VIRGINIA BEACH -- A Virginia Beach-based Navy diver died during a diving operation off North Carolina.
He has been identified as Second Class Petty Officer Taylor Gallant. He was 22 years old.
The sailor was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Ft. Story.
The Navy said the sailor was embarked on the Canadian navy ship HMCS Summerside Thursday.
Naval Expeditionary Combat Command is investigating.
The unit is preparing for Bold Alligator 2012, an amphibious training exercise, the Navy said.
EODMU-12 was established Jan. 10, 2008 as the first EOD mobile unit specifically created with the necessary structure to deploy as a single unit, with both the headquarters element and EOD platoons deploying together.
The Navy says EODs are elite teams for countering improvised explosive devices, weapons of mass destruction, and all other types of weaponry. Navy EOD Technicians are "first in," enabling combat operations on the ground, in the air, and under the sea.
