ADF diver training now tri-service

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds yesterday congratulated graduates from the Australian Defence Force Diving School’s first tri-service diver course.

CAPTION: Able Seaman Samuel Day prepares to conduct a scuba dive during the inagural Australian Defence Force Scuba Diver Course held at HMAS Penguin, Sydney. Photo by Able Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

The course ended in mid September but, aside from some photos published by Defence PR at the time, no information on the course was issued, until yesterday.

During the three-week course, 13 students learnt diving physics, regulations, first aid, how to communicate underwater and how to operate SCUBA equipment.

They conducted a dive under a wharf at HMAS Penguin, a ship’s hull dive on HMAS Vampire in Darling Harbour and a 20 metre limited-visibility dive.

Participants were also introduced to techniques and procedures used in basic underwater searches and practices for diving on ship’s hulls.

Senator Reynolds said that standardising the entry-level training of ADF divers would ensure students across our three Defence Force services were taught the same material and had a uniform understanding of the SCUBA equipment.

“The new diver qualification replaces the Army and Navy single service SCUBA courses and will standardise the use of SCUBA diving equipment across the Australian Defence Force by teaching a common curriculum,” Minister Reynolds said.

“Navy clearance divers and Army work divers are a critical capability for the ADF and frequently operate in tri-service environments and with coalition forces.

“This course is another important step towards building a joint ADF.

“I congratulate the 13 graduates who are the first to complete this intensive course covering the theoretical and practical aspects of ADF diving.”

.

.

.

.

.

.


.


.