First Navy Divers 1972 Return Home

: 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.

Friday, January 3rd 2020.

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

Naval Diving Unit Homecoming 2020 was a resounding success and a thoroughly memorable event.

Divers from First Navy Divers 1972 and brother Divers through the 70s and 80s were in attendance.

We were warmly welcomed by our hosts Commander NDU, COL Foong Kok Pun, COL Chew Kuok Hsin, Commander Clearance Diving Group, LT COL Roger Cheong, Master Chief NDU, MWO Eddie Chua and Master Chief Clearance Diving Group, MWO David Ling.

This statue is the Divers' mascot. It is situated at the entrance to the Naval Diving Unit. The Frogman has wings, one leg in the water and the other on land. This signifies the Diver's ability to strike from the sea, the land and the air. The Frogman carries a Trident which represents the weapons Divers use. The bomb represents explosives and ordnance disposal.

Our hosts pulled out all the stops and laid on a full programme that began with a one hour walking tour of the sophisticated training facilities required to produce warriors of the highest caliber.

Naval divers doing a 6m tower jump. This drill simulates deploying into the water from a helicopter,

Naval divers doing a caving ladder climb. This drill simulates boarding a ship by climbing up its side.

After the walking tour, we were given a presentation of the evolution of Naval Diving Unit from it's inception in 1971 by then MAJ Robert Khoo and LTA Victor Rodrigues, to its present day posture as a deadly multi-role force capable of fighting from under the sea, in the air and on land.

Naval divers stealthily emerge from the water in horizontal line formation.

Over dinner we had the honour of engaging with the brave men and women of Naval Diving Unit.

Sunset at the old jetty.
Reliving fond memories.

It was an unforgettable experience especially as it served to resoundingly underscore the theme of the Homecoming: "The Diver Spirit."

"We are determined to strengthen THE DIVER SPIRIT in partnership with all of you. With your stories, the spirit will live on from strength to strength."

Col Foong Kok Pun
Diver (UDT 7 1993).
Commander,
Naval Diving Unit.

What exactly is
The Diver Spirit?

When you work underwater, you work with your buddies.

Sometimes, you can't see them nor touch them because the water is so murky.

But, you can hear them.

You know that they are there and they know that you are there.

Our lives depend on each other so we build comradeship and esprit de corps.

Once you've dived with someone, you can't forget the bond forged even if you wanted to.

This bond arises as a result of the environment in which we operate and the senses that we're trained to use in order to be successful underwater.

Even on land, Divers move together in a certain way which arises from the way we train and operate.

We identify with each other simply because we are Divers.

We are the answer to any waterborne threat.

In-line with this is the Divers credo of determination:

"Nothing stands in our way".