Canadian armed forces divers

Canadian Forces diving is performed by units of the maritime, land, and air environmental commands (ECs), the Experimental Diving and Undersea Group (EDU Grp), and Special Operations Forces (SOF). Divers can be trained as Clearance Divers (CL Diver), Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR), Port Inspection Divers (PID), Ship's Team Divers, and Combat Divers.

Clearance divers

Clearance divers use the Canadian Underwater Mine Apparatus (CUMA) rebreather breathing apparatus.

Canada currently has two operational units from which Navy Clearance Diving Officers, Clearance Divers and Port Inspection Divers perform a variety of core capabilities, as outlined in their Naval Diving Operational Concept of Employment (ND OCE) terms of reference. These core capabilities are:

• Battle Damage Repair (BDR)
• Maritme Explosive Ordnance Disposal(MEOD)
• Mine Counter-Measures (MCM)
• Force Protection Support (FPS)

They also perform a number of secondary or support functions to these core capabilities include but are not limited to:

• Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) for devices found in military establishments within defined areas of responsibility in Canada;
• Submarine Search and Rescue (SUBSAR) first line response (RCC and light-weight Surface Supplied Diving equipment)
• Second line response (ROVs and/or diving);
• Provision of a minimum six-person 45 metre CABA diving team on each coast for emergencies;
• Diving Support Roles (which amplifies Para 13 b.) consist of:

1. Underwater ship and infrastructure maintenance
2. Light salvage
3. Seabed search
4. Underwater demolitions
5. Inspection, maintenance and repair of critical diver life support equipment
6. Operation of Working Class Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), Inspection Class ROV, ROV Simulator, Diver Evaluation Systems, and side scan sonar (SSS)
7. Support for medical treatment in hyperbaric chamber
8. Support to JTF2
9. Operating the Experimental Diving Unit (EDU) at DRDC Toronto in support of R&D efforts related to CF diving activities

The two operational naval diving units are:

• Fleet Diving Unit Pacific based at CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia.
• Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic based near Halifax in CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia.

Clearance Divers are considered among the most skilled underwater operators in the world. Their motto is "Strength in depth".

Clearance Diving Officers and Divers also serve at:-

• the Experimental Diving Unit (EDU) at Defence Research and Development Canada
• the EOD School in CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick.

Clearance Diving Officers and Clearance Divers also serve at D Dive S (Director Diving Safety) at the National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

(See Professional diving.)

Combat divers

History. Diving in the Canadian Army began in the 1960s when, as a result of the introduction of amphibious vehicles, it was essential to provide a diving capability to the safety organization for the swimming of the vehicles. Amphibious operations also required a better capability for the underwater reconnaissance of crossing sites. Following trials in 1966, diving sections were established in engineer units in 1969. Once the diving capability was established, additional tasks were added to make combat diving an extension of combat engineering into the water. Other tasks such as obstacle construction and breaching, employing and detecting landmines and limited underwater construction were added to the safety standby and reconnaissance tasks.

General Description. Combat divers provide the Army with the capability of performing combat engineer tasks underwater. They generally conduct tasks as part of the combined arms team; however, if required, they have the ability to execute tasks independently. Combat divers are combat engineers who perform combat diving as a secondary duty. They are grouped into mission-specific teams when a task is identified and ordered, to support operations.

Niche area. Combat divers do the majority of their work on inland waterways, either on the surface or beneath the water with breathing apparatus. They usually work close to shorelines and riverbanks because that is where the rest of the army will be conducting operations. At times the combat divers will work in salt water to support Army operations. In some circumstances, combat divers can be used to conduct reconnaissance in the face of enemy forces. They would be doing this reconnaissance with the support of the manoeuvre forces, which could assist the dive team with observation and suppressive fire.

Canada's Combat Divers are an Occupation Sub-Specialization (OSS) in its Army Combat Engineer Regiments.

Training. Each of the four dive teams, one located in each of the Canadian army engineer regiments, conducts an intense preliminary selection course (typically two weeks in length) to select combat diver candidates for training. Successful candidates then proceed to a Fleet Diving Unit to begin initial dive training, and then proceed to the Army Dive Center at the Combat Training Center to complete the remainder of Combat Diver training. Once this training is completed, combat divers must dive at least once every ninety days in order to maintain their diving currency.

Weapons used include:

• Colt Canada C7 rifle (C7A1, C7A2, C7A3, etc.)
• Colt Canada C8 carbine and PDW (personal defense weapon)
• C9 LMG (light machine gun)
• C6 GPMG (general purpose machine gun)

Considering their role in the Army (demolition, reconnaissance, etc.), their weapons tend more towards explosives rather than firearms. As such, each diver typically carries about 20 kilograms (44 lb) of high explosives. Such explosives include: The entire line of grenades, demolition, and pyrotechnics in SNC-TEC, such as Demolition Charge M2A4, Demolition Charge M3A1, Trigran Prills, 40 mm Parachute Rocket Flare C7, Trip Flare C6, High Explosive Fragmentation C13/M67 grenades. For heavy fire support, the divers' engineer demolition section uses the C14 Mine Launcher, which can be remotely fired.

Considering their job, their land transport is limited, but they have various watercraft. Such craft include:

• Phantom remotely operated underwater vehicles
• Sea-Doo Sea Scooter, TAYUT, a Diver Propulsion Vehicle
• General Purpose Boat FDU(P)
• Yard Diving Tender (YDT) Sooke
• YDT 11 FDU(P)
• Nuytco submersibles
• Medium Floating Bridge (MFB) / Medium Raft (MR), which is transported by a heavily modified Actros Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System.

External links

• DAOD 8009-0, Canadian Forces Diving
• DAOD 8009-1, Canadian Forces Diving - Organization and Operating Principles
• Canadian Naval Divers Association
• Physical Fitness Standards for CF Diving Personnel
• Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific)