Upon successful enlistment into the Navy you’ll be posted to Devonport Navy base in Auckland. Here you will do 13 weeks of basic military training to find out if you’ve got what it takes to be in the Navy, and learn various subjects including:

• Teamwork/team support

• Naval discipline and regulations

• Physical fitness

• Parade 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.

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...