taken to sea. administer for the Director General of Weapons, is capable of simulating 'wet' possible to simulate all types of climatic

new diving schedules are first tried in Personnel some difficulties arise when the diver although the pressure conditions and the complex of chambers with a 'wet' temperature conditions can be exactly

section. actually goes into the sea. selves in the practical application of

simulated within the Deep Trials Unit, conditions within the chambers. All www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

scrub-

2

They are also

etc.

today has an emerg-

Reclaim,

equipment — the Royal Naval

H.M.S.

To summarize, it is the Admiralty

The production of Decompression

breathing mixtures. You may recall that

mately 400 feet using oxy-helium

the end of that long Court Martial table ency capability to diving to approxi-

into service . . . and it is I who sits at

should things go wrong..

the Decompression Schedules, the R.N. medical officers who provide the cover- operational 'know-how' and have the and the R.N. divers that produce the responsibility for trials and acceptance

Physiological Laboratory that gives us Royal Naval Scientific Service, from the Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory age for any therapy that may be required

Experimental Diving Unit that produces the

at Alverstoke.

Schedules for trial by humans are

calculated and issued by scientists of the

bers, de-humidifiers,

panels, temperature control, CO

responsible for communication and

closed-circuit television coverage. eluding the means of controlling the environment. In this, I include chamber

44

A diver at depth alongside the S.C.C.

The engineers within the Royal Naval

It is the naval diver who is the

I, as the Superintendent of Diving—

transfer-under-pressure complexes, in-

ment, ashore and afloat chambers, sub- mersible compression chambers and

provide the design of breathing equip-

diving officers—again the user—who

human subject and the naval doctors Scientific Service together with the naval

throughout. service. who supply the medical coverage

ing the new operational techniques—

the user—co-ordinate the many apsects responsibility of accepting it into and, I am finally charged with the

Diving equipment, after the naval staff

and diverse talents that go into produc-

and the aim.

operational technique, or piece of Deep division have laid down the requirement

go into the production of any new

task in shallow water. I propose to

record dive or a comparatively simple

achieved. The most important aspect is cover briefly the chapter of events that

co-ordination. This applies equally to a

scientist and the doctors can success be www.mcdoa.org.uk

throughout the world are experimenting medical officers, scientists and sailors with the problem of converting the GOLF FOOTBALL SQUASH HOCKEY FENCING the production of any new diving noise that comes back from the diver to technique or equipment would not be something intelligible. It may be pos- possible. With such team-work, we Tel. PORTSMOUTH 20611 FISHING sible in the future, to unscramble this know, that (given the right facilities) CRICKET noise. diving to almost any depth can event- ually be achieved. It must be remem- Sportsmen shop at General Points bered that diving is neither a straight- BOXING INDOOR Experience has shown that if a diver forward engineering, physiological, or GAMES THE SOUTHERN contracts a bend it is sometimes neces- medical science. It is basically a sea- sary to recompress to the maximum manship problem, supported by all BOWLING depth of the dive to obtain relief. these sections of science. And we would WEIGHT SPORTS Because of this, the R.N. considers that be foolish indeed to ever forget the TRAINING it is essential to have a transfer-under- greatest single factor in our efforts to SHOP CAMPING pressure system capable of transferring plumb greater depths for longer periods, from the maximum depth of the dive. is the diver himself—the man in the sea, on the end of an air pipe feeling cold ATHLETICS Personal attention Whilst carrying our experimental 48 ELM GROVE FIRE ARMS and very alone. Without his skill, diving on a new schedule, it has been from determination, faith and courage — we found necessary to have a helium Peter Anderson SOUTHSEA would all be wasting our time. JUDO atmosphere capability in the chamber Ken Edwards HANTS TENNIS inboard. The provision of a simple, closed- BADMINTON RUGBY UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT circuit television to observe the diver INSTRUCTOR OFFICERS during his dive has proved invaluable, 1••••••1111M0 especially in saving the grey hairs of QUALIFIED AS the supervisor. SHIP'S DIVING OFFICERS The problem of diving in a tideway still has to be solved. It is intended to produce a list of all For easy car ownership I also appreciate that a submarine- Instructor Officers, who have qualified type vessel with a diver lock-out as Shallow Water Divers, or Ship's choose NAAFI capability is undoubtedly the best diving Diving Officers. and enjoy these advantages platform for deep diving activities. Any Instructor Officers, who have qualified, are requested to inform:— 'GO ANYWHERE' CAR HP. No snarls when you are posted. Future (Many companies insist that the car must stay in the UK until I think that it is now common know- Instructor Lieutenant-Commander the agreement is fully paid). ledge that the Royal Navy intend to S. J. Walton, return to Deep Diving trials. H.M.S. H.M.S. 'Vernon', * UP TO 121% DISCOUNT on the basic price of many popular Reclaim has been saved — yet again — Portsmouth. makes of British cars bought through Naafi from a dealer in the from a fate worse than death — she will be with us for another seven years. UK. Including in their letter the following In broad terms this means concentrating particulars :— * LOW HP CHARGES. initially, in the 600 feet area and will in- clude saturation diving. There would * FIRST-CLASS CAR INSURANCE. Name, Initials, Rank, type of service appear to be no major reason why this (S.S. or G.L.), date of qualification, * DEPOSIT SAVING—a unique scheme that will reduce the HP should not be achieved by 1971 or 1972. where qualified, and present appoint- cost of your car. Now — a final observation — there ment. is no doubt that without the keen co- Your Naafi Manager will be pleased to give you full details and operation of the engineer, physiologist, enquiry form. 47 46 www.mcdoa.org.uk blue-

