UWIS dive: SOF gear test event
UWIS participates in special operations forces (SOF) gear testing event, "outer-limits experience week" at lake Grundlsee, Austria.
Mission: Showcase the capabilities of the UWIS system in enhancing special forces training and diving safety. Additionally, commercial diving gear was demonstrated during the event.
Watch the video here:
UWIS in experience week
UWIS was presented alongside cutting-edge diving technologies for members of special forces from seven countries.
Event Overview
The week began with a traditional demonstration and exhibition, where participating organizations showcased their offerings to special forces personnel. Alongside UWIS, the Finnish company URSUIT was also featured.
The event, hosted by Outer-Limits GmbH, has a long-standing history of bringing together elite teams and equipment manufacturers. This year’s event enjoyed favorable weather, unlike the previous year, which was disrupted by a snowstorm.
Conditions:
- Water temperature: ~17°C
- Visibility: ~10 meters
- Maximum depth: ~25 meters
UWIS buoys were installed less than 100 meters from the shore, providing full monitoring coverage of the testing area.
The diver’s view during navigation, showing the direction and distance to the target.
The Finnish team conducted two dives using the UWIS system:
- The first dive involved marking specific underwater targets.
- The second dive tested how effectively divers could locate the marked targets using the Valtamer Navigator for UWIS on an Alltab tablet.
The Navigator guided divers directly to the targets by displaying direction and distance at the top of the screen, providing precise real-time navigation.
Jorge, a participant from Chile, attempted to "write" the letters "UWIS" while maneuvering quickly on a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV).
For this test:
- One UWIS diver unit was mounted on an Alltab tablet attached to the scooter.
- A second UWIS unit was worn on Jorge’s back for comparison.
The back-mounted unit provided the most reliable tracking due to optimal visibility to the buoys.
Jorge’s dive was nearly flawless, with only a slight imperfection in the letter "S." As Jorge humorously noted, the next attempt will be perfect.
Onshore view
Underwater view
While special forces diving typically emphasizes long-distance travel and stealth, UWIS offers opportunities to enhance training and safety during controlled exercises where operational risks are unnecessary. The system's navigation and tracking capabilities can also support mission planning and coordination.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Jorge for the creative demonstration and to all participants for a successful event. UWIS is proud to contribute to innovative training methods and enhanced safety in special forces diving.
