Royal Navy Divers Branch film aimed at potential Navy divers 1977

Dramatised Navy film aimed at potential divers. The film lists the three types of Navy divers and shows examples of the work they must carry out. Although the dangers are mentioned, the film aims to show diving in a positive light, as a safe and rewarding career choice.
Featuring HMS Vernon ( Now Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth) and HMS HMS Wilton M1116, HMS Wilton (M1116) was a prototype coastal minesweeper/minehunter for the Royal Navy. She was the first warship in the world to be constructed from glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). Her design was based upon the existing Ton-class minesweepers, and she was fitted with equipment recovered from the scrapped HMS Derriton. The use of GRP gave the vessel a low magnetic signature against the threat of magnetic mines.
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[@user-mo1gy7nh1r]

My dad was a diver, went on to the oil rigs and deep sea diving. He was in bomber mine disposal prior to that. His joints play him up but he's 80 and going strong, still extremely fit for his age.

[@ddmp1703]

Brings back memories, did my ships divers course at HMS Drake in 1974, extra 24 pence a day.😁😁thanks for the vid.

[@blueduncan9522]

It sure does I did part of my training in Horsea Island.

[@mikebennett3812]

What is shown has not changed too much since I completed the course in 1968 and was extra to Submariners Pay...Even more beer chits!

[@garethoneill5676]

Watched this a potential port diver in the Royal Naval Reserve. The role was disbanded during my basic training and I ended up in the mine warfare section. We were told to ignore the bit about the neck ring as that type of kit had been phased out by then - for port diving equipment anyway.

[@cycleSCUBA]

Royal Engineers Diver in the '90's. We trained at Vernon and Horsea, and had accommodation at Nelson. Arduous training but great days.

[@Hants_Prints]

Saumarez block? it really was the pits

[@charlieboy868]

Re diving school 1991 in winter was grim Horsea lake, mud runs in boil in the bag suit. The dive pool froze. Hard horrible course. SSGT Darby was a hard but fair dive instructor

[@campervansam-UK]

Back in the day, I did the pre-course winter "aquint" that saw one wearing lead boots, an ill-fitting mask and a dry suit that leaked at the neck seal, so it eventually filled with cold water which ran down my back to fill from the feet up. The time was spent sitting in the mud at the bottom of the harbour, in the dark, trying to break a 6" iron chain link using the lump hammer and chisel provided for this purpose, until ones ran out air. After completing the event, I decided that perhaps the notion of becoming a navy diver wasn't for me afterall. I hate being cold wet and kept in the dark! Happy days. 😂😂😂

[@edwardharrington678]

In 1971 I worked with a lad that did five years as a naval diver and said it ruined his health but did not say how. He was very likable but did not speak highly of the navy.

[@georgemorley1029]

When joining the Royal Navy, I found that I was only occasionally cold and wet, but twenty years on, I am perpetually, nay, incessantly kept in the dark!

[@hennies9509]

​@edwardharrington678 It most probably ruined his lungs and joints, which comes from diving to deep and the bubbles in his body. It only needs to happen once to put you in hospital. When you are young, you take stupid risks and all that adds up as you get older. I stayed with snorkeling personally, much safer.

[@edwardharrington678]

Thanks for that.

[@user-zs5nr8dd1z]

@@hennies9509 Then you've never seen what I have seen and likely never will

[@divexplore71]

Ex civilian naval base diver. Worked under all the old aircraft carriers, nuclear subs, destroyers, frigates everything the RN had back in early 2000s. Interesting to see the Navy side of diving back in the day.

[@MrDeancoote]

Completed the ships divers course with Norm at HMS Drake 1981 ,, endurance swims at Cawsand bay,, catch a fish or swim back to the diving tender. 🙂. Later did Jan Docky Course at HMS Rosyth,, 1985 ,, included six weeks in Standard ,, both Siebe and Heinke plus SDDE, kirby, AH3, Aquarius, plus a few others. Great fun.

[@Highland_Moo]

I live up on the NW coast of Scotland where the RN sends its baby divers to train. When I was a kid my mum ran a guest house and a guy called Hamish Louden came to stay with us for a couple of years. He was a diving officer before that and I’m pretty sure he went to the Falklands. He was the Navy’s liaison officer at BUTEC when I knew him though.

[@marcosambrosino]

Very nice video, interesting! A salute from Brazil!

[@Hants_Prints]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@skysurferuk]

Two of my buddies were R.N. clearance divers in the 70's. Pete! Stubby! (Letters Inn). You here?

[@brianredmond4919]

With a bit of practice i found i could get into my neck entry suit by myself.

[@bugler75]

Genuine respect for these guys. 🫡🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿☘️

[@gazza2933]

I'm ex RAF and have nothing but total administration for these guys. Be it WW2, 70s or today. ⚓

[@pagit69]

PO"s ears acts as emergency ascent device.

