Exercise Island Response Focuses on Interoperability

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Kathryn Whittenberger | Mahe Island, Seychelles (Nov. 13, 2006) – Divers from the Seychelle Coast Guard and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 4 out of Manama, Bahrain, walk into the water for a familiarization dive to practice emergency procedures during exercise Island Response 2006. The annual exercise is geared toward increasing interoperability between divers from the U.S. Navy and Seychelles Coast Guard.  

MAHE ISLAND, SEYCHELLES

11.10.2006

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Kathryn Whittenberger
U.S. Naval Forces, 5th Fleet PAO

MAHE ISLAND, Seychelles -- Exercise Island Response 2006 continued, Nov. 10, with the Seychelle Coast Guard diving unit and U.S. Navy divers and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians sharing with each other different methods and procedures.

The 14-day exercise began Nov. 2 on Mahe Island, Seychelles. The latest training evolutions included side scan sonar theory, set up and hands on training. There was also classroom instruction on the Mk 20 full face mask that the dive teams will be using during a practical exercise later this week.

"It was a great chance to demonstrate a capability that they may want to use in the future," said Navy Diver 2nd Class Brandon Holt, the instructor for the Mk 20 course. The Mk 20 is a dive mask which enables communication and enhances visibility.

The annual exercise includes both classroom and hands on training. So far, instructors from EOD Mobile Unit (EODMU) 4, Det. 12, out of Manama, Bahrain, and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, Det. 5, out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, have covered dive medicine, neurological exams, decompression sickness, tagout training, patching, plugging and salvaging; limpet removal and usage of the hyperbaric chamber.

"It was beneficial seeing the capabilities of the equipment to help us determine what we may need in the future," said Lt. Ronnie Matatike, diving officer for the Seychelle Coast Guard.

• Date Taken: 11.10.2006
• Date Posted: 11.15.2006 09:54
• Story ID: 8282
• Location: MAHE ISLAND, SC