The Interspiro IS-MIX (aka OMD 10) is one of the latest generation of Western semi-closed circuit mixed-gas rebreathers. Being one of the most advanced on the market it is used by several NATO Navies and the Swedish Navy's Clearance Divers (aka Navy EOD, aka 'Röjdykare'). And therefore it isn't the type of kit which is available on the civilian market, and sets naval applications apart from civilian ones. Consequently only minimal information is available in the public domain.
Image from Röjdykarna Flottan - Navy EOD instagram. Check it out: (HERE)
The biggest concern in diving is always safety; diving is inherently dangerous and the deeper you go, the longer, the colder the water, the further from shore... all these factors only make reliability even more important. But when you throw high-explosive naval mines with magnetic or acoustic fuses and anti-tamper devices into the mix, the danger goes off the scale. Go near them in regular SCUBA gear and you'd be liquidized. You need a rig that is non-magnetic and silent (no bubbles, no breathing sound...), and that doesn't come cheaply.
So the IS-MIX is tailor made to the mine clearance role, something which technologically-speaking is more challenging than covert special forces missions. It is suited to those mission profiles (ship attack, reconnaissance, infiltration), but in some regards is over-specification and therefore expensive.
SPECIFICATION
Type: naval-spec rebreather (underwater breathing apparatus) with semi-closed circuit
Length: 0.62m
Width: 0.55m
height: 0.25m
Weight: Frame 9kg, loaded with full gas etc, 35kg
Depth: Various Nitrox and Trimix gasses for 30m, 60m and 90m diving. Deeper diving possible.
Breathing supply: 5 litres of Mixed gas @ 200-300 Bar, 4.5 Litre hydrostatic bellows, large diameter hose
Buoyancy: Neutral in water with automatic buoyancy valve, roll/pitch neutral buoyancy and 1 Litre dry-suit/vest inflation cylinder
Operators: Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, ???
VIDEO
The Swedish Navy recently gave a rare demonstration of the IS-MIX at the 2014 Navy Day in Karlskrona.
VIDEO opens in new window
Other images from the 2014 Navy Day
Vintage British made Siebe-Gorman diving helmet
SAAB Double-Eagle mine warfare unmanned underwater vehicle
German-made Atlas SeaFox disposable mine clearance robot
HMS Smyge stealth demonstrator
Visby Class stealth corvettes. No photos aboard!!!
SAAB Torpedo-45 400mm ASW torpedo
HSwMS Orion, SIGNIT spy ship
A pair of Combat boats (CB90s)