25 June 2025
Cooperation between Anzac forces charted new depths when members of the Royal New Zealand Navy Clearance Diving Team linked up with Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team One across the ditch.
The combined team of divers first united in Sydney ahead of HMAS Canberra’s port visit to Wellington, New Zealand, as part of an interchangeability experience in which they conducted a hull inspection of the ship.
The team sailed in Canberra, where personnel built on their bonds, joining in a range of activities as part of the ship’s crew.
Australian Navy clearance diver Petty Officer Matthew Ryan, who led the combined team, praised the group on their enthusiasm and efforts to enhance the capability.
“Our navy-to-navy relationship is exceptionally close, so to be able to lead a combined team of divers in both Australian and New Zealand waters has been a career highlight,” Petty Officer Ryan said.
“We have completed several dives in a range of conditions as well as spent time on board Canberra together, where a number of strong bonds have been forged.”
'Some of the key highlights of a RAN career are the unique experiences and special bonds you make while at sea.'
Clearance divers perform a variety of tasks, including diving missions, surface and underwater demolitions, and disarming and disposing of explosive ordinance.
“Some of the key highlights of a RAN career are the unique experiences and special bonds you make while at sea,” Petty Officer Ryan said.
“As a combined unit we have all experienced that on this activity and also gained new knowledge and skills, having trained, exercised and deployed together on both sides of the ditch.”
The Australian and New Zealand team also linked up with the New Zealand Police divers while in Wellington as part of a knowledge-sharing activity.
They undertook training on human remains recovery operations, sharing insights into how safely and respectfully to recover human remains.
