Meet Able Diver Eduard Korent

The operation has proven a huge success for new divers like us.

After a quick turnaround myself and Able Diver Cody Sweet found ourselves right in amongst the action with MATAUAUA’s Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (MEOD). The operation has proven a huge success for new divers like us, as we experienced our first time involved with Explosive Remnants of War that previously we had only read about. Working and operating with our senior MATATAUA and HMNZS MANAWANUI personnel has provided the first stepping stone towards both our RNZN Dive and MEOD careers.
To think that one month ago I was diving in waters where I couldn’t see the end of my arm, let alone my buddies, to now being able to surface swim and pick out large targets such as a Catalina bomber or Japanese Zero fighter planes in 30m of water, it is safe to say that Pacific waters are as clear and blue as it gets.

Fortunately for us, our general targets were air-dropped 500lb bombs from WW2. Although their age would suggest a high chance of corrosion or potential for overgrowth and sediment cover they still stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the coral reefs. Where visibility varied some munitions were harder to spot which is why we developed an innovative technology and a two-diver ‘lawn mower’ search technique utilising the Diver Underwater Search System (DUSS). The DUSS connects to a GPS float and helps track and record the area accurately, and also has a sonar that can assist the search.

Although majority of the munitions found were on the sea floor occasionally you’d come across a wee wobbly where the munition was sitting on top of the reef like a Christmas decoration almost three metres off the bottom. Our primary method of marking was via a virtual datum on the DUSS or GPS, but just to make sure the Aussies didn’t steal our targets we also marked them with drop weights.

All of our targets came from intelligence that was almost six years old or even older and as it turned out, most of the coordinates given were bang-on.

Due to the risks involved with operating around and on these munitions we were instructed not to move, jolt or touch any of the ordnance.

Although you’d generally associate tropical waters with colourful corals, reef and game fish as well as the odd reef shark our biggest worry this trip was actually jellyfish. Watching the boys underwater you’d think they were putting their best Nehe Milner-Skudder step on, with the occasional fend as they would slide and shift through the thick walls of jellies.
Working with the US Marines and ADF always inspires a little bit of friendly competition, with the outright goal of finding the most Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Although we are all here for the same reason of rendering safe the waters of Tuvalu, nothing motivates the boys more than one-upping the Aussies. Living and working with other nations is always an eye-opener; once you get past the accents and who has the better beers argument you’re away and racing.

I grew up next to the water. Whether it was out fishing with my uncle, diving with my old man, gathering mussels with my grandfather or just a casual swim with family and friends, I would spend any moment I could in and around the sea. Fast forward a few years and now my occupation is to work as a MEOD operator in and around the ocean.

To be able to travel overseas to multiple locations, into places unheard of to some just goes to show some of the opportunities made available in our line of work. Along with the ADF and the US Marines, we were able to confidently clear multiple bodies of water within Funafuti, declaring these areas safe for the locals to fish and enjoy just like I did as a kid.

If this is the beginning of my career as a NZ Navy Diver at MATATAUA I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings!