|
Just a preliminary report to let you know I'm on
the trail.
I've contacted people, in several areas of the USA,
that are members of dive rescue teams. The one thing I've learned about
standards so far is, there aren't many. They are closely connected in
diving related standards but loosely connected as rescuers. Most squads
have affiliation with fire or police. There are at least two organizations
here in the states that help to standardize them. I called them also and
am waiting for information from them too.
Actually, it was a bit of a eye opener for me to
see exactly what I'd be up against if I needed rescuing. In the area I do
most of my diving, they admitted it would be about two hours until I could
see someone outside the hull. And it's not a far away unpopulated area
either.
After chatting with rescue folks so far I see there
is a need to have laminated pictorial instructions with your surface people
describing:
How the sub works.
How to best increase it's buoyancy
by externally blowing ballast or removing the drop
weights.
How to add breathable air into the hull and how to
determine the hulls internal pressure.
How to best gain access, both submerged and
surfaced.
Another thing I'm learning is, there are more ROVs
out there in the rescue community then I thought. In deep water, some of
the above functions can be done easier by ROV if the sub's systems are
designed to be more ROV friendly.
I'm still on it, and will report again when I have
more.
Dan H.
|