Question for Military Divers

[rna]

ACADEMIC PREPARATION:

The course of instruction is complete and is not based on an assumed knowledge level. However, for classes in which minimum time is devoted to reviewing basic concepts, additional time is available for in depth coverage of the subject matter or additional practice in practical application. Those specific areas in which the student should prepare are as follows:

Computation of areas and volumes.
Temperature conversions (F to C and C to F).
Basic gas laws: Boyle's, Charles', Dalton's, Henry's Laws.
General algebraic operations (officer courses only).
Basic trigonometry (officer courses only).


O.K., this is the stuff I have found on https://wwwnt.cnet.navy.mil/ndstc/student_info.htm the website of U.S. Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center. I'm going to enlist very soon with a Diver contract, or however they call it in the Navy (what do I ask the recruiter to include in my package, please help?) I thought it'd be a good idea for me to hit the books early so I can have some edge once I start the training to make it a little bit easier on me with the academics. This is why I need your help guys, I have searched for websites that explain the matters that I stated above, but I'm not completely sure if this is the stuff that I'm looking for.

For Temperature Conversions, I have found this site http://www.fordhamprep.com/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson29.htm

For basic gas laws, I have found this site http://www.chemtutor.com/gases.htm

I couldn't find anything that looked right to me about the computation of areas and volumes though.

Please, let me know if these websites are what I need, and where can I find more information on them, especially the computation of areas and volumes part. Also, is there anything else I should look into studying such as recompression chambers or things like that? Anything that would help me.

Thank you.

 

[Gary D.]

Things have changed a lot from the time I went through but it will still be tough.

Graduation rates were based on the need for divers. Need some a lot graduated. Don't need so many only a few graduated. But from what I understand if you fail now you can get another shot at it. Not so way back when.

Watch that contract stuff and trust a recruiter about as much as an ex-wife with a vendetta and a 45. They may guarantee you a spot in school but what happens if you wash out? Where are you going to go too, a diving command or work in your rate 99% of the time and re-qual twice a year?

Lots of questions to ask. Navy diving is no picnic. You will most likely work your butt off. If you are on a repair crew you just might be slaving away while the ship’s crew enjoys themselves in town. There can be some nasty deadlines that have to be met so the ship can get underway when it is scheduled to.

You aren’t going to be diving Coz, The Key’s or the Bahamas as much as they might lead on to. What you will be diving in is more closely related to a septic tank. Environmental standards have changed but the bottom of the harbors are still full of a hundred or so years of junk, trash, hazards and human waste. And guess what, that glory job your looking at is going to put your butt right in the middle of it.

It is a great occupation if you get in the right command. But no-matter where you get stationed you need to make the best of it. DON’T ***** about ANYTHING. Just smile and pretend you like it if you do or don’t. *****ing can get you shipped off to sewer duty real fast. Remember that you will be part of a team where everyone counts on everyone else doing their job correctly. *****ers have a track record of screwing up.

We were a very tight team of three. We went through better than a dozen in that 4th position and the Navy finally gave up and left us at three. That 4th guy just couldn’t gel.

Here is a quote from a Master Diver that was used in “Men Of Honor”. Pay attention to it.
The Navy Diver is not a fighting man. He is a salvage expert.
If it's lost underwater, he finds it.
If it's sunk, he brings it up.
If it's in the way, he moves it.
If he's lucky, he dies young two hundred feet beneath the waves.
'Cause that is the closest he will ever get to being a hero.

Good luck and stay focused. Let them teach you how to dive the Navy way. Don’t mention any sport diving letters, that’s like cursing in church. Sport has nothing to offer the military and they will remind you of that real early in training. Like day one. It is best to not even let them know you are a diver to start with.

Just generalize your study subjects prior to school. Get a basic knowledge of the conversions and laws but don't think what you find WILL be pounded on the way you find it. They can find ways to screw with your mind if they think you a little to smart for your britches. Let them do the teaching and you do the sponge.

Gary D.

 

[Daryl Morse]

Please, let me know if these websites are what I need, and where can I find more information on them, especially the computation of areas and volumes part.

An excellent website for conversions of all different weights and measures is http://www.convert-me.com.

An excellent website for conversion of pressure units and explaining how different pressure units were derived is http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/pressureunits.html.

I met some ex-navy divers a few weeks ago. You're in for some pretty exciting times.

Good luck!

 

[rmediver2002]

Hey RNA,

Gary "Deep Sea Daddy" G covered it pretty well already, the real preperation you need to be focusing on is physical training.

Forget everything you have read about minimum scores, it will not cut it.

Attempting to get ahead on academics if not learned the way it is taught at the school will more often than not cause problems. Not that the laws of physics change in military diving, but that they are taught with a specific focus.

You could down load a copy of the Navy dive manual and begin reading it, if there is something you do not understand highlight the area, each time you read it use a different highlighter.

I have read an continue to read (just a couple pages a day) the manual cover to cover usually over the course of a year and seem to focus in on something different each time...

Good Luck!!

Deep Sea!!

 

[shawn86442]

12 years Army Scuba. Like rmediver2002 said Physical training, Physical training, Physical training, you must max the physical fitness test.. have fun hehehe

 

[rmediver2002]

Hey Shawn, have not seen you around here before, glad to have you on the board.

Who were you with?

Drop me a PM

 

[rna]

Hey guys, thank you all for your inputs. I've been working hard on my strength and stamina for some time now already, I just thought doing some academic work on diving would be helpful too. rmediver2002 I like the idea with the manuals, I looked for them on the internet and most of them range $30-$40 each. If any of you have Navy manuals in pdf. or whatever format and is willing to send them to me, I'll appreciate it very much. Thanks.

 

[rmediver2002]

Free download:

http://www.vnh.org/DivingManual/DMTOC.html


You already payed for it once with your tax dollars, no sense paying someone to download it for you unless you have a real slow connection.

If this file is to large there are several sites with it broken down to individual chapters... Let me know...

 

[rna]

Free download:

http://www.vnh.org/DivingManual/DMTOC.html


You already payed for it once with your tax dollars, no sense paying someone to download it for you unless you have a real slow connection.

If this file is to large there are several sites with it broken down to individual chapters... Let me know...

This is exactly what I wanted, thank you very much rmediver2002. Just one question, what do you think I should focus on the most in this manual? It's pretty big and trying to study it all may be a bit overwhelming with my schedule now, but I'd like to hear your opinion. Is is it expected of a diver to know it all that is in this Navy manual?

 

[rmediver2002]

Well, yes of course. It becomes a matter of honor to know more, dive better, have faster project times, etc... Than any other diver.

You gotta want to be the best.

I would read the history first, I have always found the entire section exciting and easy to read.

The most benefit to you would be from the physiology section but skim the rest and see if something strikes your interest...

NDSTC will not leave you hanging, every thing they need a second class diver to know is taught during the course (don't feel like you have to get ahead of the academics...)

Deep Sea!!!