Singapore Naval Diving Unit (NDU)
Diving into the unknown
It was very dark. Visibility was zero. The current was quite
strong at that point in time. You couldnt have known what you
would be bumping into. The conditions were worse than what you
would have encountered in Singapore.
Slowly, you would come across bits and pieces of the wreckage. You
could only feel for clothing, identity cards and wallets, because
you couldnt even see anything. If you felt something sharp, it
would probably be part of the aircraft. You just had to bring
everything up.
SSG Frankie Chong was describing his first-hand experience in
Palembang during the SilkAir crash in Dec 97, when he was involved
in the 24-hour search and recovery operations in the Musi River. A
veteran diver, SSG Wong is currently a training wing instructor in
NDU.
The only unit in the SAF that specialises in diving, the bulk of
NDUs responsibilities lie in search and rescue (SAR), explosives
ordnance disposal (EOD) and general salvage work.
Readily responsive to calls for assistance, our naval divers are
also involved in less critical situations, such as evidence
recovery.
MSG Norris Charles, another veteran instructor, said: There was
once in 1994 when we spent five hours below Anderson Bridge
recovering a gun which was accidentally dropped by a robber!
A diver descending from a Super Puma during a currency drill.
Underwater demolition man
One of the most challenging tasks for the EOD divers took place in
1990 when a team of 60 divers worked around the clock for three
days to clear 21 World War Two bombs in the waters off Pulau
Brani.
Said MSG Charles who specialises in EOD: Mine clearance is a very
long process, as it can take days, weeks or months. All EOD divers
have to attend a specialised course before they qualify as mine
clearance divers.
He emphasised: Of course, safety is top priority. We inspect every
single diver before diving to ensure that his equipment is fully
demagnetised to prevent any explosions when approaching underwater
mines.
On top of that, every mine clearance diver goes through currency
drills under close supervision every quarter so that he is
thoroughly familiar with all the standard operating
procedures.
Similarly for SAR divers, currency drills are held every quarter.
For example, drills are carried out in tandem with the Air Force
for the SAR stand-by team stationed in NDU 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year.
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Naval divers are as good out of water as they are in it.
SSG Alvin Chia, a salvage specialist, explained: When we are
activated, we will put on the required diving gear. A chopper will
land on the parade square at NDU to bring us to the site, where we
will carry out SAR operations. The first team to be deployed to
Palembang was actually this stand-by force.
Versatile frogmen
Although naval divers operate primarily underwater, they are
certainly not fishes out of water and will surface in times of
need.
NDUs combat capabilities include shipboarding, force swimming
(groups of divers swimming in formation) and close quarter combat.
Such capabilities are necessary when hostages have to be rescued
from hijacked ships or when ships suspected of carrying contraband
cargo have to be boarded and searched.
Said SSG Eric Tay, a combat-trained NDU diver: Compared to normal
salvage jobs, combat diving is a different ball game altogether.
There are special tactics that you need to learn. In order to be a
good combat diver, you must also possess situational awareness and
survival instincts.
He added: Fitness also plays a part, because you are not just
diving. You also have equipment and weapons, and you will have to
swim fast. The divers mental state is also very important, as in
how much you can motivate yourself to achieve your
objectives.
Pushing to the limits
A firm grounding in physical fitness and mental agility is provided
to all trainee divers during the training process at NDU. As in all
cases, training builds the competence required to perform the job.
However, it is a little different in the NDU, where every trainee
diver knows that the training will either make or break him,
depending on his determination to persevere through the rigorous
training.
It takes about six months for a trainee diver coming straight from
Basic Military Training to complete his Class 2 Diving Course,
where theoretical and practical knowledge on diving is
imparted.
To build up the trainees water confidence level and their
knowledge of how their equipment would perform underwater, a pool
competency course is conducted in the first half of the course.
Under the watchful eyes of the safety officer, trainee divers are
subjected to simulated stress akin to actual underwater
conditions.
Each divers performance is closely monitored to ensure that he is
competent in managing potential underwater problems. During these
drills, all trainees must maintain a cool composure and alert mind
to be able to extricate themselves from the problems that they face
underwater.
After he clears this stage, a week of sweat and toil awaits him.
Popularly known as hell week, the old adage - the survival of the
fittest - certainly applies here. Hell week means a gruelling 120
hours of non-stop physical exertion both on land and in water, with
trainees allowed three hours of sleep only on the third day. Only
the best will make it.
SSG Tay said: The aim of hell week is to let each individual know
that he can be pushed beyond his limits. There is a saying that the
human brain is about 10 times stronger than the body. Theres no
way you can test a persons psychological strength until you break
his physical strength first.
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A diver in a drown-proofing exercise being supervised by a safety
diver
So the first three days of hell week are very physical. However,
you must keep on going if you want to succeed. Those who quit will
be deemed unsuitable to be naval divers. You have to be a team
player to survive. Theres no Rambo in the Navy.
If you thought that hell week would be the culmination of training,
guess again. Naval divers have to brace themselves for another
three months of basic combat training before they can graduate from
the course.
In this last phase, trainees are taught the rudiments of combat
tactics. In an exercise called drown-proofing, trainee divers are
dumped unceremoniously into the pool with their hands and legs
tied. They are then required to bob up and down in the pool, swim
for about 100 metres and perform manoeuvres like somersaults
underwater.
Navigating overseas
Of course, being a naval diver is not just sweat and toil - it also
comes with its perks. Said SSG Alvin Chia: The good thing about
being in the Navy is that we get to travel a lot and get exposed to
different cultures.
Many of us have been on overseas training and exercises. Each
attachment can last at least half a year. You seldom get an
opportunity to stay overseas that long. We also venture overseas
regularly on our training exercises.
Some of the courses regular naval divers attend include the Basic
Underwater Demolition Course (BUDS) conducted in the United States,
the EOD course, deep diving course and the diving supervisor
course.
So far, the overseas exposure has paid off. SSG Chia emphasised:
Through observing how other navies operate, we have been able to
improve on our own operations. For example, the concept of hell
week came from the US. So did the pool competency training
course.
A fighting force
The unit, which also boasts some of the youngest warrant officers
in the SAF, relies heavily on its warrant officers and specialist
ratings (WOSRs) for its operations and routine training activities.
In fact, it is the professionalism of the specialists, rather than
the new training facilities in Sembawang, which has created a
greater impression with visitors to the unit.
Said Commanding Officer, LTC Chng Ho Kiat: The greatest assets of
the unit are not the equipment and weapons, but the personnel who
are carefully and painstakingly nurtured with many years of
intensive training.
Without a doubt, our naval divers are all set to create a deep
impact in the new millennium. Nothing stands in our way was the
motto adopted by NDU in 1995 to reflect the daring and can-do
attitude of the divers. You can be sure that with the tenacity,
grit and determination of our naval divers, nothing will stand in
their way.
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