Group of 5 Middle Eastern Men Purchase Special Diving Equipment In South Florida

NBC | 5-30-02 | My Favorite Headache

[My Favorite Headache]

This just broke after the Nets-Celtics game on NBC. Apparently the FBI is investigating a group of middle eastern men who purchased top of the line "undetectable diving equipment" sometime before the recent FBI warning.

This is more than likely why the alert has been given about divers committing acts of terror. I have also gone through my usual sources through news-press paper out of Ft.Myers which is where the purchase was made. Now I ask those of you on here to do your research into this area.

A few of the 9-11 terrorists lived in a rented room in Ft.Myers before they were kicked out. Also trained out this way as well....developing.

[max_rpf]

I hope these bastards go deep. That frog breathing equipment can be deadly at depth... Pure oxygen. I never realized you could actually buy this stuff on the market..

[My Favorite Headache]

To add to my own thread here they showed a store owner and he was demonstrating how this equipment is used and that he gives dive classes and lessons on how to use this stuff. What does this remind us all of??

Yep...flight schools...training...terror.

[Have Ruck - Will Travel]

Ping

[My Favorite Headache]

Heads Up

[codebreaker]

Was Ahmad Rachad or Bob Costas providing the scoop? And who won the game..

[WesternPacific]

Not is you use NitrOx. Allows you to dive at depths deeper than recreational diving.

[My Favorite Headache]

Heads up Florida chapter....

[newwahoo]

Attaching limpet mines to cruise ships? That and attacking American college kids at spring break in Mexico were the two dramatic soft targets that I thought up a few months back.

[LarryLied]

Maybe they'll check out our favorite terrorist loving teacher too-- Ian Harvey. He lives nearby, doesn't he?

[HiJinx]

Put two and two together. ME men are learning to use scuba gear, and the Coast Guard just announced they are establishing and enforcing 500 yard exclusion zones around all US Navy warships...

[My Favorite Headache]

No..this is right out of Ft.Myers NBC 2. Costas is probably talking about baseball with JLo.

[Husker24]

Some of the Catfish in the Mississippi are big enough to eat a Middle Eastern terrorist.

[My Favorite Headache]

Tonk had that article out today earlier...I did glance it at work. This might be what they are getting to here...something is definitely up.

[My Favorite Headache]

Oh by the way...Nets creamed the Celts.

[My Favorite Headache]

Harvey doesn't know what a diving flag looks like..only a surrender flag.

[Salvation]

Any deep sea diving schools down there?

[joesnuffy]

Rooskey Gear For Sale

[VaBthang4]

Other than personal preference...does anyone know if there is a legitimate use for or reason to purchase this type of diving gear?

[Jean S]

Rebreathers are becoming very popular with recreational divers. Underwater photographers especially like them because there are no bubbles as with normal scuba. This equipment is readily available but it does not deliver pure oxygen. Breathing pure oxygen at depths greater than 30 feet will kill you.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

US Coast Guard New Rules to Fight Terrorism Announced

[My Favorite Headache]

Port Of Miami, Port Everglades and maybe up near Cape Canaveral? Shuttle goes up tomorrow...the last launch had F-16's screaming all over the place because a cessna flew into the air space and the guy never budged until he was surrounded. Of course you did not see this on the news...but ask anyone who was up in the Cocoa Beach/Merritt Island area last launch. It was amazing how low they were flying. But if they are doing something from underwater...I really have a TWA 800 vibe goin on right now.

What better landmark than a space shuttle?

[My Favorite Headache]

My one cousin is a big diver...can you tell me what is the difference between the Russian made rebreathers and what is available in the U.S.?

[monkeyshine]

Maybe the sharks will get them. Or a whale.

[Husker24]

How long can you stay underwater useing a rebreather.

[chance33_98]

What better landmark than a space shuttle?

A cruise ship full of people?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

You know, when I read the headline I was thinking "so what". Then when I read it was rebreather stuff then I thought different.

[Husker24]

Yes, and a much easier target.

[Jean S]

Not is you use NitrOx. Allows you to dive at depths deeper than recreational diving.

Actually, nitrox is used for diving longer, not deeper. Depending on the mix, it's dangerous to dive deep with nitrox.

[My Favorite Headache]

That is why I said Port Of Miami and Port Everglades...EVERYTHING...and I MEAN EVERYTHING..goes in and out of those ports. If they hit cruise ships...talk about an industry that would sink.

[My Favorite Headache]

Also remember the 2 who were just arrested to try a jihad in Broward county....see their equipment they had?

[newwahoo]

The shuttle would be a good target, but judging from you said about security there I don't think they'd try it. Its also wouldn't involve many American casualties though it would be expensive to replace.

Now a limpet mine, basically a batch of explosives that can be magnetically attached to a ships hull, hasn't been prepared for. The Navy might have frogmen circling their ships at port, but I doubt Carnival Cruise Lines does. Break a ship's back the right way at the right time and you can take a few thousand tourists to the bottom in a half hour.

[VaBthang4]

Space Shuttle Launches...

Now if there was ever a situation that called for a "Zero Tolerance Policy".

[codebreaker]

Time to go old school and call this man...

[Husker24]

Is it possible to sink a cruise ship in 10 minutes or under with some type of satchel charge, something small enough to carry with you under water.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

I hate to break this to you, but we had terrs in Venice, Sarasota (with a store no less,) Bradenton, St. Pete, Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando too. They are spread way too far out throughout our beautiful state so it's up to the Feds to nail these bastards and quick....

