Navy divers Johnathan Ballew (left) and Alexander Weber give a demonstration at the Tennessee Aquarium. Ballew's mother, Robin, got to see her son dive for the first time. Both Ballew and Weber have been certified Navy divers since 2008.
The Navy's Trident Dive Team from King's Bay, Ga., spoke at the Tennessee Aquarium Tuesday as part of Navy Week, explaining what they do each day on the job.
"Navy week shows areas that don't have a naval presence where their tax dollars go and what we do," said Leading Chief Petty Officer Kevin Moore.
Moore said that most people rarely see Navy divers in action due to the secure locations where they work, so it is important to them to let the public see them in action.
This dive was also an opportunity for one diver's mother to see him in action for the first time, because she was unable to attend his graduation ceremony.
The aquarium is also partnering with the divers to do a live, interactive dive program each day this week at 1 p.m.
Ballew, who spoke to the audience from an underwater microphone, explained that being a Navy diver is like being an "underwater mechanic."
"I get paid to do what other people pay to do," Ballew said.
After about 15 minutes, the divers returned to the surface.
After they surfaced, the divers (Weber on the left, Ballew on the right) were able to visit with their families who came to see them.
