Entanglement and Underwater Communicators

Larry Fuller conducted the pool session on underwater entanglement and communications using the Aga masks. As Steve Giles briefed candidates on proper use of the comm gear, Larry set up a simulated ascending/descending line from the shallow end to the deep end of the pool. This line was attached to a mini-mother anchor and a search line was clipped in for the diver to work off of. When candidates rejoined Larry at the shallow end of the pool, they were assigned a position as either a search diver or safety diver. Both divers had their Aga masks blacked out with duct tape to simulate zero visibility. The search diver had to follow the descending line down, pick up the search reel and begin running a circular search pattern. As he was doing so, team members would introduce small entanglement problems for the diver to solve. After demonstrating proficiency handling these problems as a solo diver, the signal was given to stop and lay still. At this point the search diver would become significantly entangled by team members and have to call for the safety diver to come render assistance. The photos below capture some of the situations that occurred during this training session.

Tim Coates secures excess line around the tank valve of a search diver.

 

Gary has a go at tying up the candidates.

 

In black water, divers can become entangled in monofilament line, barbed wire, discarded ropes and many other unforeseen dangerous obstacles.

 

An entangled diver calls for the safety diver to render assistance.

 

Surface support relays the call for safety diver to enter the water.

 

The safety diver reaches the entangled search diver by following the searchline hooked on to the ascending/descending line.

 

The Safety diver works to untangle the line entrapping the search diver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carl Jarecky from TOTV filmed the session for a segment to be aired on the local cable channel.

 

As divers finished the entanglement exercise, they were rotated through to the next station to practice semi-circular search patterns using hard-line communication equipment.