“Get on the water”

“Second phase is the dive phase portion of BUD/s.  It also builds teamwork, but it starts to incorporate a much greater learning process for the guys going through.  The majority of the evolution that cause these teams the most problem is the water work.  If the guy I- uncomfortable in the water, then he is not really cut up to be a Frogmen.  He’s got to keep aside the body when he’s in the water if something goes wrong with this dive, rig or something like that, so a lot of the full work is very stressful.  You got to be mentally in the game to make it through those evolutions.”

The men are subjected to continual calculated harassment by their instructors.  To see if they follow procedures taught in the classroom, students are tumbled around and their mouthpieces torn from their mouths, simulating the effects of a strong ocean search.

Students are taught two types of scuba, open circuit using compressed air bottles and closed circuit, using specialized oxygen recirculation equipment. San Diego Bay turns into a combat training area for practicing underwater navigation. The men are learning to use a specialized breathing apparatus, the Draeger LAR-5. It’s a closed circuit underwater breathing apparatus designed for use in clandestine military operations in shallow water where concealment of tell-tale exhaust bubbles is essential.

In a modern 50-foot dive tower on the BUD/s compound, the men perform free-swimming ascents without the use of breathing apparatus. It’s all part of learning the specialized breathing techniques necessary to be a Special Warfare Combat swimmer.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KZuA7o1NIY

This Article is written by James Kara Murat