Thread: Tradition in the world Navies.

Merry DD11.jpg

Not sure if I shared this one. A mate did it last night for some Chilly memories for me

“My last ship I served on as its Leading Seamen Underwater weapons/ Divers Yeoman HMAS HOBART DDG38 1986. The last dive I did in the Navy was in Vancouver sound off Victoria Island. The water temperature was below zero.

The Navy only provided us with 3mm wetsuits . No hoods , gloves or booties. After Twenty minutes, every Diver had to be carried into the hot showers because of severe hypothermia. This was a gross mistake by or Diving Officer, who never got wet ever! Just drank hot coffee in his nice white overalls! It is a very different story nowadays. All branches of the Navy are extremely well kitted out for all conditions”

I responded with my thoughts being “That hot shower we had in Canada was tricky! We were shivering and shaking that much we shook the warm water off us. Getting our wet suites off was almost impossible. The surface temp was painful. The Thermocline at a metre or so deeper water was fed by melting ice glaziers. It felt like knives cutting my skin. Lt ###### should have used a bathythermograph Hyperthermia wasn't fun ”


My friend was just given a new dry suite by “On line Dive gear. They very kindy have looked after us with a dry suit. For “SV Battle Scars which is a Charity for Veterans with PTSD in Queensland.


Our VERY Chilling dive in Canada may be a reason I cannot stand the cold?

I was just given a beautiful hand knitted Beanie. Its staying on my head until Summer gets here when my Solar collector (head) is back in operation


It will be used POST all future Diving events as well


I did not have a beanie when in Canada in 1986. I did have a little hair then I think I lost some of my hair in 1987 to a crocodile Dive. Another navy yarn that popped up when chatting about a shark that gave leg back to a surfer a few days ago among my wet work mates.

It was the same Diving Office whom I have no beef with myself! " Recall croc in Darwin?

All ships Divers were linked up after a hull search on HMAS Hobart. We had our Twin 64s diving tanks on with fins on and only rope ladders to get back on the ship. Plan was to lower rope, tie up a set of air tanks, take our finn's off and bite them with our teeth as we climbed up the rope one at a time!

The crew who asked if we had seen the huge croc which had just popped up on the starboard side started a epic event none can ever explain for me even though I did it!

6 divers all with twin 64 tanks on our backs, Finn's on our feet and still linked up by the hull search spacing rope were all on the Quarter Deck all asking how climbed the rope ladder with fins wight belts and tanks on"

Navy traditions and story I shared when I was giving an Award at Taylor Division Graduation at HMAS Cerberus yesterday. The new Seaman Clearance Diver. The award recipient is to start training as Clearance Diver not one yet. He was relived to hear the RAN have much better Diving equipment now

GE426 Graduation (youtube.com)

Minute 1:32 is for my odd appearance