COLDDIVEX 2023

For the second time, FMV Naval Test Ranges and the Swedish Armed Forces' diving and naval medical center have jointly organized the winter diving week COLDDIVEX.

During a week in February, divers from the USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden participated, as well as representatives from defense companies in the diving industry from Great Britain, Germany and Sweden. Notably, the USA participated with around 20 people and represented by both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. Among the Swedish participants, among others, the Marine Staff was noticed.

About 60 people from a total of six nations, four armed forces and four diving companies attended to try out diving equipment and contribute to the development of the sub-Arctic diving capability. The number of participants means a significant expansion and internationalization since last year's first joint implementation when about 20 people participated from FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Police and a Swedish diving company.

The purpose of the test week is to contribute to the development of diving equipment so that it is ensured that the equipment meets technical, functional and safety requirements and that it is operationally usable for its purpose. In this way, COLDDIVEX contributes to the participating armed forces eventually gaining an expanded operational capability.

A very important step in this, and which is unique to COLDDIVEX, is that the participating defense forces themselves, unconditionally and without commercial commitments, get to test the companies' equipment under subarctic operationally unique conditions.

- The armed forces will implement almost all human diving systems in the coming years, so it is therefore important that we get an early idea of ​​what the market can offer. COLDDIVEX is an excellent opportunity for networking, exchange of experience and cooperation within an activity that requires high safety, quality and team spirit, says Commander Anders Westerberg, Head FMV T&E Marine.

During the week, a number of different technical solutions were tested and evaluated, such as open and closed diving systems, diving regulators, breathing valves and electrified heating pads. Furthermore, experiences from diving in a subarctic climate were exchanged.

- Carrying out practical diving activities under realistic conditions with both the end users and the industry gives us a unique opportunity to clarify and justify our requirements to the industry. At the same time, we gain better insight into what opportunities and limitations exist in terms of technology, says Elisabeth Dahlqvist, project manager at FMV, who participated on site and supported the preparation and implementation of COLDDIVEX.