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data collection methods provide a snapshot view only, whereas the VENUS observatory can be considered as being like a continuous film, which will allow more reliable long term observations to be made. Global

Marine is delighted to be working with The

University of Victoria on the VENUS proj- ect and is keen to be an active player in the broader underwater observatory market," he added. "The installation of the VENUS observa- tory is a scientific milestone for UVic, for

Canada and indeed for the world," said The

University of Victoria President Dr. David

Turpin. "VENUS builds on UVic's recog- nized strengths in ocean sciences and we're very proud of the hard work, strong part- nerships, and innovative thinking that have brought us to this exciting threshold."

The VENUS project broadcast starts in early

January 2006 and can be viewed live at www.venus.uvic.ca. news 6 MTR January 2006

Navy MCM Divers Conduct

Training with French Navy

U.S. Navy Special Clearance Team (NSCT) 1 participated in a training exercise with the French navy's mine clearance divers, December 7 off the coast of Point

Loma, California.

The training allowed the French to learn from and observe NSCT 1's very shallow water MCM (mine countermeasures) divers and their various platoons. In February, members of NSCT 1 will travel to Toulon,

France, to switch roles and observe the

French divers and their MCM tactics, and participate in an amphibious exercise with the French navy. "Conducting cross-train- ing with the French is important to the U.S.

Navy," said Lt. John M. Schiller, NSCT 1's training officer. "If utilized as a combined task unit, we have an understanding of each other's capabilities and tactics; techniques and procedures."

NSCT 1's mission is to conduct low visi- bility underwater mine and obstacle recon- naissance and clearance operations from over the horizon to the seaward edge of the surf zone.

The French arrived November 30 and stayed for 10 days. The first week was spent exercising with NSCT 1 and touring the different platoons, such as their Unmanned

Underwater Vehicle, Unmanned Aerial

Vehicle, and the U.S. Navy Marine

Mammal platoon (NMM). NMM uses trained dolphins to detect and mark under- water mines so they later can be avoided or removed. The biological sonar of dolphins, called echolocation, makes them uniquely effective. "We're here to learn other techniques," said Hugues Nagy, one of the 11 members of the French navy's shallow water diving team. "We still have a lot to learn, but out of all the countries we've trained with, we have the most to learn from the United

States."

By Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Patricia

Totemeier, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific

A diver assigned to the

Navy's Special

Clearance Team One (NSCT-1), returns to his boat for extraction dur- ing a joint training exercise with the

French Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by

Photographer's Mate 1st Class

Alan Warner)

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