Calling all commercial divers, newbi needs help.

[Laughing Swordfish]

Where do you plan on working?

USA only?

If so you can go to any school that gives you an ADC card. Young Memorial is the cheapest fastest way to do it. You will get your real education on the job afterwards. The big expensive schools are a rip off and get you no farther ahead. Avoid them like the plague.

Do you want to work internationally?

If so you will need an internationally recognized certification. USA schools don't give you this. Your best best would be an HSE certification from an accredited school. This will probably mean travelling abroad. Very expensive but gives you options worldwide.

Whatever you do, don't get sucked in by one of the big EXPENSIVE American schools. They are a total rip off and churn out a kazillion new divers a year, most of whom never work in the industry. You have been warned.

 

[jrvyota]

Ok, I plan on working internationally as well as US. Do you know off hand of any HSE accredited schools, prefferably in the US but travaling out of country for the right education would bo worth it to me. And would i need both ADC and HSE if i work in the US and out of or will the HSE be enough?

 

[al1]

Some good websites to go to are the Commercial Diving Directory. It is probably the best commercial site on the web. There is also Offshore Diver which is more US based. I am a commercial diver/Diving Manager for a major offshore company in Asia. Underwater welding tickets will not help you much. All major repair work on Oil rigs are done by dry welding. The only thing welded with wet welding is anodes. Not sure how much wet welding is done in the states. Better off to spend your money on these tickets.The tickets to get are (DMT) Diving Medical Technician, (N.D.T.)Non Destructive Testing-like CSWIP 3.2u. Also the school you go to depends on were you want to work. You need a (IMCA) certification to work just about everywere in the world except the US. Pretty sure that the Ocean Corporation gives you that ticket upon completion of school. Good luck with your endeavour.

 

[al1]

Following Schools in the States give you a IMCA ticket
The Ocean Corporation,Houston, Texas
Divers Academy of the Eastern Seaboard Inc, Camden, New Jersey
College of Oceaneering, Los Angeles, California
Divers Institute of Technology Inc, Seattle, Washington
Santa Barara City College, Santa Barnara, California

Try these sites for more information.

IMCA http://www.imca-int.com/core/imca/
Commercial diving Directory http://www.longstreath.com/
Offshore Diver http://offshorediver.com/

 

[jrvyota]

Thankyou guys very much, you have changed my outlook on this very much It looks like the schools I was considering are now out of the question... but that is a good thing. Thankyou al1 I will lookinto the scholls you listed.

 

[Scuba Cowboy]

Here's a plug for Divers Institute in Seattle. All their training is done in open water, they have Canadian certifications as well, and I believe they train to deeper depths. This is what I was told, not a commercial diver in that sense, so I didn't train there but toured their facility.

 

[muddiver]

If you want an international ticket, go to one of the school in Canada. They are ICMA orient which is the European commercial diving code of requirements. If you are in the U.S. and want to start right away go to Youngs Memorial in LA.

By the way, where are you?

 

[jrvyota]

I'm near Denver Colorado. So will a ICMA cert. be accepted in the US or will I need to have an ADC cert. And, as laughing swordfish brought up whats is an HSE? Do you know of any good schools in Canada?
Thanks

 

[HawaiiMSDT]

In regards to your Commercial Diving:


I took a program (PM me if you want to know where) and thought I was in a world where your life is in the hands of the surface crew. However, that is my opinion on the trade (PM if you want to know why...) Next, the training is very intensive. Almost like a day time/ night time gig. You will come across all ages in the program. I was 18 at the time and found the oldest man was 30+

They certified me through NAUI for my basic skills, just so I wouldn't kill myself underwater (I was already a DM trained from PADI) and from there on taught me how to stick weld and make useless things out of metals, put together helmets/take apart (145+/- peices), make communication lines, o2 lines, rigging, hyperbaric chambers (that was REALLY fun! PM me for more!)

It was fun while it lasted. And I say lasted because my mindset was elsewhere for that kind of trade school. I went to class at 6:45am-out by 4:30pm, didn't read the plethora of books and handouts given and hurt me in the long run. Short story goes...I did get to mess around with some cool equipment I never thought i'd come across.:14:

Any rate, contact me if you have any questions about the Marine Dive Technology (MDT). GOOD LUCK! paz.

 

[divekyra]

The "xtras" offered by schools are just a way to get more $. You will get the most training from your job. DMT is OK if you want to work offshore. Waste of $ mostly, if you work inland; but hey, it would never be a waste of $ if you ever need to use it to save someone's life. Still... most schools just want your $.
Get international certs and get out to the rest of the world.
Scuba Cowboy is right though, DIT does do a lot of training off boats and in real deep water. We did 165ft dives with surface deco.