The staff at NDC was very busy during May. Preparations for the MONITOR operation and the Working diver training class consumed the majority of our time. With the dive class now over, we are catching up and responding to your administrative and equipment request.

I am pleased to announce that NDC has received all of the dive locker inspection reports. In the future, please make an effort to submit the report to your LODO by the end of January.

In February the Diving Medical Review Board adopted a new schedule (based on age), for completing dive physicals. Several units have asked what the new timetable is and when it will become policy. The new schedule is in the draft regulations and will become effective once the new regulations are adopted (hopefully later this year). Until then, physicals for all divers are required annually.

We have had several request for the stickers authorizing refilling of medical grade oxygen cylinders. Included with your roster are two stickers for your SEP oxygen kits. The stickers should be placed on the cylinders in your oxygen kits.

We need your input in the form of articles, stories and pictures describing diving procedures and experiences at your unit. There is no specific format for submission of your articles, just keep them small (300 words or less) and send them via E-mail or fax. Original authors will receive full credit.

 
-LCDR  Frank Wood -

Please review the enclosed roster which reflects the records at NDC for the date of print. Inactive/terminated divers are to return SEP equipment or resolve their status to active as soon as possible. Units will be assessed SEP charges for inactive divers who are in possession of gear. Please annotate and return a copy of the roster indicating any changes to personnel or diver status. Diver certifications will be suspended when a physical has expired or when diving activity has lapsed for six months.

For the past nine years, the standard issued SEP SCUBA regulator has been the SCUBAPRO MK10/G250. SCUBAPRO has updated the MK10 and re-issued it as the MK20. The MK20/G250 is now the new SEP standard and effective this month, will begin to arrive in the field. The new regulator will be phased in over the next four years.

The roster lists regulator overhaul dates for the divers in your unit. Regulators are shipped to the UDS prior to this date, unless a divers physical is out of date or diving activity has lapsed for more than six months. It is imperative that you distribute the replacement regulators and return used units to NDC as soon as possible. Please remove the inflator whip and the console mounted compass before returning the regulators.

During the month of June, please send all SEP equipment request to Frank Wood. Steve Urick And Chris Cote will be conducting operations on the MONITOR and will be unavailable to process request.