FBI Issues Scuba Industry Alert Over Requests For Specialized Training, 'Nefarious Activity'

[MagickMuffin]

Washington, D.C. (Jun 22, 2007 16:51 EST) The purpose of this advisory is to provide situational awareness to the scuba industry regarding behavior that may indicate an individual(s) is involved in nefarious activity.

The following threat indicators, taken in isolation, generally reflect legitimate recreational and commercial activities. In combination with other information, they can indicate possible links to criminal behavior. Please note, the below indicators are not an all inclusive list, these indicators represent a baseline that could possibly indicate suspicious behavior.

Training Indicators


Requests for specialty training, including odd inquiries that are inconsistent with recreational diving. These may include:

Requests to dive in murky water or sewer pipes.
Inquires about procedures such as diver towing.
Requests to learn advanced skills associated with combat swimming, including:

Use of re-breathers and diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs).
Deep diving.
Conducting kick counts.
Receiving extra navigation training.
Requests for advanced diver training by applicants from countries where diving is not a common recreational activity. Similarly, training sponsored by groups or agencies such as religious organizations, cults, associations, or charitable agencies not normally associated with diving.

Potentially Suspicious Equipment Purchases or Rentals

Volume purchasing inquires related to Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) and Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs). SDVs are very expensive vehicles normally used for specialized military purposes, and usually are not available to recreational divers. Efforts to purchase DPVs, the more commonly available civilian counterpart to SDVs, could be associated with extending the range or payload capacity or a combat swimmer team.

Other Indicators:

Paying cash for diving instruction.
Refusal or reluctance to provide personal information.
Recipients are requested to report suspicious or criminal activity to their local FBI Office.

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=64810251370

The terraist are coming to a sewer near you...

[MuseRider]

1. Oh for fucks sakes!

These are all things you have to do to get your Master Diver card. Shoot, my kids did this most of this while getting their intro card.

Deep diving.
Conducting kick counts.
Receiving extra navigation training.
Requests for advanced diver training by applicants from countries where diving is not a common recreational activity. Similarly, training sponsored by groups or agencies such as religious organizations, cults, associations, or charitable agencies not normally associated with diving.

I guess you can't count Kansas as a country where diving is not common but other than that most of us who have been diving for years have done this stuff. I have ONE more hurdle to pass for my advanced card but I guess that will have to wait until we start to be unafraid of every single little thing that can happen. Solo diving has to be suspect. :eyes:

Anyone know what deep diving is? Do they mean commercial diving depths? I would not think a terrorist would need that but then what do I know, I am just an unafraid citizen wanting to recreate now and again *above the reef* (a Zen diving thing).

[MagickMuffin]

2. I've never had a chance to scuba dive

and I thought this seemed over the top.

I wonder what drove them to this conclusion?!?!?

[MuseRider]

4. I think they did this before

something about frogmen. Who knows? Anything to scare the bejesus out of anyone who still believes them I guess. Another way to watch us? Oil rigs perhaps? All the refineries? Made up scary guys? The monster under the bed?

[Richard Steele]

15. In exactly what country is diving a "COMMON" rec activity anyway?

Seems to me that it's pretty darned UNcommon just about everywhere.

[MuseRider]

17. Dunno

I have no clue and I doubt they do either.

[seemslikeadream]

3. 'Nefarious Activity'

[MuseRider]

5. Oooh nice shot!

Those are such cool creature and nefarious? You bet. Maybe they are training eels to carry explosives?

[seemslikeadream]

9. I am waiting to be waterboarded

[MuseRider]

16. Great toadfish!

Did you know that they really do make a toad like sound under water?

[MagickMuffin]

6. Is that a foreign terraist or a domesticated American terraist?!?!?

:rofl:

[seemslikeadream]

10. It's an amphibiously foreign terraist

[Babsbrain]

7. Hellooooooooo

If a group of people numbering twice the population of New York City can wander on into our country at will, I do not think the terrorists need to waste their money on nefarious activity. Heck, just come on in like everyone else!!!

[shadowknows69]

8. So if I don't subscribe to the credit card culture and pay cash for a service

I'm engaged in suspicious activity?

[ReadTomPaine]

12. Didn't you see that VISA commerical! You're impeding the orderly flow of commerce if you pay cash...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F1bJ8OJGYg

How dare you! Why do you hate America?

[mitchum]

11. FBI issues law school alert for Constitutional scholars 'Nefarious Activity'

[Canuckistanian]

13. Beware of students who only want to learn how to swim down

And couldn't care less about resurfacing techniques.

[johnnie]

14. .

:spray:

Good one