Navy Divers — ND ratings (formerly designated as Diver ratings within other specialties and established as an independent rating in 2006 from the former Master Diver designation) — performed underwater ship hull inspections, propeller and rudder repair, underwater welding and cutting, mine disposal, and salvage operations. Navy Diver billets were at Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Units, Salvage Ship (ARS) and Rescue and Salvage Ship commands, Naval Sea Systems Command diving activities, and at numbered Fleet diving commands at major fleet concentrations.

Ship Hull Diving and Asbestos Exposure

Navy Divers working on ship hulls and in salvage operations accumulated asbestos exposure:

  • Ship hull insulation repair and inspection — Navy Divers performing underwater inspection and repair work on ship hulls of older vessels worked in proximity to the ship’s underwater hull, which incorporated asbestos-containing materials in the hull construction of WWII-era and Cold War-era ships. Underwater welding and cutting on older hull sections disturbed asbestos-containing coatings and insulation materials applied to the underwater hull in the ship’s original construction
  • Salvage ship and rescue vessel operations — Navy Divers assigned to salvage ships (ARS) and rescue and salvage ships (ARS/ARSD) worked from these vessels performing bottom surveys, casualty assessment dives, and salvage operations on grounded or sunk vessels whose interiors may have contained significant asbestos from their original construction
  • Confined space diving in ship interiors — during flood control or salvage operations requiring divers to enter flooded ship interior compartments, Navy Divers worked in the asbestos-containing interior construction of flooded ships, with the disturbed interior construction and insulation materials creating exposure during these confined space operations

Shore Diving Training Facilities and Asbestos

Navy Divers attending training accumulated secondary exposure from facility building stock:

  • Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (Panama City, FL) — the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center at Panama City, Florida used training building stock with asbestos-containing construction materials in the facilities where dive training programs were conducted
  • Dive locker and training facility buildings — the dive locker, equipment maintenance, and administrative buildings supporting Navy diving units at shore commands used standard naval shore facility construction with asbestos-containing building products from the WWII and Cold War construction era

VA Claims for ND Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure in Navy diving and salvage operations. Navy Divers who performed hull repair, salvage, or confined space diving operations on older vessels with asbestos-containing construction and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.