Royal Engineer Divers get to grips with life underwater at NDAC
The National Diving & Activity Centre has featured in the latest Edition of Soldier Magazine.
Soldier Magazine visited Royal Engineers that were undertaking their advanced diver training at our Chepstow Scuba Centre. The result was a three page article detailing the training and work the Royal Engineer Divers carry out.
The depth of the NDAC and the numerous onsite resources make our dive centre the perfect location to undertake this kind of training.
Prior to starting the challenging advanced diver training programme at the NDAC, the Sappers passed a selection phase and then completed a basic diving course.
The six-week diver training schedule teaches personnel to master the open space diving system as well as how to operate tools such as hydraulic cutters, breaking equipment and thermal cutting systems.
The Sappers also developed a range of new skills including underwater concreting and advanced reconnaissance, which can be used to locate submerged vehicles in theatre.
In theatre, the diving teams have been doing a variety ofwork. This includes body recoveries, the salvage of weapons from the bottom of wells or canals and underwater demolition tasks" explains Capt Steve Crosby-Jones (RE), the diving officer who coordinates serials for the basic and advanced courses. "They are a team and asset that are crucial to operations, especially when guys lose equipment such as rifles and radios. – There is no other capability that can recover that kit."
Soldier magazine is the magazine of the British Army, published for the UK Armed Forces by the Ministry of Defence.
Afraid we can’t teach you underwater demolition courses, but for your own Advanced Open Water Diver training why not visit the NDAC Dive School.
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