U.S. Navy Debuts Revolutionary Diving Suit That Could Eliminate Decompression Sickness

Divers decompress with oxygen after diving a wreck using a decompression trapeze near the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

ullstein bild via Getty Images

The U.S. Navy has introduced a revolutionary diving suit that may eliminate the need for decompression stops, potentially rendering decompression sickness—or “the bends”—a thing of the past. The system recently played a critical role in the successful recovery of a sunken sea drone from the ocean floor, and it is currently undergoing evaluation across the fleet.

Recovery Mission Demonstrates New Capabilities

In June, the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command and the Office of Naval Research collaborated to deploy the new suit during a mission in Keyport, New Jersey. Using the Deep Sea Expeditionary with No Decompression (DSEND) system, three Navy divers worked alongside a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to recover an Iver 2 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle. The operation involved carefully lifting a rigging apparatus to bring the drone to the surface. The Iver series, manufactured by L3Harris, is specifically engineered for stealth missions and to enhance the operational scope of Navy submarines.

Eliminating the Need for Decompression Stops

Diving at great depths subjects the human body to intense underwater pressure, which increases proportionally with depth. To mitigate the risk of decompression sickness—caused by nitrogen and other gases forming dangerous bubbles in the bloodstream when ascending too rapidly—divers traditionally perform staged decompression stops at specific depths before returning to the surface. These safety stops can last several hours and may pose life-threatening risks if performed improperly. The DSEND suit addresses these challenges by maintaining controlled internal atmospheric pressure, effectively shielding the diver from external ocean pressure regardless of depth.

Versatile Applications in Naval Operations

Equipped with mechanical manipulators, the suit enables divers to carry out complex tasks for extended durations while receiving surface-supplied oxygen. Navy personnel have already tested the suit across various mission profiles, including securing naval ordnance and examining a mock aircraft wreckage site. The design allows full mobility—including walking, crawling, and object manipulation—without sacrificing safety or dexterity.

“It allows divers to descend without restrictions and not worry about bottom time and air limitations,” said Navy Diver First Class Onofre Lopez, who participated in the drone recovery mission. “There’s a little bit of growing pains as far as ballasting the suit, but other than that, it allows us to stay comfortable essentially indefinitely.”

Expanding Operational Reach Through Advanced Technology

Paul McMurtrie, program manager for diving systems at Naval Sea Systems Command, emphasized the suit’s transformative potential in a recent briefing supported by the Office of Naval Research. According to McMurtrie, the technology permits submerged operations lasting six to seven hours, followed by immediate ascent without delay. “We can haul him straight back to the surface. Open the hatch. He jumps out of the suit. The next guy jumps in,” he explained.

This advancement represents a significant leap in military diving technology, offering enhanced performance and drastically reduced health risks associated with deep-sea missions. While initially developed for defense applications, the innovation holds promise for broader adoption—including scientific exploration, commercial salvage, and infrastructure inspection.

As deep-sea activities continue to expand globally, technologies like the DSEND suit are poised to redefine underwater accessibility, safety, and efficiency—bringing the mysteries of the ocean floor within closer reach than ever before.

Source link