Navy People: Several Oceans Diver
1 February 2010
Malanda’s Ashe Konig has dived into not just several oceans but a challenging Royal Australian Navy Career. The Malanda State High student joined the Royal Australian Navy in September 1994.
Taking up the challenging and rewarding career in the Navy as a Clearance Diver, Ashe completed his initial clearance diver training October 1995. He was pushed both physically and mentally to the limit. “It is only a very select few who pass, many don’t get through this course due to fitness, injury and unforseen medical reasons” said Ashe.
After completing his initial basic clearance diver’s course, Ashe was posted to Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT-ONE) which is located at HMAS Waterhen in North Sydney. During this posting, Ashe was fortunate enough to go to Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC 96 (Rim of the Pacific Exercise) which is the world’s largest international maritime exercise and a wonderful opportunity to undertake training and war games in a friendly, yet competitive environment.
In 1998, Ashe was posted to HMAS Hawkesbury, located in Newcastle. Ashe was a member of her commissioning crew and undertook numerous deployments to the South East Asia region.
In 2001, he was posted to HMAS Cairns. He states “that this was one of his career highlights conducting diving and getting rid of numerous unexploded mines.” This makes the Great Barrier Reef safe for all people to enjoy. Ashe was then posted to Australian Clearance Diving Team Four (AUSCDT-FOUR) which is located at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia in 2004.
In 2006, Petty Officer Ashe Konig completed his Advanced Clearance Diving Course and was posted to Royal Australian Navy Dive School where he became an instructor for Deep Air and Underwater Tools, including Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus and underwater chainsaws, drills and welders. During his posting he was involved with the filming of ‘Navy Divers’ which showcased on ABC TV in 2008. This television series followed a basic group of trainees as they faced the mental and physical selection to become one of the Navy’s elite ‘Clearance Divers’.
In 2008, PO Ashe Konig was posted back into HMAS Cairns and is an integral part of the team; he is currently in charge of Dive Unit Cairns. Ashe’s ancillary roles include berthing of Navy ships and the daily running of the Wharf area. The HMAS Cairns Dive Unit conducts numerous diving on all fleet units for maintenance and inspections of the ships hull for quarantine purposes. Ashe has been involved with body recoveries, cyclone response and other civil community tasking.
PO Ashe Konig said “My career has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling, presenting diverse challenges every day”. Very glad to be back in the north and close to his family again, Ashe continues to serve underwater and ashore.