[@alberthead4806]

I was in the army recruiting advert 1964 driving and loading the gun on a centurion tank, do you have that one, film in catterick

[@Hants_Prints]

Will certainly have a look for you

[@alberthead4806]

@@Hants_Prints thanks

[@alberthead4806]

@@Hants_Prints it was shown on TV chrismas time 1964/1965, my then wife saw it and pointed it out to the family

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

Fort Boveysand (spelling?) fall of 1981 can’t remember if it was just an Army diving School or all arms school. The PO in the video was right I was cold, wet, miserable almost the whole time, BUT it was one of two things I wanted to achieve in the British army the other was Parachuting (didn’t get that one). It was a great course though, Staff were not the monsters they appeared on the arrival day, masters of their skills and gave willingly to ensure maximum passed on the course.💂‍♂️🪖⛑️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦

[@ianstewart2335]

Bovisand… now sadly, luxury apartments 😞

[@Roddy556]

Neat! In my extremely limited diving experience I found drysuits to be quite claustrophobic.

[@Highland_Moo]

The Coastguard gave us Typhoon ones to use while fannying about on ribs, and they were pretty decent. I don’t dive but I snorkel and I’d love to have a decent dry suit so I could stay below the surface without freezing my tits off!

[@johnchurch4705]

Never had an issue using a drysuit.

[@Roddy556]

@@johnchurch4705 the one I used took two people to don and doff and was a bit small so it may have just been an equipment issue, but it gave me a sense of respect for people who use them in extreme conditions.

[@johnchurch4705]

@@Roddy556 neck entry suits are different from the shoulder/ front entry. I’ve been diving since 1989 and have always used a drysuit.

[@Roddy556]

@@johnchurch4705 much like car racing or skydiving I can definitely see the appeal but it's not for me. Respect to those who do as I think it's a more a valid technical sport than the two I mentioned.

[@MarkGreen-uy9em]

Isnt that trigger from only fools and horses?😂

[@AlexinOslo]

Do these guys have the opportunity to attend SBS selection?

[@securityrobot]

Looks like Michael Halsey has been hired to play the trainer. I don’t know what rank he’s representing, someone should know.

[@Hants_Prints]

A Petty Officer

[@securityrobot]

Thank you.

[@chrissheppard5068]

@@securityrobot is that why they called him P O?

[@davidharris4062]

PO Diver with a minimum of 8 year’s service, 1 chevron for 4 years service, with good conduct, up to a maximum of three chevron’s

[@RalphBrooker-gn9iv]

Enjoyed this. I joined the Infantry in 1978. Grew up in Gosport. My father worked as a civvy scientific officer at RNPL. Dits!!! That’s why I joined the British Army! 😊Respect 🤿

[@dulls8475]

Sounds like a Mick Jagger impersonator at the start...

[@teecee1567]

Bubble heads.

[@toastehh09]

"Do divers get danger money, PO?" "No." o7

[@handyandy6050]

"Can't take a joke - shouldn't have joined"!

[@madcarew5168]

Then end up laid back in the Persian Gulf!!

[@nemo6686]

"And, if you qualify, then you can really -call yourself a Navy Diver- buy yourself a Ford Capri." FIFT.

[@EricTViking]

Why do Navy uniforms sometimes have red badges?

[@Hants_Prints]

Older style epaulettes/Rank slides, these days they are all the same gold

[@EricTViking]

@@Hants_Prints thanks. I have to say I prefer the old style uniforms, the modern ones I'm sure are more practical and comfortable but to me they look more like pyjamas than a military uniform.

[@tonyjames5444]

Called No5's if I remember correctly.

[@nemo6686]

@@tonyjames5444 For Junior Rates it used to be red badges on No 2s, gold on No 1s. Wasn't No 5s tropical whites, shorts?

[@tonyjames5444]

@@nemo6686 Think your right

[@Anton-om5qf]

I tried but was bloody useless

[@murphychris9811]

when the uk wasnt weak and woke now i bet they dont even let them jump off that thing

[@John-rr9su]

Now i bet they dont even have anyone even willing join the navy

[@erloriel]

@@John-rr9su They don't. That's the joke. It turns out that painting every single patriot as a hateful lunatic, while openly endorsing the people that want to eradicate your country somewhat diminishes your recruitment pool.

[@Mrbobinge]

Jump off? Work and Safety regulations probably require standby Ambulance team and nearby doctor. Rubber Covid masks at all times.

[@snowyowl7413]

Ah go sod off

[@paulwebster7293]

They do .......Say that to one of them in the pub .......

[@FeckArseIndustries]

Semen Diver😂

[@LUC66631]

It is like that those dudes are on helium 😂😂🤣🤣👍👍