Australian National Maritime Museum celebrates 90 years of NSW Police DiversAustralian National Maritime Museum celebrates 90 years of NSW Police Divers 

To mark the 90th anniversary of the NSW Police Diving Unit, the Australian National Maritime Museum welcomes police launch Vigilant - a 20m offshore patrol vessel to the museum for display and tours for museum visitors.

The vessel will be open to the public from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Water police crew will give tours to the public and answer questions.

On Saturday (11th) and Sunday (12th) Vigilant will be accompanied by a diver’s truck, displaying police diving equipment with police divers talking to visitors about the equipment and role of police divers.

There will also be in water diver demonstrations throughout the weekend.  

The vessel and its sister boats are 34-tonne, state-of-the-art boats designed for the demands of the NSW Marine Area Command, with the WP21, or Vigilant, having a significant range of 900 nautical miles and a 5-day operational capacity. These boats are equipped for patrol, search and rescue, and are fitted with thermal imaging cameras to assist with locating objects on water, particularly at night.   

The NSW Police Diving Unit (the oldest police diving unit in the world) is part of the Marine Area Command, which traces its roots back to the early days of policing in New South Wales. The Marine Area Command itself evolved from the original Water Police, established in the 19th century to patrol Sydney’s busy harbour and waterways. The Water Police were among the earliest specialist units in the NSW Police Force, with the Row Boat Guard formed as early as 1789, making them one of the oldest continuous policing units in Australia

The dedicated Police Diving Unit was formally established in 1935. The unit was created to provide specialist underwater search and recovery capabilities, initially focusing on evidence recovery, body retrieval, and supporting major investigations in Sydney Harbour and beyond. Over the decades, the NSW Police Divers have expanded their remit to include underwater crime scene investigation, counter-terrorism, and disaster response across the state’s vast network of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

Throughout their history, the NSW Police Divers have played a crucial role in some of the state’s most challenging and high-profile cases, including major accident investigations, search and rescue operations, and supporting community safety initiatives. Their expertise and professionalism have earned them a reputation as one of Australia’s leading police diving teams.

The 90th anniversary is being marked by a special event at the museum on October 15 attended by the NSW State Police Minister and the Police Commissioner, reflecting the unit’s enduring importance and the respect it commands within the broader law enforcement community.  

Key Milestones 

• 1789: Formation of the Row Boat Guard, the forerunner of the Water Police and Marine Area Command.
• 19th Century: Expansion of water policing as Sydney and NSW grew.
• 1935: Establishment of the dedicated Police Diving Unit.
• 2025: 90th anniversary, celebrating decades of service in underwater policing and public safety.