Hydrographic Surveying sailors are employed in Leeuwin Class Hydrographic Ships, Survey Motor Launches and the Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Aircraft. All units operate out of Cairns, North Queensland.

Hydrographic Surveying Sailors collect data that is used to produce Australia’s official Nautical Charts as well as hydrographic Military Geospatial Information (MGI). MGI is used to maximise freedom of manoeuvre for warships and submarines, and to maximize tactical advantage during operations. It can be combined with Defence Imagery and other geospatial information to assist strategic and tactical level planning for Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations. Hydrographic MGI underpins the planning and execution of almost all tactical operations at sea.

The Navy, through The Australian Hydrographic Service (AHS) is the Commonwealth Government agency responsible for Charts, Tide Tables and other nautical publications for all ships navigating the seas and oceans around Australia.

The charting area for the ships and units of the Hydrographic Surveying Force covers one eighth of the Earth's surface, stretching as far west as Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, East to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean and from the Solomon Islands to the Antarctic. A survey generally involves a Hydrographic vessel deploying to an area for 8-12 weeks.

The Hydrographic Branch also contains a Deployable Geospatial Support Team, based at the Australian Hydrographic Office in Wollongong. The Unit conducts short surveys in Antarctica and various other locations around Australia and can be deployed at short notice. Further information about the Hydrographic branch is available at the website of the
Australian Hydrographic Service.

Hydrographic Surveying Sailors undertake tasks such as:

• Collection & Processing of Hydrographic data;
• Collection & Processing of Oceanographic data.