A total of 14 candidates out of 350 in the Western Cape, including a woman, made it in the South African Navy diving recruitment drive, which ended at the South African Navy Dive School in Simon’s Town on Tuesday 30 May.
According to SA Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Daphne Maja, the Western Cape selection process was the toughest of all nine provinces.
“The candidates did very well because the Western Cape had the coldest weather and their selection was the toughest in all nine provinces because the Western Cape is the only province that did the selection in the ocean.”
“Trying out to be a SA Navy diver has traditionally always taken place in the ocean,” says Maja.
“The reason for that is because it is tradition. Every time there is a divers’ selection, that is where we end up and it is also up to the person whether they want to do it in the ocean, they would have to come from Gauteng or another province.”
Due to a shortage of SA Navy divers, the recruitment process began in April.
It was open to matric graduates between the ages of 18 and 22, and university graduates up to 26.
“The recruitment comes up if there is a need, like now, the Navy had a shortage of divers. Every time there is a gap, they will open up the recruitment with the last recruitment for SA Navy divers having been in 2021.”
Tests during the recruitment process included a 300 m swim in under eight minutes, a 50 m swim with a snorkel without using a mask, a 50 m swim with a mask half filled with water and a 25 m underwater swim with no time limit, without using a mask or snorkel as well as swimming 50 m with a 6 kg weight belt.
When questioned on whether there were any top candidates, Maja said some did better than others. “Since it is a recruitment, we do not categorise them as top candidates. It is a selection. It is either you make it or you don’t.
“There are people who do better than others in swimming and running.”
In its selection criteria, the SA Navy sought candidates with attributes such as self-respect, a high level of self-discipline, teamwork and most importantly, a requirement to swim.
When questioned why candidates’ age limit is up to 26, Maja says health and fitness were important criteria.
“They are looking for someone who is still young and who they can develop. When you look at our type of training it needs someone who is healthy, so HR placed that restriction at 26.”
The 14 candidates, who made it in the selection, also had to undergo a “land” component which comprised a 2,4 km run to be completed within 12 minutes, a maximum number of push-ups in two minutes (minimum requirement 40 push-ups), a minimum requirement of 55 sit-ups in two minutes and a maximum amount of pull-ups in two minutes.
According to Maja, the next step is to join the 2024 military skills development programme which takes place in Saldanha.
“They will be joining the other groups that applied for our training. The Navy opened and closed applications strictly for divers.”
