Page 50: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2025)

MTR 100

Source: Mary Bonnin

Enginemen First Class Mary Bonnin dressing in the Ensign Deb Bodenstedt in the Mk 12 dive helmet 300-pound Mk V diving suit during First Class Dive with full dive dress during training at Basic Diving school at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, Of? cer training, Naval Diving and Salvage Training

Panama City, FL in 1980. Center, Panama City, FL in 1983.

Lieutenant Karin Lynn preparing to don the Mk 12 dive helmet in the swimmer’s mode with a harness during training at Basic Diving Of? cer training,

Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center,

Panama City FL in 1983.

Source: Karin Lynn Source: Deb Bodenstedt so that she could raise her arms. Further solutions included By 1981, the Navy had replaced the Mk V with the newly choosing the most ? exible older suits that more easily folded developed Mk 12 lightweight free-? ow ? berglass dive hel- to adjust to her shorter stature and allowed for triple strapping met. This unit could be con? gured for swimmer or full suit her wrist to keep her gear—an experience later generations modes and supported both air and mixed gas applications, would miss due to its decommissioning after 1983. bringing the combined gear weight down to approximately 50 September/October 2025

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