Do Commercial Divers need OW cert?

[Bombay High]

OK guys, I'm a commercial diver (Divers Institute of Technology in Seattle) and a PADI Master Instructor and a USCG 100 TON Master. I'm currently working as a commercial diver and diving division manager of an international company. Anyone who says "training" be it SCUBA or commercial is not required or necessary because they are one type of diver or another is buying into the BS that gets guys killed. SCUBA has its uses, just like hard hats and surf sup has its uses. My guys are all trained through Rescue Diver through PADI and hold a IMCA cert. PADI Rescue is a better program than any training you receive at commercial schools. If you are doing anything on SCUBA then absolutely its required to be certified at least through Open Water level. In my experience commercial divers in general are horrible scuba divers. DONT buy into the ego based opinions, training saves lives. The more training and experience a diver has the better.

There is a world of difference between training and certification and I think it would do you a world of good to understand that.

When I am blowing down in a SCC from 1 ATM bar to 14 ATM to check the routing on a live drop of 48" dia pipeline on the floor of the North Sea, I always make sure I have my PADI OW cert with me... In case some buoyancy or rescue issue comes up.

I suggest you stick to commenting on things within your sphere of competency.

 

[Thalassamania]

One should never burn on a hot-tap without the appropriate specialty card.

 

[Sat Diver]

. PADI Rescue is a better program than any training you receive at commercial schools. If you are doing anything on SCUBA then absolutely its required to be certified at least through Open Water level. In my experience commercial divers in general are horrible scuba divers.

These are the most random and factually incorrect statements I have ever read. What ticket do you hold ? Do you dive offshore ?
If you feel your commercial school taught you less than a PADI one week programme I suggest you apply for a refund.
I also recommend you do a service to other potential students of this incompetent school by voicing this opinion on Offshorediver.com as well as Longstreath.com

 

[Bombay High]

I also recommend you do a service to other potential students of this incompetent school by voicing this opinion on Offshorediver.com as well as Longstreath.com

That would be interesting !
Love to see Marks response :shocked2:

 

[Thalassamania]

A little cross-board cut-and-paste never hurt anything ... heh, heh, heh.

 

[Bombay High]

A little cross-board cut-and-paste never hurt anything ... heh, heh, heh.

Great idea ... Should be fun

 

[Superlyte27]

These are the most random and factually incorrect statements I have ever read. What ticket do you hold ? Do you dive offshore ?
If you feel your commercial school taught you less than a PADI one week programme I suggest you apply for a refund.
I also recommend you do a service to other potential students of this incompetent school by voicing this opinion on Offshorediver.com as well as Longstreath.com

I gotta agree.

 

[kundalinichi]

I see on page 2 someone talks about the dive schools in US not requiring, or certifying any OW course during the training period. Yet, in december I toured DIT, where I plan to go. I asked the counsellor if my PADI DM\Tec Deep + CPR\first aid\AED instructor level training would waive the "Open water training" certified by NAUI seen here Program | Courses | Divers Institute of Technology - I can see the first aid\cpr training may be more specialised to the type of work, so I wouldnt mind getting refreshed or retaught new methods.

Yet, he said that I would still be subject to the week long NAUI OW program, no matter previous level of certification. I found this a bit crazy, he said that my previous experience would benefit the group as I could help people with problems, but I find that week could be useful for study time for finals soon after. My question to the experienced is, as ive read that IMCA cert requires no Open water training, it is useful for inspection or other associated skills. Should I try to talk to someone higher-up at DIT about this?

 

[Thalassamania]

No, their entry level (OW) course is about as likely to resemble training that you've already been through as my 100 hour Scripps Model course is. The tip off is that it is NAUI, thus there is little limit to what may be added to it, the certification itself is not the objective, it is simply provided as a future convenience.

 

[Darol]

Was it NASE that taught commercial diving as a speciality course, in a scuba class? Yep....
Go figure. What does recreational scuba teach about rigging, burning, welding, signaling a crane?
All tools of the trade.