An Cosantóir

10 | DEFENCE FORCES DEFENCE FORCES DIVE GROUP DIVE GROUP BY CAPT ANTHONY DUFFY AND CS KENNETH MURPHY WHAT ARE WE…? The Defence Forces Dive Group (DFDG) is a group within the DF that has the task of promoting and conducting sports diving, for DF personnel under the auspices of the Defence Forces Council for Adventure Training (DFCAT). It caters for all levels of divers; not only can it conduct entry level training to new trainees but can also teach divers more advanced diving techniques in terms of mixed gases, extended decompression and in the use of rebreathers. The DFDG is now in existence for almost fifty years (2024 is the fiftieth anniversary), with its origins predating that as far back as 1958, when the Curragh Sub Aqua Club was founded. DF personnel had been involved in diving both inside and outside of the organisation since sports diving became popular, with the earliest recorded official Army dive in New Quay, Co Clare in June 1969. As times progressed, moves were made by a number of individuals to get Adventure Training recognised in the DF as an integral part of military training, formalising its position under the Director of Training, where it remains today under the DFCAT umbrella, which is currently led by Col Mark Brownen. This formalisation enabled the DFDG, under its original title Army Sub Aqua Group (ASAG), to become an official DF club and became affiliated to the Irish Underwater Council (now Diving Ireland), the national governing body relating to sports diving in 1974. It has had great influence and played an important role within it since joining, holding many of the top appointments within that organisation. Since those early days with only sixteen members, the DFDG has grown to approx 75 members from all three arms of the DF and is managed by a central team. This team schedules and coordinates courses, exercise supports, training management and equipment procurement for the Group. As the DFDG has developed, so also has its capability in associate skillsets such as powerboating, where it is also now an accredited powerboat school with Irish Sailing , with the DFDG running national powerboat courses not only for its members but also the wider DF including the Air Corps and Engineers. The multi-year training and equipment plan devised by Col Brownen has seen the DFDG becoming well equipped over the years through grateful assistance from the budgets allocated to Director of Training, Director of Engineers, Director of Transport, OC CMU, Director of CIS, Naval Service and Air Corps making the Group truly Jointly owned! A fleet of privately owned and group purchased inflatables has given way to a modern fleet with seven well-equipped modern RHIBs and inflatable boats supported by a C2 truck. We are affiliated to Irish Sailing and Diving Ireland, who are part of the global Confederation Mondiale Des Activities Subaquatiques (CMAS), World Underwater Federation, with all training conducted to the standards and certified by these agencies. The group members feature regularly on civilian assessment panels helping progress the sport in Ireland. SO WHO ARE WE? We are all serving members of the DF who enjoy the experience and challenges that come associated with sport diving. We are from ALL Services, Corps and Units and made up of ALL ranks, which is reflected in our team, which ranges in rank from Private to Colonel. In terms of the management of the team we focus on the competence of the individual and what skillsets they bring and NOT the rank. The DFDG has a strong focus on promoting transferable leadership qualities and skills through adventure sports. Regardless of rank an individual's diving skills define their role in the group which is evidenced in the fact that two of our stalwarts and principal instructors within the group in both diving and powerboating, are Gnr Pat Hurley 1 BAR and Tpr Tom O'Doherty 1 Bde Tpt att 12 Inf Bn. The development of the DFDG team relies not alone on the DF learned skills but also on their external expertise contributing to the group. Gnr Hurley was a previous member of the National Technical Commission and Regional Diving Officer within Diving Ireland and Tpr O'Doherty has many years of experience involved in commercial dive centres and the rescue services. Tpr O'Doherty receiving Coxn instruction from Capt Mark Brownen and Sgt David Browne in 1993 near the Saltee Islands off the coast of Wexford Members of the DF Dive Group at CS Seamus Purcell (RIP) annual memorial swim in Kilkee An Cosantóir September / October 2023 September / October 2023 www.military.ie/magazine Fleet manoeuvres

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