Can I become a female saturation diver?

[missrachelle]

[h=1]I am a young (24 year old) female scuba diver currently completing, and nearly finished my divemaster program with PADI. I am also a registered nurse with a degree in nursing. Don't get me wrong I enjoy nursing but looking at doing something that I really love and that's diving. I cant see myself teaching and that seems like the natural progression in the PADI system. Therefore commercial diving seems very attractive. My ultimate goal is get my ADAS part 4 certification but I know that requires a lot of dives and experience in the dive industry. I may even consider nursing on offshore rigs if you can do that, I dont even know where to start looking. So basically my question is, do females make it in the commercial diving industry, what are my job prospects like, where do i start looking and what is the likely hood that I will become a saturation diver? Thanks everyone! [/h]

 

[cerich]

honestly I would join the RAN and tell them you want to be a diver. Less crap than civilian commercial diving sexism wise and many opportunities.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Other options here in the States for RN's (rather than Commercial Diver):

National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology, Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse Training and Certification

National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology, Diver Medic Technician Training and Certification

 

[DCBC]

My ultimate goal is get my ADAS part 4 certification but I know that requires a lot of dives and experience in the dive industry.

The first question should be to realistically estimate your mechanical aptitude and interest. Commercial Divers are not paid to dive; they're paid to work underwater and get a specific job done. It can be exhaustive physical work under harsh conditions. Sat requires an additional skill-set that most commercial divers can learn, but fewer can thrive in the environment. The certifications do not give you the job. It's a long tough road to hoe for most Divers.

I may even consider nursing on offshore rigs if you can do that, I dont even know where to start looking.

This is a realistic opportunity for you. Obviously licenses have to be in-order and you'll need a BST (Basic sea Survival Training) and a 'Dunker' Course (underwater Helicopter escape) to be employable. Some employers will cover the costs of these certifications for you.

So basically my question is, do females make it in the commercial diving industry, what are my job prospects like, where do i start looking and what is the likely hood that I will become a saturation diver? Thanks everyone!

Yes, some women do make it in the industry. In-fact I've hired a couple myself and ended-up giving one of them a glowing recommendation (a former Marine Welder). As far as the likelihood that you will become a saturation diver, that's hard to say. There are many steps that you will have to pass (and excel at) before you will even be a candidate to dive Sat. The first step is to see if you want to start walking the path. Perhaps you might become a welder or rigger and start working on a land-based construction site to see if you find it a positive experience... This will also help you get your first commercial dive job. On-site construction experience is something that appeals to anyone who will hire you. The question "Why hire you? needs to be answered. Holding a ticket isn't enough. There are hundreds of what-to-bes out there (many of which just aren't competent to do the job).

After your initial ticket if you can prove that: you're employable, become experienced, excel, obtain a mixed-gas ticket, obtain more experience, excel, are psychologically fit for Sat, obtain a Part 4... then the Sat question may be determined. Like I said, it's a long road...

I wish you luck. If you have any specific questions drop me a PM.

Wayne

 

[missrachelle]

This is a realistic opportunity for you. Obviously licenses have to be in-order and you'll need a BST (Basic sea Survival Training) and a 'Dunker' Course (underwater Helicopter escape) to be employable. Some employers will cover the costs of these certifications for you.

thanks Wayne.

do you know how I would go about finding and applying for these jobs, any advice would be helpful.

Cheers
Rachelle

 

[Bobby]

I have not done any commercial work for many years. However I have been around the block a time or two with a wide variety in my career. IMO you have an education in a dominant field now, Nursing. At your age I understand wanting to follow a passion, as I did at that age. Understand that passions tend to be low paying, highly demanding, and a small percentage make it a career. Put time and money into continuing your education in nursing. Climb the ladder and you will have enough disposable income to really enjoy the time you get to dive.

Also keep in mind that the older you get the harder it is to transition to new career paths. Nursing is a high demand field now but in 20 years, with U.S. population trends, it may not be as strong. The more education, consistency, and experience you have in the field the easier it will be for you to work until you decide you want to retire.

Google nursing and commercial diving to get an idea of how each field is for demand, money, and longevity. Try to think about the long run and make what you feel is the best decision for you over time.

 

[Superlyte27]

The real questions is: Why would you want to be a saturation diver.

Yes, you can be one as a female. While I've never met a female sat diver, I do know many female commercial divers. Diving at the commercial level isn't anything like what you've seen so far. It's almost always zero vis. It's either very cold or very hot. It's almost always filthy disgusting water (I've dove in oil, fuel, cement, nuclear irradiated water and shiit, just to name a few things). It's not enjoyable. It's hard work that takes it's toll. And that's not the life of a sat diver, that's just the life of the average commercial diver.

If I were a nurse, and was hell bent on being a commercial diver, I'd go one step further and become a DMT. DMT's make almost as much as saturation divers and don't work nearly as hard (unless the crap hits the fan and a diver gets hurt). DMT's are basically the medical boss when someone becomes injured, and the victim is at the mercy of the DMT's skills until a doctor is found. In 2009, the DMT on my boat was making 750/day. SAT Divers were making 1100/day.

Anyway, I agree with Bobby, stick with nursing. Maybe pursue a CRNA cert. It pays a LOT more and is more fun (or at least, sucks less).

 

[DCBC]

thanks Wayne.

do you know how I would go about finding and applying for these jobs, any advice would be helpful.

Cheers
Rachelle

As one would expect, the oil industry is global. Requirements for a Platform Nurse/Attendant vary from location. For example in the United Arab Emirates a person is required to have at least two years experience in an emergency room and demonstrate expertise in emergency medicine, be certified in CPR and first aid with excellent English language skills. Oil rigs operating in other locations (Norway or South Africa) require different language skills. In Canada (and elsewhere) the position is often held by a Paramedic. I believe that this is because they often have more emergency medicine experience than most RNs. Again, this depends on the employer and each country has its own requirements.

Sometimes these people are employed by the oil companies directly, or by private companies on a contractual basis (such as Emergency Medical Services Corporation, Atlantic Offshore Medical Services, Immediate Assistants, or Remote Medical International, the list is extensive). In Australia, I'd start by calling Immediate Assistants whose office is in in the Sydney area.

 

[Grover48]

One of our members here on ScubaBoard is a nurse in Sydney. She is a very knowledgeable person and an active diver. She may be able to point you in the right direction. Her name here is bowlofpetunias.

 

[Wingy]

I know nothing about commercial diving but have run programs for women in non traditional employment areas - engineering etc - and have discussed chicks on rigs at length often. Yes there are a few, but its getting a foot in the door that is going to be hard. You will need a MSEC card as well as HUET to get offshore in any role and the reason employing women offshore is contentious is the seperate cabins thing. Plus its a who you know thing. I think some pretty good advice here about sticking with nursing and seeing where that takes you....or taking up a trade - even taking up a trade is not a ticket on a chopper, offshore jobs are pretty hotly contested. Good luck what ever you decide to do