Deep-Sea Stories with Master Diver Mark Leet

Master Chief Master Diver Mark Leet first enlisted into the U.S. Navy in September of 1978.  Mark explains how he went to Navy 2nd Class Dive School twice in 1980 and again in 1984.  He went to First class dive school in 1986 and then qualified as a Navy Master Diver in February 1999.  The commands that MDV Leet served at were; USS Papago ATF-160, USS Petrel ASR-14, Harbor Clearance Unit Two, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit TWO, USS Conserver ARS-39, Naval Experimental Dive Unit, USS Ortolan ASR-22, Naval Ocean Systems Center San Diego, California, USS Dixon AS-37, Consolidated Divers Unit, Instructor Duty at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center Panama City, Florida, CG I MEF 1st Force Reconnaissance Co, USS Grapple ARS-53, Naval Submarine Escape Training Facility, 2nd Marine Division FMF Atlantic, Naval Submarine Support Facility, Naval Pressurized Submarine Escape Training Facility.  Master Chief Leet served tours of duty as a Command Master Chief at USS Grapple, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, and the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center.

Mark discusses his involvement with the Swissair Flight 111 recovery mission and diving with the Canadian dive forces.  During that time, Mark conducted recertification of the first mixed gas dive system when the Navy Dive program brought back mixed gas diving.  Mark assisted the Canadians with standing up their mixed gas dive systems. 

Navy Master Divers that inspired Mark to become a Navy Master Diver were Master Diver Jimmy Johnson, Master Diver Frank Bosky, Master Diver Leno Mattioni, Master Diver Richard “Ragman” Radecki, and Master Diver Ted Griggs.

Mark recalls these most notable names during his career; Master Diver Eric Frank, Master Diver Paul McMurtry, Master Diver John Coffelt, Jim Hordinski, Master Diver Neil Wolfe, Jay Rusin, Karl Froisy, Brian Fitzgerald, Bradley Howells, John Putnam, Bobbie “Tex” McClain, Troy Hunsberger, Jonnamen Jones, Dive Med Tech Scott Allison, Mike Cockrill, Tony Parker, Charito Tano, Master Diver Billy Gilbert, Navy Diver Chief Becky Jones, Master Diver Kevin Jones, Dive Medical Tech Corey St Pierre, Navy Diver William Tuckerman, Dennis Elsasser, Master Diver Todd Rood, Master Diver Rick Storment, Sarah Tres, Skippy Borden, and Master Diver Kyle Gaillard.