N092-146 TITLE: Contaminated Water Protection System for Free-Swimming Diver

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Chemical/Bio Defense, Battlespace, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) PMS NSW, ACAT III

OBJECTIVE: Design and fabricate a full protection system that can be worn by a free swimming diver and usable with Special Operations Forces (SOF) Approved for Navy Use (ANU) approved closed circuit Underwater Breathing Apparatus''s (UBA''s) and Full Face Masks.
The suit must be rugged yet allow sufficient maneuverability for a free-swimming diver. It must be fairly easy to don/divest. It must provide adequate protection from and be non reactive with contaminants likely to be encountered (see references). New materials and fabrication techniques may be required. Non permeable seams and reliable seals/valves between the suit, breathing apparatus and face mask may be particular challenges.

DESCRIPTION: Naval divers may be required to dive in water which is contaminated with chemicals and/or biological substances which pose acute or chronic health risks. Heavy, bulky, surface-tethered systems with large helmets are presently used to conduct dives in contaminated waters. While these systems might work for some non-combat diver applications, a number of Navy diving missions require a low-weight, low-restriction contaminated water protection system that will provide adequate protection against chemical/industrial and biological contaminants yet allow a free-swimming waterborne insertion, mission execution and/or extraction.

The system must be rugged yet allow sufficient maneuverability for a free-swimming diver. It must be fairly easy to don/divest. It must provide adequate protection from and be non reactive with contaminants likely to be encountered (see references). New materials and fabrication techniques may be required. Non permeable seams and reliable seals/valves between the suit, breathing apparatus and face mask may be particular challenges.

PHASE I: Develop and document concept and preliminary design for a system capable of protecting a diver in contaminated water while allowing the diver agility sufficient to swim and maneuver. Document how the system would operate, any technical issues, the material selection, the manufacturing process, and the estimated protection.

PHASE II: Develop and document critical design of a prototype system capable of providing protection for a diver in contaminated water.
Fabricate prototype. Conduct unmanned and manned laboratory testing, which will include testing to quantify diver maneuverability.

PHASE III: The contractor shall complete the transition of the technology to allow its use by Naval Special Warfare divers. The transition method for the technology at the conclusion of the STTR project is for the technology to be tested and demonstrated in an operational environment. The Navy will conduct additional testing to obtain ANU approval. It is then anticipated that the fleet would commercially procure suits as required.These suits could also be used by other military divers and by the commercial diving industry.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Heavy, bulky, surface-tethered systems with large helmets are presently used to conduct dives in contaminated waters. A low-weight, low-restriction contaminated water protection system that will provide adequate protection against chemical/industrial and biological contaminants while allowing greatly increased freedom of motion will have wide commercial utility.

REFERENCES: 1. U.S. Navy Diving Manual v5, http://www.supsalv.org/manuals/diveman5/divManual5.htm

2. NOAA Diving Program Contaminated Water Diving Reports, http://www.ndc.noaa.gov/rp_cwd.html

3. Potential Diver Hazardous Chemicals/Substances (to be made available)

KEYWORDS: Contaminated Water Diving; Protection; Free-Swimming; Garment; SWCS

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