6-54 Change A
U.S. Navy Diving Manual—Volume 2
Scuba General Characteristics
Principle of Operation:
Self contained, open-circuit demand system
Minimum Equipment:
1.
Open-circuit scuba with J-valve or submersible
pressure gauge
2.
Life preserver/buoyancy compensator
3.
Weight belt (if required)
4.
Dive knife
5.
Face mask
6.
Swim fins
7.
Submersible wrist watch
8.
Depth gauge
Principal Applications:
1.
Shallow water search
2.
Inspection
3.
Light repair and recovery
Advantages:
1.
Rapid deployment
2.
Portability
3.
Minimum support requirements
4.
Excellent horizontal and vertical mobility
5.
Minimum bottom disturbances
Disadvantages:
1.
Limited endurance (depth and duration)
2.
Limited physical protection
3.
Influenced by current
4.
Lack of voice communication (unless equipped
with a through-water communications system
or full face mask)
Restrictions:
Work limits:
1.
Normal 130 fsw
2.
Maximum 190 fsw with Commanding Officer or
Officer-in-Charge’s permission
3.
100 fsw using single scuba cylinder with less
than 100 SCF
4.
Standby diver with at least 100 SCF cylinder
capacity below 60 fsw
5.
Within no-decompression limits
6.
Current - 1 knot maximum
7.
Diving team - minimum 4 persons
Operational Considerations:
1.
Standby diver required
2.
Small craft mandatory for diver recovery during
open-ocean diving.
3.
Moderate to good visibility preferred
4.
Ability to free ascend to surface required (see
paragraph 7-8.2)
Figure 6-23. Scuba General Characteristics.
