About the Job
See the world in a way few have in this action-packed diving and combat role.
Whether you have recently finished school, currently studying, already in the workforce or you have no experience at all, you'll be paid from day one. You'll gain all the skills needed with extensive on-the-job training.
As a Navy Diver (known in the Navy as Clearance Diver), you'll work with a team to complete diving missions and operations to depths of up to 80 metres, from a ship or ashore. Diving operations could include neutralising and disposing underwater explosives, search missions, underwater engineering and maintenance, tactical operations, underwater demolitions, and more.
During your career, you will be rotated through a variety of sea and shore positions. This could include being rotated to mine hunting vessels, Australian clearance diving teams, 2nd Commando Regiment, operation and support roles, major fleet units and instructional roles.
Your duties could include, but aren’t limited to:
- Neutralising, rendering safe, and the disposal of sea mines and explosives
- Search and salvage operations
- Above and underwater demolitions
- Underwater scouting, inspections and surveying
- Maritime counter terrorism
- Underwater maintenance, engineering and repair of ships' hull and fittings
- Using underwater electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic tools, including welding, ultra-thermic cutting, chainsaws, grinding, jackhammer and lift bag operations
- Using specialist diving equipment, including circuit re-breathers, handheld sonars, remote positioning vehicles, portable x-ray devices and disruptors
- Mine warfare and counter measures
- Expeditionary reconnaissance and clearance missions
- Amphibious operations
- Instructional and training duties
- Maritime tactical operations
- Provide specialist support for boarding parties
Due to the intensity and nature of the role's duties and environment, an ongoing high degree of stamina and physical fitness is required.
As a sailor, you’ll learn additional skills and duties to become highly trained and efficient in supporting the whole ship. This may include ship security, boarding party, firefighting team, flood repair, flight deck duties, ammunitioning, first aid or line handling.
You'll enjoy a competitive salary package, career stability, opportunities for continuous progression and an adventurous lifestyle, all while making a difference to Australia.
To succeed with the Navy tomorrow, apply today.
Other Ranks - Non Technical
Join the ADF with appropriate high school passes
Key Information
Preparing for Your Recruitment Process
This document provides information that will assist applicants for roles in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including details about the recruitment process, how to prepare yourself for assessment, and what to expect if you are successful in joining the Australian Defence Force.
Salary & Allowances
In the Navy you'll get paid a good salary from day one regardless of your age, experience or qualifications; and your pay increases as you progress through training.
In addition to your salary you'll receive a variety of allowances, extra pay for relevant qualifications – plus 16.4% superannuation, a far higher rate than you're likely to find in the civilian world.
For more details download our
Salary Scales.
Locations
All Sailors will serve in fleet units and shore establishments on a rotational basis.
Requirements
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and able to complete the Initial Minimum Period of Service before reaching Compulsory Retirement Age (60).
Education & Experience
The minimum educational standard to be eligible to apply for entry is successful completion of Year 10, which must include passes in English and Mathematics.
Medical & Fitness
To be appointed, you must be medically and physically fit for entry into the ADF. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination. You will also be required to pass a physical fitness test before appointment.
You must also pass the swim test and physical fitness test to graduate from your Navy Training and to proceed to the Safety of Life at Sea Training that is a requirement for Recruit School and Officer training.
Service as a Navy Diver is physically and mentally demanding and requires a high level of individual robustness, strength, and endurance. Training can extend over 18-hour days and seven-day weeks and involve very heavy physical activity. Therefore, you must be medically and physically fit to undertake Navy Diver training.
Applicants must pass a diving medical before being able to join the diver workgroup. Certain illnesses and disabilities relating to diving, particularly pulmonary complaints such as asthma will normally disbar applicants.
You will be required to successfully pass a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA) before enlistment. This PFA requires you to achieve a higher standard than the general entry fitness level for the Navy.
You must be able to complete all components:
- 30 push ups
- 25 sit-ups
- Beep test (shuttle run) to level 10.1
The RANST is conducted to ensure the Navy's duty of care to all serving personnel, with respect to rudimentary swimming skills. The purpose of the RANST is to ensure fundamental water survival skills as a prerequisite to training such as survival at sea training. Individual components of the RANST are fundamentally related to the survival at sea scenario.