It might be as well for the author to The value of this book lies in the

The list of 'Do's and Don't' of lobster 'Don't rob other people's pots, creels

role to play, both in defence and offence.

However by pages 30 and 31, he is

ance to a fish, since it detects its pred- claiming that vision is of little import- ators and prey by hearing and pressure recognises the red spots and may well be finances of some future farming project may founder. The conservative British put off by blue spots! history of fish farming which is covered out laboratory experiments on plaice about a very real problem on which the housewife buys plaice because she sensors. in considerable detail. Photographs are excellent and provide much useful in- consider the market value of a colouring may well have been worrying appreciated that although stocks of certain types of fish can be increased by spotted plaice! The biologist carrying formation. Nevertheless, it must be normally be unproductive of the species, intensive husbandry, is liable to bring artificial means in areas which would nature in areas of the sea, caused by

any large scale change in the balance of other freaks of nature. financial disaster through disease or between the divers and the conventional

catching contained in Appendix II the present rather strained relationships or traps'. This would help to improve

could well include one other :— fishermen.

49

full scale open water

one

portant function in putting over the follows, this book serves an im-

OT withstanding anything which

FARMING THE SEA

It is regrettable, that in the process of

On page 40, he says:—`All that is

He regrettably derides the doctors on

In the field of , the

Book Reviews

message that the fantastic potential of N putting over this message, the author

the seas is not being exploited adequat- has tended to decry the professionals— endeavour. ely due to lack of research, finance and and the professional fisherman and must largely depend on them. were the people whom he should attempt to get on his side, since the successful required is the scientists, the doctors, the biologists divers. I would have thought that these outcome of his proposed developments

results', (the italics are mine) —`and the ability of the farming principle, suffi- trawlermen will either be queuing up for

cient publicity to make known the farm work or cannily calculating how they could launch a similar project.' experiment to prove the extra profit- to a Norwegian purse-seiner. fortunate that the subject in question— page 14, calling them 'those old women One swallow may make a summer to an of the medical profession'. It is un- amateur diver, but it certainly does not danger to the inexperienced amateur, physics and physiology of diving. with little or no knowledge of the 'a lung squeeze'—can be a source of real

value can be obtained from laboratory On page 29, while trying to show little that he believes that the colouration of author becomes a little inconsistent. the plaice has an important camouflage experiments, the author makes it clear www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

48

particular complication with helium bends.'

this

must confess I didn't anticipate AND HE SAID—

. . . and, frankly, I should much

The breathing system is called cryo-

Professor Sir Julian Huxley in a

through warming coils that heat it until hazard; since liquid air allows the diver

it expands into a breathable gas. Only

to stay under far longer, he must surface genic scuba, for the science of super- medicine, to freeze everything from ulcers and tumours to tonsils and catar- cooling which has been used to fuel by Jim Woodberry, 23, a Miami diver slowly, in stages, to avoid the bends. 200ft. He plans to have it on the market

who has successfully tested a prototype before years end. Anticipated price 250 Dollars to 300 Dollars for the for a total of 400 hrs. at depths up to spacecraft with liquid oxygen and, in acts. The new scuba rig was pioneered refill of liquid air.

