CHL hosted its inaugural National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Basic Open Water Scientific Dive class July 15-22 for 13 ERDC researchers and scientists.
The instructor, Richard “Rick” Benoit, currently serves as the full-time dive safety officer, Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Program Manager and district dive coordinator for both Portland and Walla Walla Districts.
The 80-hour grueling course spanned 10 consecutive days and started with a swim test to ensure attendees could meet the demanding qualifications of a scientific dive. Divers had to perform a 100-yard swim using a recognizable stroke, swim underwater for 25 yards on one breath, and retrieve a brick from the bottom of the deep end of the pool.
The course instruction covered introduction to scuba and Surface Supplied Air (SSA) equipment, scuba use and skills, introduction to diving physiology, diving physics, emergency protocols, and how to take in consideration environmental concerns such as tides, currents, visibility, water quality and marine life, among others.
Thomas Wesley Kirklin, sediment lab technician, CHL’s Field Data and Collection’s Branch, spoke about his need to attend the class.
"We deploy a lot of expensive instrumentation, which sometimes we cannot recover because of silt-in, shrimp trawlers, etc. so it’s important that we be able to retrieve these items,” Kirklin said.
Kirklin who is an experienced diver found this class more challenging than previous classes.
“It was definitely way more informative and grueling than the open water course I took five years ago, Kirkland said. “The pool work we did was by far the hardest and most trying part of the class. We were pushed to our limits, or at least us older guys were, with underwater breath hold swims and ditch and dons (removing equipment and putting it back on in the water), top water free style swims, and rescue recovery.”
Civilian Engineering Technician Jeff Goughalso took the class. For Gough, it was a new experience.
“I have a substantial background in electronics which leads me to be utilized within CHL in some electronics and instrumentation. I joined the class in the hopes that I can be utilized more in the field with data collection and field instrumentation that requires diving,” Gough said.
“The most difficult part was the trust factor. Throughout the class we learned to trust our equipment, our instructors, and our dive partners. Operating underwater for extended periods of time became second nature once I built this trust and learned the necessary underwater problem solving skills.”
“There wasn’t a program in the USACE community for scientific diving,” said John Bull, CHL diving coordinator and assistant instructor. “After four years of discussions I had with Rick about the need of this program, we obtained permission from headquarters and the program was created. Having the instructor come to ERDC was an economic decision and having the students learn in a familiar environment eased the stress level associated with diving. It’s a savings of almost $250K.”
According to Bull, working dive training was originally held in Key West, Florida. However, due to contractual issues that course is now currently being held in Charleston, South Carolina.
Benoit, who has taught diving since 1992, shared the importance of class instruction, as well as water instruction.
“Classroom instruction establishes an academic foundation to understand the natural laws that govern when a diver is underwater,” Benoit said. “It is where the rules of diving safely are established. Classroom time is also used to explain how dive equipment functions, what laws of nature apply to divers and how divers can be hurt if those laws are ignored. It also is how to calculate a safe dive to prevent decompression sickness (The Bends), emergency procedures, how to staff and manage a dive team, as well as discussing applicable government regulations for work-sponsored diving whether it be for scientific or maintenance purposes,” he said.
In-water confined (in a pool) and open (in a pond, lake or ocean) is where the academic foundation meets the practical application.
“Divers practice using equipment, acclimate to the underwater environment experiencing diving in cold water temperatures, working in low light /visibility conditions which limits sight and swimming in strong currents,” Benoit said. “Divers also are able to experience the physiological changes a human body experiences when using scuba equipment and breathing air underwater (when moving up and down in the water) such as increased pressure to sinuses and ears. Divers also practice emergency skills such as self rescue from an underwater entrapment, buddy (dive partner) rescue from an out of air situation and buddy assist of a tired and /or otherwise distressed diver.”
Students learned CPR, first aid and oxygen administration specific to managing dive-related injuries. Once students successfully completed confined-water (pool) training they advanced to open water training where their final practical skill assessment was performed. Dive students dove to depths of 50 feet at the Dive Alabama quarry in Pelham, Alabama, during the final portion of the class.
Twenty-five year Corps diver and current ERDC Diving Coordinator Darryl Bishop was also on hand for the training.
“Many of the 13 students are from different branches within CHL,” Bishop said. “The training gives the lab the capability to put together a team of four to go out and support field operations where divers are needed.”
“The instructors, Rick Benoit, Todd Manny and John Bull were highly knowledgably and extremely safety conscious,” Kirklin added. “I never felt like I was in any danger or unprepared for what we were task with during the course. I feel confident in my ability and the ability of my co-workers who were in the course to safely prepare and execute a dive for our team.”
Gough echoed his sentiments.
“John Bull, Rick Benoit, and Todd Manny were fantastic instructors,” Gough said. “Throughout the course they were informative and extremely efficient in teaching underwater skills and the necessary problem solving needed to be a successful USACE scientific diver.
“Throughout the class I felt like I gained the skill and knowledge needed to keep myself and my dive brothers safe during any diving activities. I thoroughly enjoyed the bonds that were created between myself and all my fellow divers. I am proud to be part of the first USACE-certified scientific dive team, and I look forward to using these skills to help the USACE mission.”
Benoit’s laundry list of qualifications includes membership in HQUSACE Debris SME Cadre. He has supported Hurricane Sandy, the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, Georgia and Alabama Tornadoes in 2011, and the Bangladesh Earthquake of 2015.
As with many things there are dangers associated with it. Benoit stressed that divers remember everything that was taught and stresses some of the critical reminders are:
- Descend slowly or risk rupturing an ear drum
- Ascend slowly to avoid a lung-over expanding injury (embolism)
- Track their depths and times to prevent decompression sickness (bends)
- Monitor your air consumption to prevent running out of air underwater
On a lighter note Benoit added that it’s not a good idea to dive with hungry sharks.
“Upon graduation and throughout the class, students were constantly reminded to be safe and to put a premium on safety,” said Benoit. “But above all, students were implored that diving safely will help protect themselves, protect their dive team buddies and protect their dive program.”
“This was an exceptional class with outstanding students and assistant instructors,” said Benoit. “Students were extremely gracious, eager learners who personified and well represented the outstanding reputation that is ERDC.”
Attending students earned the NAUI Open Water dive certification, as well as USACE endorsements for scientific diver, scientific snorkeler and tender.
Course attendees were Darryl Bishop, Brandon Boyd, William Butler, Jeff Gough, Bryan Herring, Mike Kirklin (tender), Thomas Kirklin, David May, Coraggio Maglio, Jonathan Marshall, Thad Pratt, Anthony Priestas, Matthew Taylor and Michael Winkler. Benoit served as lead instructor receiving assistance from training assistants Todd Manny and John Bull.