From repairing buoys to making history: Meet the US Coast Guard diver who became the first 'Coastie' to complete the Navy's toughest diving course
Long before becoming the first 'Coastie' Master Diver, he was repairing buoys A question in 2020 inspired a new goal The Master Diver course is
Long before becoming the first 'Coastie' Master Diver, he was repairing buoys A question in 2020 inspired a new goal The Master Diver course is one of the military's toughest A surprise reunion revealed he had passed An unexpected conversation at a Coast Guard unit in Seattle set Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Hansen on a path that would eventually lead to a historic achievement. After years spent repairing navigation buoys, restoring maritime aids and carrying out underwater missions from Massachusetts to Antarctica, Hansen has become the first member of the US Coast Guard to complete the Navy's prestigious Master Diver course. Considered the highest level of qualification an enlisted military diver can earn, the achievement marks a major milestone for the Coast Guard's relatively young diving community and could pave the way for future generations of divers.Hansen was serving as a machinery technician with the Maritime Safety and Security Team Seattle when his Executive Officer handed him a solicitation for candidates interested in joining the Coast Guard Diving Program. Drawn by the opportunity to take on a new challenge, he applied and was selected for Dive Candidate Training.
In 2015, he graduated as part of the first class of rated Coast Guard divers, just weeks after the Diver (DV) rating was officially established.Although Hansen quickly embraced his new identity as a diver, he originally planned to spend only four years in the specialty before applying to the Coast Guard Investigative Service.That plan changed as his love for diving grew. The profession satisfied his curiosity, offered opportunities for travel and provided the constant problem-solving that he enjoyed. Eventually, he decided he couldn't imagine giving it up.Over the years, Hansen participated in numerous underwater operations. He repaired and repositioned navigation buoys from Massachusetts to Palau and carried out missions involving piers in Antarctica. He particularly enjoyed restoring damaged aids to navigation, taking pride in leaving them "pristine afterwards". The work allowed him to combine technical expertise with a passion for exploration.While serving at the Coast Guard Diver School House in 2020, Hansen and his fellow divers were discussing the future of the service's diving programme. Since Coast Guard personnel already attended the Navy's first- and second-class dive schools, Hansen wondered why they didn't pursue the Navy's highest diving qualification.
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