24 March 2006
Clearance divers inspect St Kilda Pier

It was an early start for Navy Clearance Divers when they set to work to visually clear St Kilda Pier prior to the commencement of the women’s triathlon event.

Navy Clearance Divers are one of the many specialist teams assigned to Operation Acolyte.

Drawn mostly from Clearance Diving Team 1 in Sydney, the divers are responsible for assisting the Victoria Police to ensure that river and bay-based events remain secure, safe and successful.

ADF personnel assigned to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games are working together under the command of Joint Task Force 636 as part of Operation Acolyte.

Operation Acolyte involves 2,600 Australian Defence Force personnel from across the three services, performing a range of specialist roles such as security, ceremonial and general support.

The troops are being accommodated at, and working from, existing Defence establishments in and around Melbourne including: Simpson Barracks, Watsonia; Maygar Barracks, Broadmeadows; RAAF Williams, Laverton and Point Cook; and Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

20060317adf8185016_0182 The early morning sun greets Navy Clearance Divers returning from a task at St Kilda Pier. The sailors are assigned to Operation Acolyte, and had been checking the pier prior to the commencement of the women’s triathlon event. At the helm of the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) is diving supervisor Leading Seaman Cameron Schmid. (Date taken: 17 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060317adf8185016_0185 Clearance Diver Able Seaman Jonathon Gueudinot listens to instructions during the visual clearance of St Kilda Pier prior to the commencement of the women’s triathlon event. (Date taken: 17 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060317adf8185016_0203 Leading Seaman Daniel Hunt stands on the bow of a 65-foot Navy Dive Launch. Called ‘Seal’, the dive launch is one of the Clearance Diving Team watercraft involved in securing the St Kilda Pier and surrounding waters prior to the commencement of the women’s triathlon event at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 17 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060317adf8185016_0208 Leading Seaman Daniel Hunt stands by with the bow line of a 65-foot Navy Dive Launch. Called ‘Seal’, the dive launch is one of the Clearance Diving Team watercraft involved in securing the St Kilda Pier and surrounding waters prior to the commencement of the women’s triathlon event at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 17 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060317adf8185016_0217 Able Seaman Brent Brittliff secures his flippers prior to the conduct of the visual inspection of St Kilda Pier. (Date taken: 17 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060317adf8185016_0237 Leading Seaman Cameron Schmid stands at the helm of a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat during a security inspection of St Kilda Pier. Leading Seaman Schmid is a diving supervisor from 4 Clearance Diving Team in Western Australia. At left is Able Seaman Andrew Foord, and at centre is Able Seaman Jonathon Gueudinot, both from Clearance Diving Team 1 in Sydney. (Date taken: 17 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res