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U.S., Indonesian Divers Survey Wreckage

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080729-08
Release Date: 7/29/2008 3:22:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim McLendon, Commander Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SURABAYA, Indonesia (NNS) -- Navy divers from the United States and Indonesia conducted a joint dive as a part of a naval engagement activity (NEA) July 22.

Specialists from both countries dove from USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) to survey one of the many wrecks in the harbor.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Ehnes, salvage officer for Commander, Task Force 73, said that over time, the wrecks have built up to the point where they pose a formidable obstacle in the sea lanes.

"There are many sunken ships here, some you can even see from the surface. There are historical wrecks, both wartime and civilian. They block passage."

Visibility in the water is also blocked by heavy silt from the rivers feeding the channel and strong currents. Because the silt remains suspended in the water, the divers had to find a different way to see the wreckage.

They were overcame the obstacle by using a side-scan sonar system. Once the sonar helped the divers locate the wreckage, they submerged to assess the site.

Indonesian Navy divers surveyed the wreckage prior to the arrival of the U.S. dive team.

"You couldn't see," said Indonesian Navy Master Sgt. Santosa Efendy, a deep sea diver. "We worked by touch."

The SCUBA equipment used by the Indonesian divers limits the time a diver can stay in the water when diving at great depths. This week, the dive team will use a surface-supplied system brought to the exercise by Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1. The system, which supplies a continuous air flow from a ship above, includes a built-in communication feature.

Indonesian Navy diver Sgt. K. Dody said working with the system will provide his team with a good opportunity to learn from some of the world's best divers.

"We feel safe diving with the U.S. Navy," Dody said. "The guys are friendly too."

Navy Diver 1st Class (DSW) Anthony Grieco said the Indonesian divers weren't the only ones learning from the experience.

"They bring something to the table; we bring something to the table. I love it."

Senior Chief Navy Diver (DSW/SW/MDV) Paul Adams introduced a spontaneous emergency scenario into the exercise. To train the group to work together under stress, Adams tangled the air hoses of two of the divers while they were submerged.

The teams from both countries relied on the language of diving and their own expertise to determine an appropriate response to the simulated emergency.

"Even with the language barrier, all divers are the same," said Grieco. "We know what each other is talking about and what needs to be done."

The NEA is part of an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and several Southeast Asian nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.

For more news from Commander Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/local/clwp/.