A clearance diver was originally a specialist naval
diver who used
explosivesunderwater to remove obstructions to make harbours and shipping channels safe to navigate, but the term "clearance diver" was later used to include other naval underwater work. Units of clearance divers were first formed during and after
World War II to clear ports and harbours in the
Mediterranean and Northern Europe of
unexploded ordnance and shipwrecks and
booby traps laid by the Germans.
History
The first units were
Royal Navy Mine and
Bomb Disposal Units. They were succeeded by the "Port Clearance Parties" (P Parties). The first operations by P Parties included clearing away the debris of unexploded ammunition left during the
Normandy Invasion. During
World War II Navies used the heavy surface-supplied
standard diving dress before changing to lighter self-contained rebreather equipment.[citation needed]
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Training
Admission to clearance diver training requires the candidate to pass medical and physical fitness screening and to be a member of the relevant military force.[1]
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Scope of activity
The scope of activity for a clearance diver varies depending on the specific armed force in which they are a member, but historically the most defining competence is skills in underwater demolition using explosives. The closely associated skills in explosive ordnance disposal are also generally implied by the designation.
This section needs expansion with: What does a clearance diver do?. You can help by
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adding to it. (December 2021)
Asia
India: The Indian Clearance Divers are known for their multi faceted ability. They have a variety of expertise in underwater explosives, explosive ordnance disposal,
clandestine operations,
salvage operations and
saturation diving up to 275m.
France: The French Navy clearance divers are known as plongeurs démineurs.[3] The French Army also has clearance divers named plongeurs de combat du génie[4] that operate in
freshwater environments. Although they are trained in demolition and explosives clearance, they also survey river banks and possible crossing areas.
Training to become a Clearance Diver takes around 7 months. Before trainees are accepted onto a course, they must pass a week-long diving aptitude selection, held at the Defence Diving School, on
Horsea Island, Portsmouth. This selection involves passing the Divers Physical Fitness Test (DPFT), tests of physical and mental endurance and surface swimming. The candidates are also introduced to the Royal Navy's Swimmers Air Breathing Apparatus and dive in Horsea lake, including night dives. Historically, the failure rate has been high due to the physical and psychological pressures of military diving, so there is a three-day Pre Entry Diving Acquaint (PEDA), which allows prospective candidates to undergo physical and mental tests to give them a better idea of what to expect of the training.[citation needed]
The diving branch is formed of teams, that serve aboard
mine hunters, perform domestic bomb, mine and
IED disposal and the two Fleet Diving Groups (FDG).
Expeditionary Diving Group (EDG) comes under
3 Commando Brigade specialising in Very Shallow Water (VSW) beach reconnaissance operations, working alongside UK Special Forces (UKSF). New members are trained in parachuting, maritime counter-terrorism (MCT) tactics and
swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) operations.[13]
Tactical Diving Group (TDG) is the deep-water warfare unit who specialise in sea mine disposal. Members cross-train with EDG.
Clearance divers have been involved in every major British conflict since their inception and have most recently deployed teams to Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. They have units operating in the
Persian Gulf and
Indian Ocean providing an underwater force protection (UWFP) element. See Operation Kipion.[citation needed]
From 2022 Royal Navy Divers will come under the Diving & Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) based in
Portsmouth,
Plymouth and
Faslane. It comprises:
A Squadron (formerly Tactical Diving Group) Special operations squadron - Horsea Island, Portsmouth.
B Squadron (formerly Southern Diving Group) Homeland Defence in support of Op Tapestry and IWMAR diving to SURFLOT, geographically distributed between Horsea Island, Portsmouth and HMNB Devonport
C Squadron (formerly Northern Diving Group) Homeland Defence in support of Op Tapestry and IWMAR diving to SUBFLOT, located in HMNB Clyde.
D Squadron (formerly Expeditionary Diving Group) MTG, LRG / JEF(M) facing, located at Horsea Island, Portsmouth.
E Squadron (Explosive exploitation) Horsea Island, Portsmouth, with options to disperse force elements to HMNB Clyde and Devonport.[14][15]
Navy EOD, 1941–Present. In 1941
Draper Kauffman established the U.S. Naval Mine School at
Naval Gun Factory in Washington, D.C., and subsequently the Bomb Disposal School was established. In 1943, Kauffman selected men from the EOD school to create the
Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDU) teams that would take part in the landing at Normandy. The first U.S. casualty in mine disposal was in 1942, when Ensign John M. Howard was killed when he attempted to dismantle a booby-trapped German magnetic submarine-laid moored mine. About 20 trained bomb and mine disposal personnel, were killed in action during WWII.[citation needed]
Australia: The Royal Australian Navy
Clearance Diving Branch divers serve as
combat divers[17] on tactical operations using oxygen rebreathers, mine counter-measures, and underwater battle damage repair. Work may include underwater searches and salvage, and neutralising explosive devices. Clearance diver qualification is recognised for civilian equivalences with accreditation through the
Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS) .[18]
^Goble, Steve (2003).
"Rebreathers". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal. 33 (2): 98–102. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.{{
cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link)