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U.S., Cambodian Divers Engage in Cooperative Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090406-02
Release Date: 4/6/2009 12:58:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Seth Clarke, Commander Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Divers joined their Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN) counterparts in Cambodian waters for a first-of-its-kind professional dive exchange between the two countries during a five-day port visit March 31-April 4.

Divers from Pearl Harbor-based Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 and the RCN's Fast Patrol Boat Unit embarked rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) in Sihanoukville Commercial Port for two days of combined dives and training on various equipment.

The two dive teams conducted surface-supplied diving operations training using the Kirby Morgan (KM) 37 Superlight dive helmet; conducted demonstrations of side scan sonar; and toured Safeguard's dive-support capabilities, including the dive locker, salvage equipment locker and recompression chamber. The training marked the first opportunity the Cambodian divers had to train using the kind of equipment the Americans brought with them to the engagement.

"When we got down into the water, we were able to learn a lot, especially from using the helmet," said RCN Warrant Officer Meas Vannark, speaking through a translator. "We are really happy to practice diving here, to participate in this training course."

MDSU 1 Navy Diver 1st Class Jacob Eskew said of the Cambodians that, regardless of the equipment available to them for training or regular use, he saw results from their efforts.

"They make it work," he stated.

MDSU 1 Senior Chief Navy Diver Ted Walker said the training mission was a diplomatic success.

"To do an indoctrination dive with them, I think it's great for relations between our country and theirs," he said.

For the dive portion of the engagement, the teams paired one diver from each country and submerged them for several minutes for underwater training. Eskew led the instruction of both countries' divers during the first few dives and said that while the language barrier necessitated translation, it wasn't enough to impede cooperation.

"Communication — that's one of the obstacles right now, but we're working through it," Eskew said. "That's just something that helps us better prepare for situations that might occur throughout the world. It's an excellent opportunity for both countries' diving teams to interact so that we as U.S. Navy divers can learn how to cooperate with foreign dive teams."

Walker said he noticed that participants from both sides of the engagement were relishing the unique opportunity.

"They seem to really enjoy doing it. Being scuba divers, I think they get a lot out of the training," Walker said.

Walker said the MDSU 1 divers appeared particularly delighted with the rare opportunity to visit the Southeast Asian country.

"Our divers really enjoy being in this country. Coming to Cambodia — it's just something that's completely unheard of. We definitely like being here," he said.

Since MDSU 1 embarked Safeguard, they have conducted diving training in several nations located in Asia and Oceania and are slated to engage in similar operations in the near future, including during upcoming Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises this summer. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral training exercises conducted between the United States and several Southeast Asian nations.