A squadron of highly-skilled divers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy brave challenging underwater environments to provide crucial support to submarines in daring rescue missions.
Chinese navy divers serve as a crucial form of defense in some of the world’s most challenging deep-water environments, with missions ranging from search-and-rescue operations and submarine support to salvages.
"Divers literally put our lives on the line, because no matter how skilled you are, you cannot defy nature's unpredictability. And our ethos is to risk our lives to save others," said Li Liang, a diver at a naval rescue detachment of the PLA.
With a tenure exceeding two decades, Li emphasized that their team has consistently strived to surpass boundaries, driven by a collective commitment to navigate increasingly complex waters.
Significant advancements have been achieved in saturation diving—a method facilitating extended operations at significant depths, albeit fraught with substantial challenges and risks.
"This set of equipment, independently developed by our country, fills a gap in deep-sea diving operations and significantly enhances our submarine support and rescue capabilities," said Yang Hefu, a soldier at a naval rescue detachment of the PLA.
At an interview, another diver named Chen Can recalled a mission in early April, involving a fishing boat collision off China's southwestern coast, where they successfully used saturation diving to rescue and recover at extreme depths for the first time.
"Silence reigned. Visibility was zero. I was cautioned to move carefully to prevent triggering another collapse and getting buried. After the last body was recovered, I was instructed to wait until the all-clear due to sharks in the vicinity," said Chen.
Divers must undergo an extensive decompression process under rigorous medical supervision to ensure their safe ascent to the surface. Trust and teamwork are paramount, placing significant demands on these divers.
"As our People's Navy ventures deeper into the ocean, saturation diving is a growing trend to guarantee immediate support to our forces. Each mission presents new challenges, and it requires a calm mind, strong fortitude, and independent thinking. Nowadays, we also need to manage remotely operated vehicles to make our work safer and more efficient," said Li.
Behind every successful mission lies an unwavering commitment to their country and its people, as well as their loved ones.
"My wife was especially worried as she's pregnant this year. So when I achieve good results, I want her to know first that my efforts have paid off and to feel proud that her husband is capable of achieving something great," Chen said.
Chinese PLA Navy enhances underwater rescue capabilities through advanced diving training
