The tragedy of the Russian submarine Kursk has caused much reflection worldwide on service in submarines. Canada at the present time possesses three Victoria class submarines and one more to be delivered at the end of the year. To this family a submariner is a submariner no matter to which navy he belongs. We tend to look upon our chosen way of life with pride and camaraderie with all other of our ilk. We all earn a living in the same unforgiving job environment a certain mindset about the adventure and the danger. Thus, with fully trained and confident crews, the idea of job being dangerous is not an issue anymore. 
Trainees on Simulator Course
Since January 2003, the Canadian submariners have been going to the Institut maritime du Quebec in Rimouski for an intensive training of two days in the emergency escape training. This training is done with the collaboration of the Canadian Forces Naval Operation School (CFNOS) in Halifax. During the Basic Submarine Qualification course, all submarine personnel receive training comprising classroom lectures on all aspects of submarine rescue and practical escape in a wet pressurized environment.
This training consists of a detail acquaintance of the SEIE MK10 submarine survival escape suit and an extensive practice of sea survival with the individual life raft type 18.
Also, the most important training is the wet pressurized one-man emergency escape and the rush escape. The new simulator invented and built by Maritime Innovation, the Institut maritime du Quebec research Centre is unique in the world. It provides a realistic and most credible safe platform for this type of practical training.
Five submariners and one instructor enter the simulator, they take place in the vestibule this represents the actual submarine escape compartment of the Victoria Class submarine. When all the safety checks have been done and the upper lid is closed, the simulator dives to a water depth of eight meters. When the simulator is at depth and the surface chief instructor gives the permission to start the exercise. In the vestibule, the instructor chooses the first candidate. The candidate begins with its escape sequence valve drill. After this first procedure, he finishes dressing up for the escape. After the permission of the instructor, he then enters the escape tower. He will then closes the lower lid, zip down his ascent hood, inflate his stole, begins the flooding sequence of the escape tower and place the vent cap. At this time, he has to equalize his middle ears and sinuses since the water pressure is starting to build up. At that time and with the help of the safety diver the upper lid is open and he executes his escape drill to the surface. As soon as he arrives to the surface he is taken charge by the safety swimmer that will help him to execute his surface drill.