Diving the World Over

Southern Partnership Station 2014

by MC1(DV) Brett Cote, Fleet Combat Camera Pacific

14 July 2014 Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 are in Belize working with divers from the Belize Coast Guard Service as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014.

01:50

VIDEO | 01:50 | Diving the World Over Southern Partnership Station 2014

"Today we took the Coast Guard Divers out," said Navy Diver 2nd Class Robert LaFrance, a MDSU 2 diver. "We got to know each other's work habits a little bit."

The divers traveled about 12 miles from shore and dived in crystal clear water. The clear water makes it easier for groups of divers to stay together and watch each other's techniques.

"This group of Coast Guard divers just graduated PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)," said Senior Chief Navy Diver Russell Ciardiello, master diver for MDSU 2 Company 2-1. "For the most part, they don't have any dives since their certifications. It went really well; couldn't have asked for a better operation."

The MDSU divers will be traveling and diving in four different countries during the Southern Partnership Station mission, and they will be working with divers at each stop.

"They're just like us," said LaFrance. "They're divers. They like breathing underwater, checking out cool stuff, and having fun. So it's just working with the same type of people, just in a different country. It's been a good time so far."

The MDSU 2 divers will spend a few more weeks in Belize before moving on to Guatemala, the next stop on their Southern Partnership Station mission. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants.

140626-N-IP743-275 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – U.S. Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1 swim along with Belize Coast Guard divers during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-212 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – Seaman Julius McKay, of the Belize Coast Guard Service, and Lt. Phil Morrison, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Company 2-1, examine a sea shell during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-042 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – U.S. Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Company 2-1, descend with Belize Coast Guard divers during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-030 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – Seaman Aril Panting, assigned to the Belize Coast Guard Service, leads the ascent to the surface after a joint training dive with U.S. Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Company 2-1. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140623-N-IP743-088 BELIZE CITY, Belize (June 23, 2014) – Navy Diver 1st Class Todd Verhagen, of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Abraham Hinds, of the Belize Coast Guard Service, attach a bouancy compensator to a SCUBA tank. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140613-N-IP743-166 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 13, 2014) – Senior Chief Navy Diver Russell Ciardiello, of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1, swims along with Seaman Aril Panting, of the Belize Coast Guard Service, during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-193 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – Lt. Phil Morrison, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Company 2-1, shows his pressure guage to Seaman Colin Ramirez, of the Belize Coast Guard Service, during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-179 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – Navy Diver 1st Class Shawn Gerasimchik, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Company 2-1, uses a hand signal to let the dive supervisor know his group is about to descend for a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-130 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – Navy Diver 2nd Class Zoe Young, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Company 2-1, descends on a buoy line to begin a joint training dive with Belize Coast Guard divers off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140626-N-IP743-064 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 26, 2014) – U.S. Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1 swim along with Belize Coast Guard divers during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140613-N-IP743-167 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 13, 2014) – Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1 swim along with Belizean Coast Guard divers during a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140613-N-IP743-096 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 13, 2014) – Navy Diver 3rd Class Garrett Muccillo, of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1, and Seaman Apprentice Aurelio Montero, of the Belize Coast Guard Service, help another Belizean diver out of the water after a joint training dive off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)

140612-N-IP743-154 CARIBBEAN SEA, Belize (June 12, 2014) – Navy Diver 2nd Class Mitch Baker, of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2) Company 2-1, beckons for the combat photographer to catch up to him during a training dive with the Belize Coast Guard Service off the coast of Belize. The MDSU 2 divers are working together with their Belizean Coast Guard counterparts as part of Southern Partnership Station 2014. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean. U.S. military teams work with partner nation forces during naval-focused training exercises, military-to-military engagements and community relations projects in an effort to enhance partnerships with regional maritime activities and improve the operational readiness of participants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote/Released)