Development of the Canadian Underwater Mine Apparatus and the CUMA Mine Countermeasures dive system.

Abstract

The Canadian Underwater Mine Apparatus (CUMA: commercial name SIVA+) is a semi-closed circuit constant partial pressure oxygen/helium rebreather diving set and provides a major new Mine Countermeasures (MCM) diving capability. CUMA was developed by the Experimental Diving Unit at the Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine in conjunction with Fullerton Sherwood Engineering Limited in response to a Department of National Defence requirement. The report describes the development of the CUMA and the associated development, by DCIEM (EDU), of the CUMA MCM Dive System. The period is from September 1985 to January 1992. Intended as a historical reference document, the report is divided into 4 sections which cover: 1. Technical description ofthe CUMA. 2. In chronological order, the various experiments and evaluations carried out to develop the breathing apparatus. 3. Development of the associated MCM dive system components as well as the decompression considerations. 4. Future developments, including a lightweight surface-supplied version and overseas sales. <TRUNCATED>