User:Ryhonrei

=[https://1stdivers.wisercise.org/1D-Index.php#! First Singapore Navy Divers 1972]= In January 1972 the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Diving Centre, under the command of Maj Robert Khoo (CDO), replaced the Royal Navy Far East Fleet Clearance Diving Team.

A group of young Divers aged between 17 to 20 years, specially selected from the Singapore Maritime Command (precursor to the Republic of Singapore Navy), was trained by Lt Victor Rodrigues (MCDO) and tasked to look after the Command's naval assets and conduct diving tasks in support of governmental and civilian organizations.

Their mandate included ship husbandry and repair below the waterline, salvage and clearance, pipeline restoration, underwater demolition, construction and welding and the location and recovery of drowning victims.

Underwater Medicine Divers' health was closely monitored by Doctors, Nurses and Medics of the Underwater Medicine Unit led by Commander Maj Dr Jimmy How, Executive Officer Maj Dr Gene Chan and Nursing Officer Lt Bob Mong. Candidates came from various SAF formations and were required to meet strict acceptance criteria. They had to be physically fit to a standard way above that of army and air force medics, with good hearing acuity and no tendencies toward claustrophobia, vertigo or motion (sea) sickness.

Medics were trained to carry out the strict medical examinations divers were required to undergo, as well as recompression and hyperbaric operations of the British made Camel Laird Chamber.

The underwater medical team worked closely with divers in operations and the treatment of decompression sickness.

First Navy Divers

Chew Kok Hua

Lee Kok Weng

Ku Lai Hock

Bryan Klassen

Ralston Fernando

Rodney Hogan

Philip Tay Liang Chang

Cheng Hua Ju

Yap Teck Ming Steve

Tony Koo Hong Kee

First Underwater Medics

Vernon Loh

Sunny Kong

Joe Fong

Edward Chua

Frankie Lee

Francis Chew

Lim Pheng Chiang

Suhumaran

Benton Wee [deceased]

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Diving Centre is now the Naval Diving Unit (NDU) Republic of Singapore Navy.