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Mine Clearance Diver
Job Role

Mine Clearance Diver

You’ll identify mines or other explosives and dispose of them, whether they’re in shallow water or out at sea.

Fast trackTechnologyAdventureOutdoor jobsTacticalWarfareStrategicApprenticeships
  • £25,200 - £62,073
  • No qualifications
  • Surface Fleet
  • Warfare
  • Rating level

At a glance

This job sits within the Warfare Profession and is a Warfare Rating role. From the moment you join, you’ll train to become a world-class diver, travelling the world as part bomb disposal expert, part sub-aqua specialist. It’s physically demanding, but hugely rewarding.

royal navy clearance diver approaching underwater mine
When the unmanned systems can’t be used to dispose of a device, I’m the person everyone looks to. Knowing that I’m playing a big part in keeping people safe is a great feeling.

Tom

Mine Clearance Diver, Warfare Profession

Role details

What you’ll do

From the moment you join, you’ll train to become a world-class diver, wherever you are in the world. Being a Royal Navy Mine Clearance Diver means you’re part bomb disposal master, part sub-aqua specialist. Because there’s only a handful of divers on any ship, you’ll form close bonds with your team and be central to their – and your crewmates’ – safety. This is one of the most physically demanding roles in the Royal Navy. And it’s hugely rewarding too.

Your role

  • Play a central role in maritime counter-terror operations, whether you’re shore-based or on board a ship.
  • Work collaboratively and inspire team morale, from pairing up on dives, to helping prepare your mate’s equipment.
  • Embrace constant challenges, develop your skills, and have the opportunity to progress quickly to a Command role. 
  • Learn how to deal with a range of ordnance, from state-of-the-art mines to World War Two devices.

Pay & benefits

  • A starting salary of at least £25,200
  • Increasing up to £62,073 as a WO1 basic pay
  • Additional EOD pay on completing training starts at £8,537 raising to £21,798 depending on skills and experience as your career progresses
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care
  • Additional diving pay of at least £4.62 per day when qualified

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • We’ll make a contribution towards GCSEs, Masters degrees, and everything in between
  • Specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses

Skills you'll develop

  • The ability to work accurately and calmly under extreme pressure in challenging and potentially dangerous situations
  • How to use hydraulic tools and hand tools to conduct basic underwater engineering
  • Various search methods on air and mixed gas diving life support equipment while working to a maximum depth of 60 metres

Eligibility

  • Aged 17 to 37
  • You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • You must have lived in the UK for 5 years continuously prior to application
  • A minimum height of 145cm
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)

Skills & Interests

  • An ability to thrive in high-pressure situations
  • A love of teamwork
  • A passion for life at sea
  • A sense of adventure
  • A high level of physical and mental fitness

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.

Got a question?

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