U.S.
Navy divers take on dangerous tasks every day—and starting this week,
they will be part of a multinational effort near Estonia to help clear
the Baltic Sea of underwater mines left over from as long ago as the
First and Second World Wars.

   

“Open
Spirit” will be among the biggest naval exercises in the Baltic Sea
this year, where more than 150,000 naval mines were planted during the
two world wars. It’s all part of a day’s work for U.S. Navy divers, who
in addition to hazardous missions face natural perils like oxygen
toxicity and decompression sickness every day.

   

A
video, released May 15, highlights how Office of Naval Research (ONR)
scientists are working with medical experts to protect America’s
undersea warriors.

   

The
field is called Undersea Medicine—and it is designated a National Naval
Responsibility by the Chief of Naval Research. Viewers can get an
inside look at this remarkable world of the deep in “Protecting Navy
Divers: The Undersea Medicine Solution”—a look at the groundbreaking
work being done by the divers beneath the waves, and the scientists
improving their ability to perform missions.

   

“There
is no such thing as a pure 100% safe dive,” said Cmdr. Matthew
Swiergosz, a program manager with ONR. “Navy divers take on jobs that
are extraordinarily dangerous, and they do them with a poise and
professionalism that would inspire every American who could see it.”

   

Continued domination of the undersea domain, officials say, is a vital component of national security.

   

“The
Earth is mostly water,” said Swiergosz. “Most people live within a
handful of miles of our oceans, seas, rivers. So any military force
that’s supposed to provide national security must have underwater
capabilities.”

   

The
new video offers viewers unique insights into the hazards that await
divers every time they splash into the water—and the progress being made
to lessen the dangers.

   

Around
the globe, ONR scientists continue the fight, making historic advances
against natural perils in the deep. In addition to ongoing diving
operations like Open Spirit with allied nations, a new joint research
effort specifically in diving medicine was just announced between the
U.S. Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy.

   

“What
has been great about ONR is the ability to have the vision to see years
into the future,” said Dr. Michael Qin, an ONR-supported research
scientist who is featured in the video.

   

A Navy diver puts it even more succinctly.

   

“Without
undersea medicine, we would still be in the stone age when it comes to
underwater operations,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 and diver John
Theriot.

Source: Office of Naval Research