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Rob Wolov wrote: > > Helen, > > I'm afraid I have to agree with Ken. The people we train to "break things > for a living" (Navy SEALS) train at the Navy Special Warfare Center in > Coronado, Calif. Regular dive training takes place in Panama City Florida. > I know PADI trains the second year midshipmen at Annapolis in Basic OW > (possibly AOW) but those folks are *FAR* from being spec-op forces at that npoint in their education. The reality is that the sorts of things that SEALS have to practice (like submarine lock-out drills) can only be done in a military environment. I'm afraid that you've probably run into the myriad of "SPEC-OP" (special > operations) wannabe's. When you think about the sorts of things that such folks have to do and practice, it makes no sense to involve the civilian agencies or shops. > > I can understand why some people would like to associate themselves with our SEALS. These guys are *GOOD*! The pity is that most of what they do, we do not and can not ever know about. (Believe it or not there have been medals awarded to these folks where the citation that spells out the circumstances how the medal was earned was classified!) You simply don't practice this stuff at the local quarry with the guys from the shop. > > Robb W > Rob, I had the opportunity to dive with various Navy Seals in unusual circumstances for them: training actors for motion picture action sequences. On the matter of fins, it appears that, just as for weapons, they have the choice. Most stick to the standard issue undersized jetfin (for maneuverability and storage reasons), but many also say they choose the ForceFin. On the matter of SEAL vs PADI training, as you say, they address totally different needs. And both are VERY GOOD at what they do. PADI does not purport to train anyone to do any kind of warfare diving. But seals do sometimes wish to turn civilian, and there is indeed a crossover path for SEALS wishing to obtain a civilian PADI (or any other agency) certification and to dive in a civilian way. Further, a seal wishing to become a civilian agency divemaster or instructor will have to train with this agency, as it not so much his ability to dive as to teach the civilian way which will have to be covered. So it is not unusual to meet seals in regular shops or schools. Kind regards John Simenon -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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