I’ve blogged before about suspected al Qaeda plots involving underwater terrorism in Amsterdam and the Philippines.

Looks like the threat is still real. USA Today reports today that the feds are seeking dive rescue help:

Hundreds of police and rescue scuba team divers, long tasked with pulling bodies and crime-scene evidence from the murky depths, are being trained by the Coast Guard as part of a new post-9/11 mission to help protect the nation’s ports, harbors and waterways against terrorists.

“For the first time in the (scuba) industry, we have a malicious threat to manage,” says Steven Orusa of the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists. “Any place that has water in its jurisdiction may have a risk — recreational, commercial, shipping or industrial.”

…The FBI is concerned that terrorists will learn some of the same underwater skills. Last week, the FBI asked dive shop owners to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious asking for advanced diver training.

Back in 2003, DHS issued a bulletin warning of underwater attacks:

The “Swimmer Attack Indicators and Protective Measures” bulletin was issued on August 22, 2003. The bulletin advised “the maritime industry and owners and operators of maritime facilities of a number of incidents of suspicious activity and possible surveillance of maritime facilities around the U.S. over the past few months.”

The bulletin, issued to ship owners, port managers and maritime police organizations, reads like a chapter out of Ian Fleming’s “Thunderball” where a terrorist group uses sophisticated underwater technology to attack the United States.

“Although there is no evidence of international terrorist groups planning to utilize scuba divers to carry out attacks within the United States, there is a body of information showing the desire to obtain such capability,” states the bulletin.

“During the past two years there have been numerous incidents that have occurred involving suspicious individuals possibly conducting surveillance of port facilities, cruise ship docks, naval bases, dams, bridges and power facilities in the United States. Also, there has been law enforcement reporting of suspicious individuals having queried marine shops and schools concerning equipment and training.”

According to the agency, “there is no specific information indicating that a swimmer attack of any kind is currently being planned in the United States, such targeting would be consistent with Al-Qaeda’s stated objective to disrupt and undermine vital economic interests in this country and to cause mass casualties and panic.”

DIVERS AND ONE MAN SUBS

The U.S. security agency also warned scuba gear operators, owners and training companies to be on the look out for individuals or groups that have money but no visible means of support.

In addition, the Dept. of Homeland Security warned boat and submersible equipment dealers to report “volume purchasing inquiries related to Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) and Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPVs).”

Other indicators of unusual activity included, “exclusive purchases of darkened gear or after market painting” and “attempts to purchase large magnets, large diameter PVC pipe or empty compressed gas cylinders or theft of same.”

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