Biomechanical Analysis of the U.S. Navy Mark V and Mark XII Diving Systems

Abstract

This study is one of a series of human factors analyses comparing two U.S. Navy surface-supported hardhat diving systems - the standard Mark V and the prototype Mark XII. The study assessed the range of motion in the two diving systems, using a biomechanical analysis. Fourteen anthropometric measurements were chosen which represented gross body movements used in hardhat diving and likely to be affected most by diving suits. After measuring each movement, comparisons were made with swim suit baselines to determine how much loss of mobility had occurred. The Mark XII was superior to the Mark V overall, both in wet and dry modes.