Navy Clearance Divers

[liverpool01]

Top tip; Keep your mouth shut at the right times - which is most of the time - you can be as cocky as you like once you have the badge on your arm.

Berko

That's more than just a top tip Berko - I think that's just about the best bit of advice anyone could give him.

Nik

[Chucker]

That's not the first time i've been told that!

[Paul Oliver]

Thats a top tip for anyone doing any Military course, its all been done before and the best are often rather quiet

[Diving Dude]

....and the best are often rather quiet

You mean that they have less than 8,000 posts on an open forum?

[Silent Diver]

Thats a top tip for anyone doing any Military course

Yep eyes and ears open gob shut best advice ever








Well apart from: dont eat yellow snow

[SSN-REA]

I did the now defunkt ships divers course in 2000 and seriously considered a branch change to CD.

Like many others who have posted my advice is to get fit. Every morning on a diving course begins with circuits, as an example of what to expect here is what I was doing on the two week long harbour phase of my course:

Run around the deck of HMS Fearless in a dry bag carrying your finns, jump in off the side, Finn around the ship, climb out, do press ups and then repeat a number of times.

The bad news your CD course will be tougher than my ships diver course, expect mud runs too.
The good news is that if like me your not keen on jumping off high stuff there are fewer big ships like Fearless in Portsmouth these days.

All Navy diver training is more ‘touchy-feely’ these days due to the HSE kicking the Navy’s arse over the way they used to train but you can still expect lots of physical training.

Once you have started to dive put what you have learnt from BSAC/PADI etc to the back of your mind, the military diving drills and procedures are very different to what you’ll be accustomed to.

Lastly, don’t be put off by negative comments, I’ve never met a CD who does not love his job, in a few months to could be a big girly premadona like the rest of them.

[nik_the_brief]

If you're looking for a nice all round fitness workout you could do a lot worse than checking out the Royal Marines website. They have a 'training tool' interactive learning thing here Royal Marines Commando - Training Tool which is what they suggest aspiring Marines use to get fit enough to apply.

It's tried and tested as a system and I'm guessing that if you're fit enough to keep up with that programme then you should have the basics you require for the CD selection course. As others have said it's as much mental strength and attitude as it is physical strength that's required. This is pretty much the same for any 'elite' unit.

Also I'd recommend reading Tony Groom's (Groupie59) book "Diver". A bloody good read and a fair amount of detail of what you'll be likely to face - but you'll have already seen that from his 'Not exactly normal' thread.

[Sparky750]

If you're looking for a nice all round fitness workout you could do a lot worse than checking out the Royal Marines website. They have a 'training tool' interactive learning thing here Royal Marines Commando - Training Tool which is what they suggest aspiring Marines use to get fit enough to apply.

It's tried and tested as a system and I'm guessing that if you're fit enough to keep up with that programme then you should have the basics you require for the CD selection course. As others have said it's as much mental strength and attitude as it is physical strength that's required. This is pretty much the same for any 'elite' unit.

Also I'd recommend reading Tony Groom's (Groupie59) book "Diver". A bloody good read and a fair amount of detail of what you'll be likely to face - but you'll have already seen that from his 'Not exactly normal' thread.

Yep that's pretty much the course the recruiting office gave me to use although in those days it was just a photocopy I thought i was fit before i started that worked well for me though. As berko said stay quiet i was told be the "Grey man" and pulled it off quite well it was well over half way before the training team new my name saved me a lot of "extra duties" they tend to pick on those they know They soon made up for it though Oh and don't get fit in a gym get outside running, press-ups, sit-ups and bastards etc {press-up, burpie and star jump in one) Gym fit people tend to suffer outside in the cold wind and rain

[flufffreeman]

Try having a look here, I think this will have all your answers....

The Navy Net: Rum Ration Forums General Newbies Mine Clearance Diver - All you need to know. (Mirrors, etc)

Good luck with the course, dont forget your hair gel, shades and top up that permatan...

[Chucker]

Just had a call from my Navy Branch saying that the Divers Aquaint is going to be in July unless there's any drop outs on a course before then and he'll put me on.
He said that the Training in Raleigh/Horsea (after the Aquaint) probably wont be for another 5/6 months again!! bloody ages!.

The waiting list from the time you apply to the time you begin training can be 'up to 16 months'!. There's apparently a lot of people applying to be divers at the moment so that's why there's such a long waiting list