South Korea’s Naval Special Warfare Group Completes Historic 80-Meter Mine Disposal Dive

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Battalion of South Korea’s Naval Special Warfare Group has successfully completed the military’s first-ever mine disposal dive training at 80 meters under the sea.

Training took place off the coast of Beomseom Island near Jeju from November 4 to 22. Twenty EOD personnel participated in the exercise, which was designed to enhance diving skills for operations in extreme environments and master mine disposal procedures.

Naval mines are underwater explosives, often referred to as sea mines. When deployed, they can restrict access to harbors or operational zones, making their swift and accurate disposal critical.

Before starting the main training, the personnel familiarized themselves with operating mine disposal diving equipment and emergency rescue and patient evacuation procedures. They then conducted deep-sea dives using the mine disposal diving equipment. Due to the nature of deep-sea diving, decompression procedures were required based on dive duration, and emergency external breathing apparatuses had to be used if necessary. The soldiers sequentially carried out practical training at depths ranging from 30 to 80 meters.

Mine disposal operations are conducted in environments with limited visibility, making teamwork essential. During this training, the soldiers independently performed the roles of dive supervisor, diver, and assistant, demonstrating exceptional teamwork without external assistance.

Major Lee Seung Cheol, who led the training, stated, “I am proud of the soldiers who successfully completed the military’s first 80-meter deep-sea mine disposal dive training. Through realistic training, we will maintain readiness to execute missions flawlessly even in the harshest environments.”