[codebreaker]

I don't think cruise ships are big enough for these guys..we are talking something like a foreign yacht loaded with bad stuff-maybe this is protection for the drop off area?

[HennepinPrisoner]

No need to worry....Islam is the Religion of Peace™. I'm sure they are just enjoying a nice Florida vacation.

[Husker24]

And dont forget those floating Casinos, what better symble of American capitalism.

[Eva]

The local Coast Guard sent all their larger boats to bigger ports and just received a bunch of small boats with no cabin, kind of like old Boston Whalers, but the interesting thing that my husband noted, was that they had some pretty good sized guns mounted on them.

[codebreaker]

Maybe if the ship has some politcal or celebrity value..

[stilts]

Not is you use NitrOx. Allows you to dive at depths deeper than recreational diving

I'm betting deep diving isn't on their agenda as the targets are probably all pretty much in shallow water(I.e. floating).

[Eva]

Actually someone posted to me, a few days ago, that they recently took a cruise on the Cunard line and that before leaving port it was standard procedure to send down divers.

[Husker24]

The article said that the FBI was investigateing these men, does that mean that they know who they are and where they are? or are they just investagateing a report of these men.

[newwahoo]

Check this story out! (from ifyoudive.com) Apparently the French sank the Greenpeace ship Rainbow warrior in the 80's with limpet mines. I guess I was too young to notice it at the time. Don't know how big she was, but they say the ship went down in TWO MINUTES!

You Can sink a Rainbow Text and Photographs-By Gavin Anderson

The Story Gavin Anderson retells the story of the fateful night back in July 1985 when Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior was sunk in Auckland harbour.

It was under the cover of darkness that one of the most amazing real life stories started. Synchronising watches and carrying out final checks to their equipment two specially trained members of the French Secret Service plunged over the side of their inflatable, into the murky waters of Auckland harbour.

This was no game or dress rehearsal, this was for real. Their hearts were pumping flat out and adrenaline flowing freely for they were about to sink what to them had been deemed an enemy ship, a thorn in France's plans to develop and test its nuclear weapons.

The Rainbow Warrior was moored at the Princes Wharf right in the center of Auckland harbour. Onboard were a small number of Greenpeace crew and a few friends from offshore, enjoying a last drink before turning in for the night (they numbered eight in all). Margaret Mills the relief cook had already turned in. She had actually heard a couple of thuds on the ships hull before nodding off but had thought nothing of it! Skipper Peter Wilcox and the radio operator Lloyd Anderson had also retired. The ship's doctor Andy Biedermann was in his cabin preparing to turn in for the night. Other than the chatter from those still in the mess room, all was quiet onboard the Rainbow Warrior, but not for long.

At precisely 11.38 pm the first of two limpet mines went off with devastating results. The explosion tore a massive hole in the side of the ship's hull, rocking her violently. Water flooded into the engine room. Onboard the lights went out. For the next few minutes all hell broke loose as the ship began to list. Captain Peter ran around naked trying to ascertain what had happened, Martin who had been in the mess room was frantically searching for his girlfriend Hannah who had unbeknown to him gone ashore for a walk. Doctor Biedermann was helping him, when he came across a rather confused Margaret Mills. She had lost her glasses, and didn't want to leave without them!

When the second bomb went off, Fernando Pereira a Greenpeace photographer was still below deck busily packing his cameras into his bag. Martin, who had given up his search for his girlfriend and rushed up onto deck in the nick of time, was the last person to see him alive. After the second explosion the Warrior took just 2 minutes to sink.

The French commando saboteurs Jean-Michel Bartelot, and Gerald Andries had long split up and disappeared into the night. Their closed circuit Rebreather systems were found ditched, one at the inner reaches of the harbour, where one diver is thought to have drifted on the flood tide, the other along with the inflatable's outboard motor in the main harbour itself. The divers along with Christine Cabin, who was known to have infiltrated Greenpeace to help set up and coordinate the operation, had escaped and were never caught. Major Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur thought to have been the key members of the operation team were caught several days after the incident, and were later sentenced to 10 years in prison. Mafart was suspected of taking part in the final operation, himself, but his involvement in the final act was never proven.

Following the incident the French Government denied any involvement. It was only after two months of constant international pressure and increasing evidence that they finally admitted they were behind the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. The scandal rocked France, its defence minister Charles Hernu was forced to resign and the head of the secret service, Admiral Pierre Lacoste was sacked. What's more the United Nations ordered the country to pay several million dollars in compensation to Greenpeace, and to make a formal apology.

Operation Rainbow might have succeeded in its initial objectives, but it was more of a huge own goal. Greenpeace gained worldwide publicity and sympathy.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Put two and two together. ME men are learning to use scuba gear, and the Coast Guard just announced they are establishing and enforcing 500 yard exclusion zones around all US Navy warships...

There should be an immediate "500 yard exclusion zone" between "ME men" from "suspect" nations and US soil.

[HiJinx]

That's kinda what I was thinking about. There's an interesting link at #23 to a USCG post, where Tonkin gives out some stats. there are only 35,000 USGC personnel assigned to cover our entire coastline and all waterways, as well as several overseas stations.

[newwahoo]

"Actually someone posted to me, a few days ago, that they recently took a cruise on the Cunard line and that before leaving port it was standard procedure to send down divers."

Hope you're right. I've never been on a cruise, but I imagine though that there are still plenty of times when the ship is stationary enough for an attempt to be made.