I got into some open water with the new kit last weekend. Conditions were terrible, bad visibility and cold (only 60 F on the bottom), but at least there was no current, so that will not interfere with the perceived speeds as captured on video. I had a chest mounted camera to video of the swim. It's not good video, but it is what it is. At least it shows some perspective of the swimming effort and speeds.
I had several problems this first time out. Before trying for more OW testing, I'll need to go back and change some things. So, I've got some work to do before I proceed toward further development to complete the intended function, as the current partial function isn't really all there. At this point all I can say for sure is that it is really efficient, and that makes it fast. I'm pretty sure I was exceeding 4 knots during some parts of the video, and that's not even maximum effort (note the fairly normal breathing rate).
YouTube Text
Open water testing the Nekton CFM80 streamlined scuba kit with a DOL-Fin Orca2 Monofin for propulsion:
This open circuit scuba kit uses a standard aluminum 80 cubic foot scuba tank. Through aggressive streamlining and a highly efficient monofin for propulsion, this system cruises at speeds exceeding 3 knots. It does this without batteries or motors and with a sustainable level of effort that is equivalent to walking. The Nekton CFM80 is an incomplete prototype and we are not showing any details of the kit at this time, but the swimming performance can clearly be seen to be much, much faster than the typical scuba diver, and compared to DPV systems this is extremely quiet (stealth in both EM and acoustic signatures).
Between the equipment streamlining and improved thrust efficiency of the monofin, this kit is presently estimated to achieve an overall hydrodynamic swimming efficiency of approximately 20 to 25 times greater than a typical recreational scuba diver. This increased efficiency results in speeds that are about 3 times faster than typical scuba diver swimming speeds for a given level of effort. Coupled with a closed-circuit rebreather for endurance, instead of an open circuit scuba tank (as is being used here), a diver could reliably cover a distance of over 12 nautical miles in a 4 hour dive interval.
The Nekton CFM80 is presently just an R&D project. However, the diver is using a DOL-Fin Orca Mk-2 Monofin from Smith Aerospace Corp. The Orca monofin is a fully developed and commercially available product.
More testing to follow as engineering development continues....
