South China Sea Saturation Dive Reaches 300m

China has succeeded in its first 300-meter saturation dive as 3 divers returned safe and sound from deep water to the living chamber on their ship, informs Xinhua.

Saturation diving technology, a necessary part of deep sea salvage and rescue operations, enables divers  to withstand high water pressure by saturating their tissue with inert gas. China is now developing saturation diving technology that would work at a depth of 500 meters under the sea reports Xinhua, citing Wang Zhenliang, director of the China Rescue and Salvage Center of the Ministry of Transport.

To date, eight countries, including Britain, the United States, Switzerland, Norway, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, have succeeded in 400-meter saturation dives. China needs continued efforts to keep up with other countries in the Asian-Pacific region, where Japan has the capability to reach a depth of 450 meters and regularly practices deep sea saturation diving every year.

Source: Xinhua