Apr 7, 2025
On this week’s podcast, I speak with Ashley Semmens. Ashley
spent 18 years in the
Australian Navy, enlisting in 2005 into the direct entry program as
a Clearance Diver.
Ashley deployed multiple times, which included Op Resolute Border
Security, OP
Manitou, a human remains recovery in Tongan deep waters, and two
deployments to
Afghanistan on OP Slipper providing Explosive Ordinance Disposal
(EOD)
Reconnaissance to the Infantry combat team whilst on patrol in
Afghanistan and
during the withdrawal of Afghanistan in 2021. In 2022, he was
medically discharged
at the rank of Chief Petty Officer, now he volunteers his time to
the Clearance DiverTrust.
Clearance Divers (CDs) are the Australian Defence Forces’
specialist divers.
CD tasks include specialist diving missions to depths of 54
metres, surface and
underwater demolitions, and the rendering safe and disposal of
conventional
explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices. Ash is about
to take on his
toughest challenge yet, he has set his sights on becoming the first
person to swim
the English Channel — in a peculiar backwards manner.
To achieve the record, Ashley will need to swim on his back for
more than 15 hours,
not in a traditional backstroke, but dolphin kicking while facing
the sky, with minimal
use of his arms.
He said preparing for the 34.2-kilometre swim was as much mental as
physical.
The kicking is effectively how I would work in my previous
profession, he said.
But as a clearance diver, I will be taking mental resilience into
the swim.
The channel swim is set for June 2025 and aims to raise money for
the Navy
Clearance Divers Trust. Good luck, Ash, you got this!
This is a raw story owning all your faults and redemption!
To donate to the cause, see the link below
https://ncdt.org.au/donations/sponsor-ash-in-a-world-first-finning-across-the-english-
channel/
Presenter: Adam Blum
Guest: Ashley Semmens
Editor: Kyle Watkins