NEDU Approaches a Century of Undersea Innovation

Written by: Sean Kim, VP of Governmental/Military Affairs

Bay County’s identity and economy are closely connected to the U.S. military. While much of the region’s recent attention has focused on the rebuilding of Tyndall Air Force Base, Naval Support Activity Panama City remains an important part of the local economy and a center for maritime defense, research and technological development.

At a recent First Friday meeting, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce turned the spotlight toward undersea research with a presentation from the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, or NEDU. As the command prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027, Chamber members learned about NEDU’s history, current mission and plans to commemorate a century of experimental diving.

Connecting Local Enterprise with Defense Innovation

First Friday brought local business leaders, defense contractors, civilian professionals and military personnel together to learn more about the research and testing conducted at NEDU.

The relationship between Bay County’s military installations and the surrounding community extends beyond the installation gates. Military missions support employment, contracting opportunities, education and workforce development while creating opportunities for collaboration among the military, private industry and research institutions.

Events such as First Friday give Chamber members an opportunity to better understand those missions and the people behind them.

A Century of Undersea Research: 1927-2027

Established at the Washington Navy Yard in 1927, NEDU was created to address challenges associated with diving and undersea operations. The unit relocated to Panama City in 1973, and its Ocean Simulation Facility was dedicated in 1975.

Today, NEDU conducts research, testing and evaluation of diving and hyperbaric equipment, procedures and systems designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of Navy divers and special operations forces. The command employs approximately 150 military and civilian personnel.

Its work over the decades has contributed to advances in decompression procedures, breathing systems, diving equipment, hyperbaric medicine and underwater operations.

At the center of that research is NEDU's Ocean Simulation Facility, or OSF, at NSA Panama City. The complex of hyperbaric chambers can simulate pressures equivalent to depths of up to 2,250 feet of seawater, allowing researchers and active-duty divers to study the effects of pressure on the human body, evaluate equipment and develop diving procedures in a controlled environment.

The OSF marked its 50th anniversary in 2025.

Looking Ahead to NEDU's Centennial

A key focus of the First Friday presentation was NEDU's approaching 100th anniversary.

Centennial activities are being planned for May 2027 to recognize the command's contributions to military and scientific diving and the military and civilian personnel who have been part of that history. NEDU has publicly announced May 6-8, 2027, as dates to save for its centennial milestone, with additional activities and community partnerships surrounding the anniversary.

The Man in the Sea Museum is also partnering in the centennial celebration and will host a NEDU 100th Anniversary event May 8 at the Majestic Beach Resort Conference Center in Panama City Beach.

Plans shared with Chamber members include opportunities to highlight the history of diving, recognize NEDU alumni, showcase advancements in underwater technology and research, engage students through STEM outreach and introduce future generations to careers associated with diving, engineering, science and undersea research.

Additional details are expected as the centennial approaches.

Strengthening Economic and Technical Ties

NEDU's presence also connects Bay County to a highly specialized defense and research ecosystem.

Its mission requires military divers as well as scientists, engineers, medical professionals, researchers and technical specialists. NEDU also evaluates diving and life-support equipment and works to ensure equipment, procedures and systems meet the operational needs of Navy divers.

Those capabilities create connections among military research, private industry, higher education and the local workforce while reinforcing Bay County's longstanding role in undersea defense and diving.

The relationship works both ways. During the First Friday presentation, NEDU representatives emphasized the role the Bay County community plays in supporting military personnel and the command's research and testing mission.

"The collaboration is phenomenal," Lt. Cmdr. Krishnan Rajagopalan of NEDU told WJHG following the event, describing the community's welcome of military members and opportunities to interact with local leaders.

The Next 100 Years

NEDU's centennial offers an opportunity to recognize a century of scientific discovery and military service, but the milestone also points toward what comes next.

Research in diving physiology, hyperbaric medicine, life-support systems and underwater technology continues in Panama City today. NEDU's current leadership has emphasized that the command's work remains focused on expanding what is possible beneath the surface while improving the safety and capabilities of Navy divers.

As centennial plans develop, Chamber members and the Bay County community will have opportunities to learn more about NEDU's history, its current mission and the people who will carry that work into its second century.

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce thanks the Navy Experimental Diving Unit for sharing its mission and centennial plans with our members and for nearly five decades of research, innovation and service from its home in Bay County.

How to Stay Connected

As NEDU approaches this historic milestone, the Chamber encourages local business leaders to follow campaign updates and explore partnership opportunities ahead of the May 2027 events.

You can follow NEDU's official channels for operational news and centennial updates:

• Instagram: @navyXdivingUnit
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/NAVXDIVU
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/navy-x-diving-unit
• Centennial Day of Diving Instagram: @DayofDiving2027

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce thanks the leadership at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit for sharing their vision with our members, and we look forward to supporting NSA Panama City and NEDU as they prepare to celebrate 100 years of service beneath the surface.