Self made diving career

[b_fish]

I'm a fairly new diver, and have recently decided to attend the Commercial Diving Academy in Jacksonville FL. I know. Its expensive. It seems to me though, that you will get what you pay for, and no matter how you go about it, training and experience in diving costs a lot of money. Although I have little diving experience, professional diving is something I've been considering for a long time. I tried to go back to college for marine biology, but I just wasn't feeling it. Actually, What I wasn't feeling was all of the lab work, the lab reports, and if it were a career, all of the research and grant writing. I realized that what I want is just to be in the water. So, I thought that I would start taking classes, and slowly work my way up through the recreational diving ranks. I figured that with enough experience, I would be able to work as a diver in whatever area I chose. But it dawned on me that in all the time I would put into it, I would really just be qualified to teach. That would be fine to fall back on once in a while, but its not what I want to do for a career. What I want is to be able to go anywhere in the world, and if someone needs to hire an expert diver, I can say "I can do that." Whether it be working on a research vessel collecting data or specimens, working in an aquarium, at a marina, instructing in Bonaire, or inspecting bridges in Belize.
So this brought me to my new plan of attack. The CDA. (which also offers an instructor cert. program). I want as much experience and expertise in as many areas as I can get, in order to make this self-made career a reality. It will take outside the box thinking I know, but I guess what I'm writing this for, is to get some feedback from other professionals out there. Am I crazy for trying to go about this in this way?

 

[pasley]

NOT A COMMERCIAL DIVER, but I do have a thought or two. How much is the course you are going to take, and how much will that career field make you? Working conditions are another thing to explore.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, commercial divers who worked as employees earned a median of $19.03 an hour in May 2006, meaning that half of divers earned more than that amount and half earned less. Ten percent of divers earned more than $36.43, and 10 percent earned less than $12.79. http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2007/winter/yawhat.pdf
Note US wages as noted in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics are often HIGHER than what is paid overseas.
Commercial divers, MLR: The Editor's Desk

Are you crazy for thinking this way? No, but you need to decide what you want out of life and if this path will get you where you want to be at age 75 (if you live that long), or more short term, is this want to be doing once you have a wife and kids? The field is about travel and lots of time away from home.

Final thought, the quickest way to ruin a sport or hobby is to make it your job.

 

[Web Monkey]

rder to make this self-made career a reality. It will take outside the box thinking I know, but I guess what I'm writing this for, is to get some feedback from other professionals out there. Am I crazy for trying to go about this in this way?

Yes.

The problem with the things you mentioned is that there is already an abundant supply of people who already live in the places you mentioned, who would be happy to do the work for less than it costs you to get there.

Commercial diving can pay well, but it's generally for the things that nobody wants to or is qualified to do. For example, if you're a good underwater welder, you can make good money, however it's not pleasant work.

If you like diving, do it when you want, where you want, how you want, and find a different job to make a living.

Terry

 

[JKPAO]

Not to discourage you... but.... (you knew that was coming didn't you) Divers are
a dime a dozen. It can be hard sh-tty work, literally. To be able to say "I can do that",
You better be able to do THAT. So be prepared to prove yourself topside first!
You don't just go from school to in the water. Just how it works. But if you hang it out,
it is a cool way to get to work!
See you topside! John

 

[captain]

A commercial diver is basicly a construction worker who's work place is underwater. If you have skills in heavy construction such as welding, pipe fitting, rigging, etc. you are slightly ahead of the curve.

The best money is at the offshore oil rigs, it is also some of the most dangerous work. Saturation diving pays the most. Do you have the temperment to be locked in a chamber for several weeks. Lots of companies here in Louisiana need divers for offshore oil field work. They even post billboards along the highways advertizing for divers.

Most newly minted divers spend one to two years as deck apes and tenders before getting in the water. A school such as Commercial Diving Academy may get you in the water faster but it's no garrentee.

