Pre-joining Requirements
- Be a minimum of 17 years of age
- Have completed at least three years of secondary education
- Be a NZ citizen or have permanent residency and have lived in NZ for five years
- Be medically fit for service
- Be of good character – assessed by study of testimonials and a police record check
- Be free of any criminal convictions for the previous two years
- No decreased colour perception
Download the 
Entry Requirements Guide to see what school subjects and credits are required.
Career Progression
You will start your career with initial training before completing your first professional diving course. A period of consolidation with the Operational Diving Team and at sea will then follow where you will build up your diving hours in preparation for the next level of training. Further courses, promotion and training will follow to assist with career progression and advancement. Civilian recognised qualifications are awarded on completion of Navy dive training.
Once trained, you will be skilled in mine counter measures, clearance diving, underwater engineering and the disposal of explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices. You will be employed at sea and ashore in New Zealand and overseas as part of the navy’s Littoral Warfare Support Group. This may include land based deployment with organisations such as the United Nations on land based deployments and become an integral part of our Maritime Mine Warfare Force.
Training
After completing your Basic Common Training course you'll begin an intensive and demanding four week Defence Diver course to learn Military Diving (to a maximum depth of 30m) to:
- Complete seabed and ship's hull searches
- Complete all maintenance relating to military diving
- Complete all shipborne underwater maintenance tasks
- Position limpet mine disposal equipment
On successful completion of the Defence Diver course you'll either be employed with the Operational Diving Team at HMNZS Philomel, Devonport performing routine diving tasks. These will include ship's hull maintenance and assisting the New Zealand Police and other civil authorities in searching for missing persons and crime scene evidence. Searching and disposal of suspected improvised explosive devices ('homemade bombs').
Or you will be posted to sea to gain experience onboard naval vessels and be exposed to naval culture. You'll be required to assist in all general ship activities and may even be part of the ship's boarding parties. In addition, you will be required to maintain all diving equipment on the ship and assist the Senior Rating Diver with all diving related tasks.
After achieving a minimum of 10 hours consolidation diving you will commence your Able Diver Warfare Course which is 15 weeks in duration and will cover the following:
- Compressed air diving to 50 metres
- Mixed gas diving to 54 metres
- Surface supply diving to 18 metres
- Attack swimming using 100% oxygen on a rebreather set
- Advanced First Aid Course
- Mine counter measure searches and tasking
- Landmine clearance (below the high water mark)
- Above and underwater demolitions and explosive training
When you have progressed to this level, which usually takes the first four years of Naval Service, you will have the opportunity to gain civilian qualifications. The Diving School currently awards 30 NZQA Unit Standards in occupational diving. Your Navy diving qualifications equate to a recognised Class 2 Construction Diver.
Your Future
When you are posted ashore you will have the opportunity to gain experience in other areas, such as explosive training and technical administration and maintenance. As a professional Diver, you will be required to instruct and assess Defence Divers. This means you'll be required to complete a Diving Medical Technician course (in Australia).
After appropriate leadership and management courses you will have the opportunity to attend professional courses in the USA, Australia and UK, and even to gain an internationally recognised ADAS qualification in Construction Diving. If you think you can find a more exciting way to get one, don't hold your breath...
Crew
Find out more about the job from somone who's currently doing it! Click on the video image to launch the video.
Also, read our feature stories on the role the Navy divers played in recent relief efforts:
Apply Now
To apply for this job contact us on 0800 NZ NAVY, contact a recruitment consultant in your area or download the Application Form now.
More information about the joining process can be found in our How to Join section.