DEFENCE INSTRUCTIONS (NAVY)

Department of Defence (Navy Headquarters) CANBERRA ACT 2600 19 March 2004 Amendments to Defence Instruction (Navy) OPS 162 are issued pursuant to sections 9(2) and 9A(3) of the Defence Act 1903.

C.A. RITCHIE Vice Admiral, RAN Chief of Navy

ISSUE NO OPS 2/2004

Amendment OPS 162 AMDT NO 1 (Complete Revision) Cancellations DI(N) OPS 162 ISSUE NO OPS 9/94 of 14 DEC 94 is cancelled. DI(N) OPS 106 ISSUE NO OPS 5/2000 of 26 JUL 2000 is cancelled (information contained in ABR 1834, volumes 1 to 4). DI(N) OPS 532 ISSUE NO OPS 16/96 of 7 AUG 96 (incorporated into AMTP 10). Holders of the CONFIDENTIAL instruction are to carry out appropriate disposal action in accordance with the Defence Security Manual (DSM). DI(N) OPS 821 ISSUE NO OPS 9/96 of 2 APR 96 (information obsolete). Diving in the Royal Australian Navy
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DI(N) OPS 162 (Complete Revision)

DIVING IN THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

INTRODUCTION

1. This instruction has been revised to detail the organisation and roles of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) general service ships diver, which were last promulgated in 1 June 1989. 2. Naval divers perform a wide range of underwater tasks in support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) directives. Clearance Divers (CD) are the ADFs specialist divers, who undertake underwater disposal and demolition of enemy ordnance and maritime assets. Defence Instruction (Navy) OPS 161Australian Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Force Element Group details the roles and tasks of the Mine Warfare Clearance Diving Group. 3. Naval Reserve (NR) personnel may specialise as NR divers within the NR Seaman Branch.

4. Personnel from other branches may acquire a supplementary diving qualification (general service non-category) that enables them to perform specific diving tasks to support their parent units. General service divers are formed into ships diving teams and are able to conduct hull and sub-surface searches. They are also able to carry out routine underwater planned hull maintenance, utilising Self-Contained Underwater Breathing ApparatusAir (SCUBA AIR) diving equipment.

ORGANISATION
Royal Australian Navy Diver Categories 5. RAN Divers are divided into the following categories: a. b. CD. CD is a full specialist qualification within the Seaman Branch.

SCUBA AIR Diver (SAD). SAD is a supplementary qualification open to all branches within the RAN, enabling officers and sailors to conduct routine underwater hull planned maintenance and searches to a depth as detailed in Australian Book of Reference (ABR) 155RAN Diving Manual, volume 2. NR Diver. NR diver is a full specialist qualification within the Seaman Branch of the NR enabling personnel to supplement the Underwater Battle Damage Repair and Fleet Support activities of the Australian Clearance Diving Teams (AUSCDT) to depths as detailed in ABR 155.
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c.

Royal Australian Navy Diving Supervisor Categories 6. RAN diving supervisors are divided into five categories: a.

Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer (MCDO). MCDO is a specialist qualification within the Seaman Branch that enables officers who have completed the MCDOs Course to supervise all RAN diving within the limits detailed in ABR 155. Advanced CD. Advanced CD are Senior Sailors of the CD Branch who are qualified to supervise diving within the limits detailed in ABR 155. Intermediate CD. Intermediate CD are Leading Seaman CD who are qualified to supervise diving within the limits detailed in ABR 155. SCUBA AIR Supervisor. SCUBA AIR supervisor is a supplementary qualification open to all branches within the RAN. The qualification enables an officer or Senior Sailor to supervise diving within the limits detailed in ABR 155. NR Diving Supervisor. NR diving supervisor is a sub-specialist qualification within the NR enabling Senior Sailors to supervise diving in accordance with ABR 155.

b. c. d.

e.

OPS 2/2004 19 MAR 2004 AL1

Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving School 7. The RAN Diving School at HMAS PENGUIN conducts the following training: a. b. c. d. e. f. CD category training for officers and sailors; General service (non-category) training for ships diving and demolition teams; NR diver category training and underwater tool technicians; Defence Cooperation Program category diving training; demolition training; and Army work divers and dive supervisors.

SelfContained Underwater Breathing ApparatusAir Diving in the Maritime Command

8. The Maritime Commander Australia (MCAUST) directs appropriate units to have ships diving teams trained to: a. b. c. d. e. defend ships and installations against swimmer attack, by conducting underwater searches as part of an Operation AWKWARD organisation/Force Protection; perform general underwater searches and recovery operations; carry out limited underwater clearing, maintenance and ships husbandry tasks; assist AUSCDT in the conduct of more complex underwater maintenance tasks; and examine the ships hull and underwater fittings.

9. Ships diving teams consist of members of the Ships Company who are qualified as SCUBA AIR divers. The required strength of these teams is promulgated in Australian Fleet Tactical Publication 1Maritime Command Orders (MARORDS).

SPONSORSHIP AND POLICY

Sponsorship

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10. Commander Australian Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group (COMAUSNAVMCDGRP) is the general service diving sponsor and is responsible to the Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) and MCAUST for coordinating diving issues, including changes to regulations and allowances. All diving submissions with respect to diving regulations and allowances are to be staffed through Staff Officer Policy Development (SO POLDEV). Operational policy
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11. COMAUSNAVMCDGRP (SO POLDEV in consultation with COMMCDTG) is responsible to MCAUST and DCN for developing MCD and general service diving operational policy for this instruction. Contact details
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12. Comments/inquiries on the content of this instruction should be directed to Staff Officer Policy and Development, Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group, HMAS WATERHEN, Balls Head Road, WAVERTON NSW 2060, telephone (02) 9926 2151 or facsimile (02) 9926 2166.

Sponsor:

COMAUSNAVMCDGRP

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