apparatus, plus 3-50 Dollars for each moon's behind.'

rather see the sea's bottom than the

ting the exploration of 'inner space'.

speech at Harvard University advoca-

51

Recreation

Aquanauts will

Reprinted from TIME MAGAZINE, of June, 1967

The design is based on the R.A.O.C.

The cost of this tie will be approx-

E.O.D. TIES—HONG KONG

The big limitations for scuba divers

The secret is liquid air—a mixture of

be able to submerge for six or even eight

I. A tie is being produced which it is is not how deep they can go but how

weigh 361bs. are generally exhausted From the tanks, the liquid air is piped hours at a time with a back pack that

Cryogenic Scuba. long they can stay under. Conventional

vacuum insulated tanks, sophisticated ing water and at the same time keep the 318 Degrees F. It is pumped into thermos bottles that protect the icy divers back and shoulders from freezing. oxygen and nitrogen supercooled to Skin Diver Magazine, compressed-air breathing units, which after one hour. Soon, according to weighs only half as much as usual. liquid from the warmth of the surround-

is omitted and in it's place is substituted

personnel who were engaged on E.O.D. tie. However each alternate red stripe

intended will be worn exclusively by made bomb, in it's raised front 'paws'. be decided.

2. imately 18/-, and this includes postage. Fleet Clearance Diving Centre on duties in Hong Kong last year. The overall colour of this tie has yet to a design of a yellow Hong Kong Dragon 3.

They will be available from the Far East studing a red 'anarchist' type home

application. www.mcdoa.org.uk www.mcdoa.org.uk

remark

Hermes

PACKER.

PAGE 9.

Hermes'

the wreck on the

Wm. Soper

Wm. Morris Hooky Walker

Jas. Honour

Electric,

Mine Host—TAFF

DEVONSHIRE.

pounder.

s

o

in Magazine No. 15-1, I'm glad to say

This was during and just after

that the S.S. I would like to add that in the way of

And any fool that wants to take a

N answer to H.M.S.

Dispensary opens—normal hours—

Belated recognition of such and many

sportsmen, Good Hunting!! time in the area so by now it should be

worth another visit. I wish all other

was cleared (at the time) of all life-size

crayfish—the largest being an average sized

biggest we could catch was only 5ft!

decimated (and very tasty they were too) a diversion that the near side of the

All the `thoraces' and the 8ft. grouper scared off. The reef off Masirah Island—is now safe for

all divers, as the fish population has been

chance !Ill! FROM THE DIVING OFFICER

Personnel Tar-red' Expected W. Filer J. Warner TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I move, but you are welcome at the Ox

cash. H.M.S. being the caravan is once more on the

for patients without prescriptions but of gills is welcome. The only difference Cricklewood, N.E.2. thanks. Anyone with the slightest sign & Gate (no comment), Oxgate Lane,

AMENDMENT TO VOL. 14 NO. 1,

50

T.G.

for the

JACKIE WARNER.

THE

B.S.A.C.

KENDALL MCDONALD

Reviews—continued

HIS book contains a collection of

B.S.A.C. From the Foreword by

contributions by members of the

UNDERWATER BOOK

I believe that this book should be in

Within the book a variety of subjects The book dispels the widely accepted

decompose on the way.

to 180 feet, but can go deeper if required. Local Expert: I'm all about on diving. Local Expert (Knowingly): Don't tell me; then you come up by stages and

How deep can you go? C.D.2 (Modestly): Well, I'm operational

interests and activities. F.E.C.D.T. Heard in the Section. theory that diving in Britain is dull, every diver's bookshelf. literary techniques. Throughout, it is the highest standard. well written and the photographs are of we have a vast underwater Utopia of are covered in a variety of different

H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to the and to the millions of others who are cold and uninteresting and shows that

just interested in diving. book of extreme interest to all who dive last chapter by Colin McLeod it is a

T

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52

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