First Navy Divers Reunion

: Step back in time and find out how the Naval Diving Unit came into being. Meet the First Navy Divers, learn about their training regime and get to know all who were involved in the process.

: First Navy Divers 1972 return home to our alma mater after 48 years.

: Written by Naval Diver Cpt (Ret) Eddie Loo, PhD, The Ode uses a 10-syllable format to honor the first batch of 10 Naval Divers who graduated in 1972.

: Officers and Men of First Navy Divers 1972 assembled after 47 years. We celebrated our reunion on Friday 9th August 2019, Singapore's Bicentennial National Day.

: Generations of Navy Divers assembled on Friday 20th December 2019 for festive season celebrations with special guests of honour and foreign visitors.

: We remember and honour those who have gone before us, wishing them fair winds and following seas.

In red, Commander First Navy Divers,
Lt Col Robert Khoo (Ret) on deck

Our Heroes, the men who turned
us boys into men

Second from Left, First Commander,
Lt Col Robert Khoo (Ret)

Extreme Right, First Training Officer,
Lt Victor Rodrigues (Ret)

"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle.
It takes a hero to be one of those men
who goes into battle."
~ General Norman Schwarzkopf

Robert's Raiders back together again
eagerly awaiting our mission directives.

Left, First Training Officer Lt Victor Rodrigues (Ret) going over last-minute mission details.

First Training Officer Lt Victor Rodrigues (Ret) demonstrates a Docking maneuver
with the assistance of Alice Sim,
owner of Chevy's Bar & Bistro.

You have to admire Victor's savoir faire
in what is clearly a
highly dangerous and stressful situation.

In the background a Diver executes an
extremely perilous Docking maneuver
of his own.

In the foreground, Training Officer and
another Diver signal their approval.

Commander and Divers review the
after-action report on the Docking exercise.

We congratulate the Diver on the
success of his mission.

He looks relieved to have made it back
to the surface in one piece.

Word of the first successful Docking mission
quickly gets around.

We raise our voices in triumph.

And are scolded for making too much noise.

So, we settle down and wait for our
essential equipment to be recharged.

Divers share information and discuss
the next Docking mission.

We psych ourselves up, as we have done so often in the past, ever ready
to respond to the call of duty.

All for one.

One for all.

We are the First Navy Divers 1972.
Foremost.
Forever.

Epilogue

To get people to come together after 47 years is nothing short of a minor miracle.

That the First Navy Divers and Officers not only responded to the call, but did so in style, is testament to the esprit de corps that has driven and continues to drive us forward in life, as individuals as well as members of an elite group.

Thanks to all First Navy Divers, guests and hosts for making 9th August 2019 a memorable occasion.

A special thanks to our guests of Honor, First Commander Robert Khoo and First Training Officer Victor Rodrigues for their presence.

Acknowledgments

The First Naval Divers Reunion of Friday 9th August 2019 would not have been possible without the contributions and assistance of everyone mentioned hereunder.

First Diving Officers

Commander
Lt Col Robert Khoo, CDO (Ret)

Training Officer
Lt Victor Rodrigues, MCDO (Ret)

First Naval Divers

Chew Kok Hua
Bryan Klassen
Ralston Fernando
Rodney Hogan
Philip Tay Liang Chang
Cheng Hua Ju
Yap Teck Ming Steve

In Absentia:

Koo Hong Kee
Lee Kok Weng
Ku Lai Hock

Pioneer Naval Divers

Arthur Wellesley
Janks Tan Leng Teck
Vincent Choo
Chew Chong Kuan
Lawrence Jeremiah
Stiven Liang

Chevy's Bar & Bistro

Alice Sim
Theresa Hoeden
Amanda Hoeden
Adeline Zarina
Habibah Rajab
Gordon Rozario