Competency in the RANST is achieved through completion of each component:
- A safety jump off a 3m tower in overalls
- A 10m underwater swim in overalls
- A 50m swim using three safety strokes
- The ability to tread water or float for 15 mins in overalls
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards refer to Physical Fitness Standards for Entry into the ADF and Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.
Period of Service
You will be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of six years. On enlistment if you elect to serve an open ended enlistment, you will be able to serve until retirement age, subject to your continued suitability for service. If you elect to serve for a fixed period of service, subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service.
Your Careers Coach can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation.
Additional Requirements
The holder of the licence must also be free of traffic infringements that may cause future cancellation of the licence.
Aptitude
The Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA) is completed as part of the application process to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Some jobs may also require you to complete a further evaluation at a later date.
The JOA is used by Defence to establish suitability for ADF entry, and then identify jobs that best match your abilities.
Further information about the JOA can be found in the Guide to the Job Opportunities Assessment for the ADF.
To get a feel for the types of questions that are used in the Job Opportunities Assessment and how they will look on your screen some examples can be found in the Job Opportunities Assessment Example Questions.
Citizenship
To serve in the ADF you must be an Australian Citizen.
If you are a permanent resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary deferral of the citizenship requirement if the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian Citizenship as early as possible following enlistment or appointment.
Find out more in our Citizenship page or ask your local Defence Force Recruiting Centre.
Security Requirements
The Department of Defence requires ADF employees to have a security clearance appropriate to their employment.
A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and if required, interviews, enables the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance.
The minimum security clearance level required is Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), and current policy requires applicants to have a checkable background for the previous 10 years.
This means applicants must provide credible referees (non-family members) who are able to provide information about the applicant covering an extended period of time. Required information for an NV1 includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Residence
- Employment
- Education
- Financial information
- Travel
Some ADF jobs may require a higher level of security clearance such as Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) or Positive Vetting (PV). Your individual circumstances will determine the number and complexity of the questions and the supporting documents required for these levels.
Australian Citizenship is a requirement for a security clearance and a clearance will only be granted to a non-citizen in exceptional circumstances.
The security clearance is critical to an applicant's successful progression through the recruiting process. It is strongly recommended that all applicants action the Security Clearance Package (ePack) and provide the required documentation without delay to provide the best opportunity to commence training and be employed in their preferred employment category.
For more detailed information on the security vetting process and specific clearance level requirements set by AGSVA, please refer to the AGSVA website.
Support will be provided by DFR during the initial application process.
Training
Military Training
Duration: 9 weeks
Location: Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria
All sailors who join the Navy will conduct their initial sailor training at the RAN Recruit School prior to commencing specific category training. The NESC course is designed to prepare you to conduct basic duties as a sailor. Some of the key components of the NESC course are:
- Physical fitness: General fitness and the Navy swim test
- Military life: General service knowledge, including drill and ceremonial procedures
- Specialty skills: Weapons training, workplace safety, first aid and sailing
- Navy skills: Seamanship, corrosion control, survival at sea and fire and flood control,
- A one week sea familiarisation period
Recruits, who successfully complete all components of the course will participate in a Graduation Parade to mark the occasion. Recruits will have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.
On completion of NESC course, all sailors will proceed on to their respective employment training specific to their category. For further information, please see the RAN Recruit School joining instructions Navy recruit school website.
Employment Training
Duration: 52 weeks
Location: ADF Diving School, HMAS Penguin, Sydney, NSW
The course runs for approximately 50 weeks plus a 1 week Clearance Diver Aptitude Assessment.
The course includes:
- Fitness Standards
- Phase 1: Recruit Training - Prior to enlistment.
- Phase 2: Preliminary introductory dive and fitness test of suitability - during Recruit training at ADF Dive School
- Phase 3: Clearance Divers Aptitude Assessment Test - During your Clearance Diver Aptitude Assessment Test you will be required to meet Navy Fitness Test and Swim Test requirements.
- Phase 4: Clearance Divers Initial Employment Training - You will conduct programmed daily physical training designed to develop strength and conditioning to support your future career.
Candidates must successfully complete the Clearance Diver Aptitude Assessment Test and be recommended by a selection panel to undertake further training. If you do not complete the Clearance Diver Aptitude Assessment Test or are not recommended to continue further training, you may be required to:
- Transfer to another employment workgroup (subject to Navy requirements) or
- Discharge At Own Request (DAOR)