into the sea. Today, diving performance at depth is partly limited by the 

 lack of advanced diving equipment, including life support systems. 



In the Navy, such research and development is carried out under the 

 ocean engineering program, and includes the development of equipment 

 for navigation, communications and control, swimmer and diver support, 

 and life support and protection and life support equipment. Total expendi- 

 tures under this program were $4.5 million in fiscal year 1967, $4.0 million 

 in fiscal year 1968, and $6.8 million in fiscal year 1969. The majority of the 

 Navy diver support development work is carried out at three laboratories: 

 The Naval Ship Research and Development Laboratory at Panama City, 

 Fla., which emphasizes man-machine relationship, diver guidance and navi- 

 gation, underwater transportation systems and techniques for improve- 

 ment of underwater vision ; the Navy Undersea Research and Development 

 Center, San Diego, which concentrates on communication equipment and 

 onsite testing of saturated diving systems; and the Naval Civil Engineering 

 Laboratory, Port Hueneme, which develops diver tools and construction 

 equipment. 



The simulation of the undersea environment is carried out in hyperbaric 

 chambers, some of which are large complexes costing millions of dollars. 

 Hyperbaric chambers are used for clinical medical studies, physiological re- 

 search, operations and equipment experiments, and for operational military 

 and industrial purposes. 



In the industrial field, larger chambers are used for training, for research 

 and for equipment development. Smaller chambers, used for training and 

 treatment of stricken divers, number over 100. A listing of hyperbaric 

 facilities and locations is given in appendix F. 



The Navy plans to construct three hyperbaric chambers with dry and 

 wet capability and 2,000-foot operation depths. Construction will begin 

 on the facility at the Navy Submarine Medical Center in fiscal year 197L 

 Construction has already begun on a large unit at the Naval Ship Research 

 and Development Laboratory, Panama City, Fla., for equipment develop- 

 ment and testing and man machine studies. The third unit is planned for 

 use by the Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Md. 



Growing Problems of Diver Safety 



As the number of divers increases and their diving depths go deeper, 

 the need for better safety measures also grows. Sealab III was delayed 

 early in 1969 because of a diver fatality, one of the regrettable prices of 

 progress in pioneering a hostile environment. Given the harsh conditions 

 under which commercial divers operate it is not surprising that the incidence 

 of death and sickness is high. Mortality figures among commercial divers 

 are estimated at between five and 50 each year. High insurance rates — as 

 high as $30 for every $100 of pay earned — reflect this problem. The Marine 

 Technology Society is seeking to develop in association with the United 

 States of America Standards Institute minimum standards for commercial 

 diving. Hopefully, effective standards will be accepted and implemented by 

 industry. 



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