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Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) divers are specialists trained to perform underwater operations within their respective environmental commands. CAF divers are qualified in several sub-categories, including: Clearance Divers (CL Diver), Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Tech), Port Inspection Divers (PID), Ship's Team Divers, and Combat Divers. [1]
The CAF training agencies authorized to conduct CAF diving programs are: [1]
Royal Canadian Navy Clearance Divers are trained to perform a variety of diving operations. These operations include the use of traditional open-circuit diving equipment (SCUBA), lightweight portable surface-supplied diving systems, commercial-grade mixed-gas surface-supplied systems and mixed-gas rebreather systems such as the CCDA and CUMA sets. [2]
Clearance Divers are also equipped to operate fixed and portable hyperbaric chambers, enabling them to conduct complex underwater tasks, including diving medicine and decompression operations.
Canada currently has two operational diving units; RCN Clearance Diving Officers and Clearance Divers and Port Inspection Divers. Both units perform a variety of core capabilities.
These core capabilities are:
They also perform secondary or support functions to these core capabilities that include:
The two operational naval diving units are:
The Royal Canadian Clearance Diver motto is "Strength in depth".
Clearance Diving Officers and Divers also serve at:
Royal Canadian Navy Clearance Divers' Prayer
On 30 April 2015 the RCN Clearance Diving occupation adopted the following prayer as their official occupation prayer. The prayer was originally written by Padre David Jackson, the unit chaplain of Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic, for the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the RCN Clearance Diving occupation. The prayer is based on Psalm 146:6. [3] & 139:9-10. [4] and also incorporates the occupation motto "Strength in Depth".
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 better underwater reconnaissance of crossing sites. Following trials in 1966, diving sections were established in engineer units in 1969. Once diving was established, additional tasks were added to make combat diving an extension of combat engineering, such as obstacle construction and breaching, employing and detecting landmines, and limited underwater construction. [5]
Combat divers equip the Army with the ability to execute combat engineer tasks underwater. As combat engineers first and foremost, their diving responsibilities are considered secondary to their primary role. When a specific task is identified and assigned, they are organised into mission-specific teams to provide targeted support for operations. [5]
Combat divers primarily operate on inland waterways, working both on the surface and underwater using breathing apparatus. Their tasks usually take place near shorelines and riverbanks, supporting the Army during land operations. Occasionally, they may operate in saltwater environments to provide support for Army missions. In certain scenarios, combat divers may be tasked with conducting reconnaissance near enemy forces. These reconnaissance missions are carried out with the backing of maneuver forces, which can provide observation support and suppressive fire to aid the dive team. [5]
Canada's Combat Divers are an Occupation Sub-Specialisation (OSS) in its Army Combat Engineer Regiments.