I think you may have a distorted idea of what a commercial diver actually is. What it is not is swimming with pretty fish in clear water.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/commercialdiving/index.html

http://jobprofiles.monster.com/Cont...B_CommercialDiver/jobzilla_html?jobprofiles=1

 

[DivingPrincessE]

Have you thought about becoming a DM or instructor that works on a liveaboard?

 

[sweatfrog]

You want to be a commercial diver, do like Steve Barsky, go to Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara and attaned the Marine Technology program, now while your still young. Companies don't hire old commercial divers unless they have lots of experience, a solid reputation as a get it done guy and some sort of special skill. Then drive to Morgan City, LA with a stack of resumes and knock on the doors of all the commercial diving companies down there. You will be competing with thousands of commercial diving school graduates that only have high school deplomas, or less for a job that pays $10 to $12 an hour, working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week and with no expected holiday or day off. The two months on three off died when commercial diving companies started putting their dive spreads on work boats and motoring from job to job.

The above information is an excellent account of commercial diving.

 

[rmediver2002]

Sounds like you would be happier doing the in-water research while someone else focused on the more mundane papers, grant proposals, ect. Unfortunately most of the in water work is done by volunteers and undergrads...

As stated above commercial diving is blue collar construction underwater, if that is what your interested in then you should go for it. If you are more interested in the scientific side of things you should talk to an environmental or archeological research firm and see what their pre-requisites are.

If you decide to finish your degree you are going to have many more opportunities open to you, you could look into a federal position with either NOAA or the EPA.

article on commercial diving on page 12
http://www.scubanews.com/0801/0805issue.pdf

Some photo's from this years US EPA diver training
http://www.scientificdivinginternational.com/epa/photos2008/


If you have any questions feel free to contact me,

Jeff
jlane@rmediver.com

 

[stairman]

I live in the Jacksonville area and hear the commercials on the radio all the time.One of their slogans is[if you got what it takes].Im visualizing alot of blackwater diving when I hear that,among other duties like barnacle scrapeing and rigging on bridges etc.Most being in near zero vis.I love diving but wouldnt do it myself.

 

[BlueReef]

Yeah - all good advice above.

I have to say that the job or more like 'the position' you're after doesn't exist. For commercial diving you'll have to specialise in a one or a couple of areas, yes, welding is a big one and most useful - so do a course in that first perhaps.

I did the marine biology route, and after, found the jobs I wanted were filled up with the white collar crew who paid loads of money to have a 'different holiday'! I presume your quite young and not thinking about a family yet, but someone mentioned it, and it's VERY important to have a think about this. If you're happy to roam and 'be free', not have kids etc, then that's cool, but really make sure of your choice and don't live in denial which I've seen far too many people do than should. I don't see much happening apart from stress, trying to raise a kid 'away from home', and keeping a relationship while constantly having to move (if you're in the same place then there's both your jobs to think about).

The best way for me to have QUALITY water time, is to run my own business (not diving), that way I have money to do it (and everything else), can go when I want (no boss), also I ENJOY the diving as I'm not having to do it to put a meal on my plate! Did briefly think about commercial diving once too (very soon after uni and realising I needed money, wanted to dive, and few paying jobs on the biology side), but being stuck at the bottom of the North Sea in zero vis, freezing my nuts off with a welding gun in one hand after 6 hours fixing a pipe didn't sound great fun. Once, yes, I guess it's an experience but ALL the time - no, not for me. It's not as glamourous as the film 'Men of Honour' (if that is glamourised), and remember half you life will be stuck in a pressurised room with 3 other dudes speaking like Alvin from the Chipmunks! (i.e. Helium lol).

but I'm just putting real thoughts out there. If you want this, then more kudos to you, and go for it!

As DivingPrincess says, do your DM give yourself 6months to a 1 year and spend it on a dive boat. Then you'll definately be sure if you want to stay with it as a career, you can still then go to CD college, but with some diving skills.