First female mine clearance diver - graduate jobs

A 28-year-old Royal Navy sailor is to join the Scotland-based Mine Counter Measures (MCM) squadron after becoming the first woman to graduate as a mine clearance diver.

Lieutenant Catherine Ker, from Alton, Hampshire, underwent training at the Portsmouth-based Defence Diving School, following the navy's decision to allow women to take up the post.

The navy's approval of female divers followed an Institute of Naval Medicine review which said women did not face a higher risk of suffering decompression sickness than men.

Lt Ker said: "Finding out that I had passed was one of the highlights of my career so far. It has been my aspiration since I joined the Royal Navy in 2006 to qualify as a mine clearance diving officer.

"It has been a hard and demanding course and to succeed as the first female has been a great achievement.

"The support of my fellow course members and instructing staff has been great."

At MCM, Lt Ker will be working as the operations officer responsible for detecting and disposing of sea mines.