Need some advice

[Biggs44]

Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone can help me. I just turned 30 and need a life change. I have decided I want to be a commercial diver. What is everyone's opinion should I go to school for it or join the navy let them train me. Any help would be much appreciated thanks

 

[Steve_C]

Commercial diving is very different than recreational scuba but it might make sense to first find out if you like being under water. Some do. Some do not.

 

[CaChief]

I would suggest you explore the available commercial diving schools, and discern whether you are able to complete a course. The idea that the Navy may train you is not a sure thing. You may commit to the Navy for a duration of years, from which you can not extract yourself, with no guarantee you will ever become a diver. Their diving courses are tough, thorough and entensive. If you should not be selected or qualify, what will you do with the rest of your commitment? As a Vietnam veteran, allow me to assure you there are no guarantees concerning what you want, versus what the particular service believes their needs to be.

 

[Biggs44]

I have done a discover scuba class and I'm hooked. I have been in water since before I turned 1 and still love it. I have looked into schools and if I do a school I will most Likely go to cda in flordia. I have done a lot of ready on both. Figured I would ask u folks on here. I'm a welder in a cat factory and I'm use to hard work.

 

[261311]

This sounds odd but have you looked at marine mechanic and underwater welding? I know that doesn't sound like a "life" change but it definitely might be something to reinvigorate your current career without straying too far off the path. I suggest first just becoming an open water diver and exploring that aspect of your recreational life before going pro. While you work on getting experience under water before going pro, find out what careers there are that relate to your interests. Stuff like where you can get trained, the cost, time and if you'll need to uproot your life in search of the job are obviously important

 

[TMHeimer]

I have no knowledge of the Commercial diving scene. Assuming you finish OW and get quite a bit of experience (that in and of itself takes time), it may be a good idea to research to what age continuing to be a commercial diver is advisable. How long would you want to do it? I hear that although the money can be very good, it is very taxing on the body and some do it for only 10 years while still young.

 

[Antagonist]

Navy diver school is a tought school. You have to be phyiscallly and mentally tough. You def. need to talk to someone before you try navy diver. Look up the screening for navy divers.

 

[Bob DBF]

Hi everybody. I was wondering if anyone can help me. I just turned 30 and need a life change. I have decided I want to be a commercial diver. What is everyone's opinion should I go to school for it or join the navy let them train me. Any help would be much appreciated thanks

Commercial diver is more a description of how you get to work, than the work. Without a skill such as welding and/or rigging to name two, there would be no reason to send you down. Find a skill that is needed underwater that you would like and go from there.

The Navy is a different operation altogather as CaChief described. You may get a ticket to SCUBA school where you will compete with kids 5 0r 10 years younger than you who were the swim team champs from their home town. When you graduate you may find no openings for divers and you are sent to chip paint on a carrier somewhere. Worse yet, the tests show you are good with language and get sent to Afganistan as the best excuse for a translator they can find. Not saying a tour with the Navy is bad, as they used to say "...it's an adventure". I enjoyed my time in, but the enlistment precludes another "need a life change" until the enlistment is up.


Bob
------------------------------------------
A man's got to know his limitations.
Harry Callahan

 

[LarryHinDC]

I just read an interesting article in the New York Review of Books. It is about commercial diving, but focuses primarily on saturation diving. Here's a link: Diving Deep into Danger by Nathaniel Rich | The New York Review of Books

 

[FM1520]

Commercial diver is more a description of how you get to work, than the work. Without a skill such as welding and/or rigging to name two, there would be no reason to send you down. Find a skill that is needed underwater that you would like and go from there.

Well said Bob.