Crestline Experimental Dive Unit's
Marine Mammal Program

                      ...or
                              Dr. Bob's Ultimate Swim Buddy.

        Dr. Bob demonstrating CEDU's  Mk-1 SDNS-CMS  (Swimmer Detection and Neutralization Systems - CounterMeasures System) during a training dive.

         With the increase use of marine mammals in swimmer detection and neutralization by various navies, and other non-governmental agencies, the CEDU has identified a need to provide recreational, and "operational" swimmers with a  Countermeasure to insure a secure envelope (macro environment)  within which a swimmer or diver may  enjoy the ocean world without fear of intrusion by dangerous renegade (released, escaped or uninvited) previously trained marine mammals.

        The Mk-1 SDNS-CMS uses field expediently trained juvenile marine mammals as a countermeasure device.  We know how to fight fire with fire.  The recruitment of juvenile marine mammals, California Sea Lions and Harbor Seals,  has been shown to be extremely successful.  The trainees are very intelligent for their age, naturally inquisitive, and responsive to operant conditioning.   (A can of sardines is always in the save -a -dive kit, though I might add that  Harbor Seals respond kindly to fresh Blacksmiths.)

        The presence of an "ultimate swim buddy" (CEDU's Mk-1 SDNS-CMS) is all that is necessary to protect a diver from the unwanted advances of a SDNS trained mammal who may have YOU as its target.   Your Mk-1 SDNS-CMS will most importantly "Alert" you to the presence of another marine mammal in the immediate area.  Your personal countermeasure system will also identify the intruder, and engage the intruder in distracting, yet instinctive behavior.  Depending upon  your own mammal training skill ability, an  opportunity may then present itself for you to deprogram, re-educate, and return this aberrant SDNS back to King Neptune's lair, ... or into your own useful service as somewhat like a "double agent" if you will.       (Other species, and/or other mission requirements are available.   Our usual Customers are invited to submit specific requests/proposal through established channels.)

Happy and Safe Diving.
Smile,
    Dr. Bob

Photo Gallery


  CEDU Marine Mammal Recruiting Station.


Initial "field expedient" training.   Mk-1 trained mammal performing "intruder alert maneuver".





In a typical encounter....

......
 (1) Intruder approaches,  (2) Mk-1 Sounds the Call, and  (3) Performs the "Intruder Alert Maneuver",

...
(4) Mk-1 Intercepts, and Diverts the Intruder, &  (5) Engages Intruder with distracting, yet "instinctive" behavior.

... another rouge mammal disabled.
If you can Measure it,   We can CounterMeasure it.

Dive safe.  Dive with a swim buddy...  Dive with the Ultimate Swim Buddy.

CEDU Mk-1 SDNS-CMS
 Swimmer Detection and Neutralization Systems - CounterMeasure System
Another Field Expedient Product of the CEDU


"I've got my Ultimate Swim Buddy to check my '6'.  Who is checking yours?"

Don't leave the shore without one.


Other CEDU Sea life Programs include:


CEDU Mk-3 Harbor Seal.  Useful for night and cave clearing operations.


CEDU Mk-8 Horn Shark;  Pilot & Swimmer Assisting System.



CEDU Mk-7 Attack Crab disarming a diver in Close Quarter Combat.

Reference, and Other links of interest:

(1)   My Rebreather Page

(2)   Tom Rose's Marine Mammal Program (Surfy)

(3)   U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program

(4)   Marine Mammal System (MMS)

(5)   Marine Mammals at Work

(6)   Marine Mammals at Work (more)

(7)   Marine Mammals on Active Duty

(8)   Office of Naval Research

(9)   PBS, Story of Navy Dolphins

(10) Uncle Sam's Animal Warriors

(11) Bibliography


Taken from the reference as noted:

        " ... There are 5 marine mammal systems called MK 4, MK 5, MK 6, MK 7, and MK 8. All of the systems use dolphins, except MK 5, which uses sea lions, as does a proposed swimmer defense capability called SWIDS (Shallow Water Intruder Detection System).  ... "                                                             -ref: (3),  U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program:

"  ... The sea lions will go looking for threatening swimmers, divers ....  If they find one, the sea lion will come to surface to raise the alarm, .... The handlers can then give the sea lion a clamp attached to a line that  the animal can fix to the suspect's leg, marking him with a surface buoy and  letting troops on the surface haul him in like a fish. .... "
                                                                                             -ref: (10),  CBS News,  Uncle Sam's Animal Warriors:


Disclaimer:
(1)  No marine mammals were endangered in the production of this webpage.
(2)  Divers was endangered in the production of this web page.
        Diver shown in opening image was testing the SA-3, Bones CCR.  An early model,  manual control,  mixed gas,  closed circuit rebreather.
        Picture of Harbor Seal taken after diver was physically displaced without warning by said animal during a night dive.  Diver was at Bird Rock in a tight overhead environment when out of nowhere the seal took advantage of the divers light in order to feed on sleeping Blacksmiths.  A very startling encounter at 85 fsw to say the least, the rest of the dive became a "diver assisted" Harbor Seal feeding frenzy activity. Just light up a sleeping blacksmith, and the harbor seal had another snack.  Big fun.
        No bottom scratching occurred in handling of Horn Shark.
        Picture of  "attack crab"  was a most funny encounter.  Crab actually went after the divers dive knife and caused the new diver to drop the knife with some apprehension.  I think the crab was attracted to the shiny reflection of the blade.
(3)  Don't forget, all diving, especially rebreather diving / testing involves risks.  Always keep safety in mind, and have a way out of potential emergency situations that may develop.

 This is another page produced by the CEDU's Special Projects Group, a division of the Crestline Experimental Dive Unit..

More information about Rebreathers/SUBLIME/and the CEDU can be found starting at
Dr. Bob's The Home Page

"To Swim Is Human, To Dive Is SUBLIME"

And Remember CEDU's Mission Statement:
          "To Design, Assemble and Use Homemade Dive Gear While Maximally Stroking Our Own Ego's and
                             Maintaining the Merest Semblance of Sobriety for the Benefit of Mankind"


Hope you have enjoyed this web page, and little journey  into my imagination.
 The information and/or story that this page depicts is fictitious, (except for the quotations as referenced).
All material Copyright Robert Iannello 2003, including photographs.
 Screenplay rights available.
Images and/or text may only be used with permission.