The U.S. Navy’s diving apparatus and the demographics of its divers have undergone significant transformations over the past five decades. This evolution, marked by technological advancements and the integration of women into diving roles, has profound implications for contemporary Navy diving operations. The journey began in the mid-1970s when Donna Tobias became the first woman to graduate from the U.S. Navy Deep Sea Diver program. Tobias faced considerable challenges with the Mk V diving rig, a hard-hat apparatus introduced in 1905. The equipment, weighing approximately 200 pounds, was not designed with female physiques in mind, leading to issues such as uneven weight distribution and compromised watertight seals. Despite these hurdles, Tobias and other pioneering women divers persevered, contributing significantly to the successful integration of women within Navy diving ranks over the past fifty years.
The Mk V diving suit, with its substantial weight and outdated design, posed considerable difficulties for early women divers. Enginemen First Class Mary Bonnin, who graduated from First Class Dive school in 1980, described the arduous process of dressing in the 300-pound Mk V diving suit. The equipment’s design, derived from the Siebe-Gorman Davis Six-Bolt Admiralty Pattern helmet used by the British Navy, was ill-suited for the female form. This necessitated onsite modifications to ensure safety and effectiveness. Sue Trukken, the first woman to attend diving officer training at the Washington Navy Yard in 1980, recounted how she and her team had to improvise solutions to make the equipment work for them. These modifications included wearing tennis shoes and padded socks inside oversized boots and sewing towels into her t-shirt to add additional inches under the breastplate.
By 1981, the Navy introduced the Mk 12 lightweight free-flow fiberglass dive helmet, which brought the combined gear weight down to approximately 120 pounds. While lighter, the Mk 12 still presented ergonomic and fit challenges for many women divers. Caren Gallaudet (nee Ritter), who trained at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL, in 1991, recalled the difficulty of clearing her helmet using the nose-clearing rod. With the help of an instructor, she developed a simple yet effective solution that would later influence upgrades in the Mk-21 helmet. These incremental improvements highlighted the need for continuous innovation to address the unique challenges faced by women divers.
The introduction of the Kirby Morgan Mk 21 in 1993 marked a significant advancement in diving equipment. Adapted from the Superlite 17B used in commercial diving, the Mk 21 featured an internal demand regulator and an adjustable oronasal mask, addressing many previous fit issues. Its inner liner allowed customization for various head sizes, significantly improving overall comfort and security. Navy Diver Chief Petty Officer (retired) Becky Jones, who used the Mk 21, noted the improved adaptability and comfort it provided. The Mk 21’s design allowed for a more secure seal and increased wearer comfort, setting a new standard for diving equipment.
In 2007, the Navy adopted the KM 37 NS helmet, another Kirby Morgan design that built upon the Mk 21 with further enhancements. The KM 37 NS featured a neck ring/neck dam system that provided a more secure seal and increased wearer comfort, alongside improvements to the inner liner. Chief Navy Diver Melissa Nguyen-Alarcon, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, demonstrated the effectiveness of the KM 37 NS during a joint dive-and-salvage exercise with the Republic of Korea divers at Chinhae Naval Base in 2023. The acquisition process is now underway for the latest KM 97 helmets, continuing the tradition of technological advancement in diving equipment.
Over the last 50 years, continual improvements to the Navy’s deep-sea diving helmets and suits have benefited not only women divers but all personnel, enhancing operational safety and mission effectiveness. These advancements underscore the importance of leveraging technological innovations to optimize equipment design for all military personnel. As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Women Navy Divers at the Diving Equipment and Marketing (DEMA) Show in Orlando, FL, from November 11-13, 2025, we invite all veteran, retired, and active-duty women Navy divers, along with their families, friends, and supporters, to join us in commemorating this milestone. For more information, please visit our website at AWND.net. HooYah DeepSea!