Thermal Protection and Diver Performance in Special Operations Forces Combat Swimmers (Resting Diver Phase)

摘要

This study compared 4 different thermal protection garments/options for SEAL (Sea, Air, and Land) Delivery Vehicle (SDV) operators. Eighty man-dives were completed in a variety of water temperatures (36.5 degrees F - 55 degrees F) for up to an 8-hour duration with all of the divers remaining at rest. Each diver served as his own control by wearing each suit once in a given water temperature. The 4 suits tested, with the military unit/commercial company that they represent in parenthesis, were as follows: 1) Wet suit (SDV-2) 2) Viking dry suit (SDV-1) 3) British Royal Navy Special Boat Service (SBS) dry suit (SBS SDV unit) 4) Exotemp electric suit (Carleton Technologies, Inc., Tampa, FL).