Mine Clearance Diver

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

• Submit an application

  Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

• Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

  You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
  To prepare, you can practise the DAA

• Interview

  A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform

• Diving medical test

  Specific to the rigours of being a diver

• Pre-Joining Fitness Test Plus (PJFT+)

  Three circuits of 20 x burpees, 30 x sit ups, 20 x press ups and a one minute plank. On completion of the three circuits you will have to perform a set of five pull ups. You will do this at a fitness centre near you

• Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

  This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and fitness assessment is a pass or fail course.
As a Diver Candidate you will be expected to demonstrate a higher level of fitness than all other Royal Navy candidates.  

• Start training

Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

Your Royal Navy career begins with 10 weeks’ basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base in Torpoint, Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career.

Aim to get as fit as possible before you arrive, and ensure you adhere to the strict Mine Clearance Diver fitness levels. Being a Diver is such a physically demanding job, you’ll need to maintain a high level of fitness during your career, and will ideally have previous diving experience.

On successful completion of Initial Naval Training you will be required to pass the 2.5 day Pre Diving Assessment (PDA); this will assess your fitness and suitability to be a Navy diver.

Once you’ve got the essential military and maritime skills under your belt, it’s time to start your specialist training.

During your 21 weeks of specialist diving training, you will:

• Practice diving in Portsmouth Harbour
• Learn the theory behind all the equipment you use
• Train in open-water search techniques, beach reconnaissance, mine clearance diving and basic mine warfare
• Use the latest equipment to dive to your maximum depth
• Gain underwater video and engineering skills