Page 51: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2025)

Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Heath Zeigler/Released.

Chief Navy Diver Melissa Nguyen-Alarcon,

Source: Chief Becky Jones assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One,

Navy Diver Chief Petty Of? cer (retired) Becky prepares to dive in the KM 37 NS during a joint dive-

Jones prepared to make a dive in the Mk 21 helmet and-salvage exercise with the Republic of Korea divers with a wet suit garment.

at Chinhae Naval Base, May 30, 2023. 120 pounds. While lighter, the Mk 12 still presented ergo- hotwater suit during deepwater dives, particularly with those nomic and ? t challenges for many women divers, requiring designed for male proportions. Nonetheless, incremental ad- similar onsite modi? cations. A unique feature to the helmet vances were evident, such as a wider range of boot sizes com- was the nose clearing rod across the front of the helmet which pared to earlier models.

was especially dif? cult to reach for divers with smaller heads In 2007, the Navy adopted the KM 37 NS helmet, another and shorter necks. Having a hard time clearing using this bar Kirby Morgan design building upon the Mk 21 with enhance- in the Mk12 at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center at ments including a neck ring/neck dam system that provided a

Panama City, FL in 1991, Caren Gallaudet (nee Ritter) was more secure seal and increased wearer comfort, alongside im- helped by an instructor. He suggested she use her upper lip provements to the inner liner. The acquisition process is now to help clear. “Put your upper lip around the clearing bar, underway for the latest KM 97 helmets.

then jam your nose down on your lip and blow out as hard as Over the last 50 years, continual improvements to the Na- you can!” This simple change allowed her to make an on-site vy’s deep-sea diving helmets and suits have bene? ted not adjustment to the helmet technology which would ultimately only women divers but all personnel, enhancing operation- be upgraded in the MK-21. al safety and mission effectiveness. Importantly, ensuring

The introduction of the Kirby Morgan Mk 21 in 1993 proper ? t and function of equipment has supported the long- marked notable progress. Adapted from the Superlite 17B term health and well-being of service members, potentially used in commercial diving, the Mk 21 included an internal reducing healthcare and disability costs among veterans. demand regulator and an adjustable oronasal mask, address- These factors underscore the importance of leveraging tech- ing many previous ? t issues. Its inner liner allowed custom- nological advancements to optimize equipment design for ization for various head sizes, signi? cantly improving over- all military personnel.

all comfort and security.

The Mk 21 further featured a horse collar neck ring sealed th

This year is the 50 Anniversary of Women Navy Divers. by a neoprene neck dam. While generally effective, it could

We are celebrating the milestone at the Diving Equipment and Mar- become less reliable if overstretched from prior use by larger keting (DEMA) Show, Nov. 11-13, 2025, in Orlando, FL, including a divers. The ? exibility to pair the helmet with a variety of gar- reunion dinner on Nov. 13 at Ole Red restaurant. We cordially invite ments, such as a simple harness, wet suit, or coveralls, as well all veteran, retired, and active-duty women Navy divers to attend, as as using a Diving Unlimited International (DUI) hot water well as their families, friends, and supporters. For more information, suits during deep dives, improved adaptability. Nevertheless, please visit our website at AWND.net. HooYah DeepSea!

sizing challenges persisted with the navy’s use of the DUI www.marinetechnologynews.com 51

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