TEKTITE |, the Department of the Interior’s TEK- 
TITE Il, and NOAA’s MUS&T programs, along with 
similar programs conducted in Europe since the 
early 1960's, show that man can function produc- 
tively for prolonged periods at modest depths on 
_the sea floor at ambient pressure. Although skilled 
divers have reached considerably greater depths, _ 
the current practical limit for the non-professional 
diver’s scientific and recreational saturation diving 
is approximately 40 meters. Operating costs and 
lack of the general availability of sophisticated life 
support equipment impose the limit. Deeper excur- 
sions from such saturation levels are practical and 
thus extend the useful limits of diving. 
It is important to understand that most scientific 
manned undersea activity is of a secondary rather 
than a primary nature, and usually follows prelimi- 
nary or detailed investigations made from other 
platforms, normally ships. DSV’s usually are used 
to best advantage only after initial investigations 
made from ships have clearly identified problems 
that can be studied only, or most economically, 
from submersibles. Habitats are sited to best advan- 
tage only after ship-conducted surveys have deline- 
ated the most favorable location. MUA capabilities 
should and do compete with other platform capa- 
bilities (airborne, ship, buoy, and unmanned sys- 
tems), and work jointly with them, in performing 
exploration and exploitation in the oceans. 
PROGRAMMATIC GOALS FOR CIVIL MANNED 
UNDERSEA ACTIVITY 
In considering what the goals for a manned 
undersea activity program should be, the following 
assumptions were made by the workshop partici- 
pants with respect to the total federal ocean 
program: 
e The gross annual federal ocean program fund- 
ing has leveled off. 
e@ A shift in emphasis is likely both in funding 
and in agency programming. 
e New federal ocean program initiatives will be 
examined more closely for their relevance and 
economic justification. 
@ There will be a continuing MUA program in- 
volving industry, academia, and government. 
e@ The recent reorganization of science and tech- 
nology policy advisory functions (from the 
White House to the National Science Founda- 
tion) will probably change the pattern of plan- 
ning and organization. 
The goals recommended in this report have taken 
these assumptions into account. Many of the goals 
are not exclusively MUA goals but include major 
23 
areas to which MUA can contribute. The goals be- 
low are presented in four major areas: science, in- 
dustry, recreation, and government. 
These goals are not ordered by priority; the work- 
shop participants considered establishment of a 
ranking system premature at the present develop- 
ment level of MUA, which is embryonic in some 
areas and advanced in others. 
SCIENTIFIC GOALS 
® Support marine biological studies, including 
those related to the distribution of organisms, 
population dynamics, behavior, environmental 
stress and applied fisheries problems 
e Study man’s physiological responses during 
diving to ensure safety and achieve peak 
performance 
e Study sea floor features and geological proc- 
esses, including those related to marine min- 
eral deposits 
@ Investigate natural changes in the marine en- 
vironment, and those resulting from man’s 
activities 
® Conduct marine archaeological studies 
INDUSTRIAL GOALS 
e@ Inspect and maintain underwater pipelines, 
power cables, and sea floor structures 
e Perform work where manned underwater ac- 
tivity offers an economic advantage 
e Assess and recover living and mineral marine 
resources 
e@ Direct and conduct salvage operations 
RECREATIONAL GOALS 
e Establish underwater parks and recreational 
facilities 
© Promote safety of water recreational equip- 
ment and operations 
GOVERNMENTAL GOALS 
© Provide regulations and supervision to ensure 
safety and accommodate related interests 
e Provide supplemental support for high-cost 
civil MUA facilities that are beyond the fund- 
ing capacity of institutional users 
® Maintain a vigorous program of MUA tech- 
nology exchange between military and civil 
areas, and assist in cooperative efforts with 
foreign MUA programs 
e Use MUA for safety and compliance inspec- 
tions of sea floor structures, and for environ- 
mental monitoring 
e Sponsor research to provide increased safety 
