Officially a commercial diver

[scoobert]

Just wanted to say hello before I start asking questions.
I am a live aboard, who recently started diving. I clean boat bottoms right now, but I hope to go far beyond this, and make diving/ROV operation my profession.
Here is my first underwater selfie. This is also the most clear saltwater i have ever seen

Thanks for allowing me to be on the same board as people who know so much more then me!

Here is our live aboard blog http://svunionp.blogspot.com/2014/02/dive-dive-dive.html

---------- Post added April 13th, 2014 at 06:41 PM ----------

So, now its question time.
In my research for the ROV operator position i noticed a few things.
Requirements: cv, 200 hours flight time, MISC certs, and professional training in one of several fields.
Unfortunately, my only training at this point is building my own very complex RC cars, trucks, helo's and planes.
One of the training possibilities was hydraulics I have been operating heavy equipment for 16 years, servicing it all myself.
Most of it was electrically controlled hydraulics. So I am trying to find what the minimums are so I may get started in this field.
All help is welcome.

I have found one course, priced at almost $20,000 for 7 weeks training. It was in England.
What are these professional certification courses they are looking for?

 

[DCBC]

The successful candidate for most ROV Operator positions requires experience working on a range of projects. This is largely because of multiple ways in which ROVs are used (such as observation, support for drill and construction and pipeline survey and plow).

As Ops must establish and maintain effective communication links with the Dive Operations Manager, it's not uncommon for the ROV Op to be a certified commercial diver as well. This is however starting to change, with a growing need for the Op to possess electronic technician, technologist or engineering credentials as well.

 

[scoobert]

Are there any companies right now training techy people on the job, or paying for training?
I have a history in various RC planes, choppers, cars. It would come natural to me to do it.

 

[DCBC]

Not that I'm aware of at this point. Several years ago, many companies like Global and Oceaneering International had their own in-house school and diving staff. Oceaneering still offers instruction and hires the top candidates when needed. Things have changed in the industry and now most companies require the candidate to be trained before they gain experience on the job.

 

[Titan13]

Just wanted to say hello before I start asking questions.
I am a live aboard, who recently started diving. I clean boat bottoms right now, but I hope to go far beyond this, and make diving/ROV operation my profession.
Here is my first underwater selfie. This is also the most clear saltwater i have ever seen

Thanks for allowing me to be on the same board as people who know so much more then me!

Here is our live aboard blog S/V Union Pacific : Dive! Dive! Dive!

---------- Post added April 13th, 2014 at 06:41 PM ----------

So, now its question time.
In my research for the ROV operator position i noticed a few things.
Requirements: cv, 200 hours flight time, MISC certs, and professional training in one of several fields.
Unfortunately, my only training at this point is building my own very complex RC cars, trucks, helo's and planes.
One of the training possibilities was hydraulics I have been operating heavy equipment for 16 years, servicing it all myself.
Most of it was electrically controlled hydraulics. So I am trying to find what the minimums are so I may get started in this field.
All help is welcome.

I have found one course, priced at almost $20,000 for 7 weeks training. It was in England.
What are these professional certification courses they are looking for?

Don't know where you are at, but Norway seems to have a good school with a good price.
The main thing is the certification organization that backs the training.

USA-ADCI, some say IMCA
Canada- HSE, IMCA
UK-HSE
Norway- whatever Norway uses.

In most cases American (ADC divers don't work with American papers in the UK or wherever HSE rules, unless your company has the job. Then it depends on client.
Same time ADC tries to get it where HSE can't come over here and take the work in our oil fields.
And I've often heard that HSE doesn't cut it for working in Norway.

This isn't a PADI, NAUI or a SCUBA certification, the whole idea is you are getting a cert to be able to perform millions of dollars (billed....you don't get a cut of that) to client. So companies get very possessive over their water.
Hope this helps.

 

[DCBC]

Don't know where you are at, but Norway seems to have a good school with a good price.
The main thing is the certification organization that backs the training.

USA-ADCI, some say IMCA
Canada- HSE, IMCA
UK-HSE
Norway- whatever Norway uses.

In most cases American (ADC divers don't work with American papers in the UK or wherever HSE rules, unless your company has the job. Then it depends on client.
Same time ADC tries to get it where HSE can't come over here and take the work in our oil fields.
And I've often heard that HSE doesn't cut it for working in Norway.

This isn't a PADI, NAUI or a SCUBA certification, the whole idea is you are getting a cert to be able to perform millions of dollars (billed....you don't get a cut of that) to client. So companies get very possessive over their water.
Hope this helps.

The IMCA Code of Practise outlines the differences between IMCA and HSE requirements as follows:

Offshore diving work under UK jurisdiction is governed by the Diving at Work Regulations (DWR) 1997 which are accompanied by an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP), both published and enforced by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

The list below is not a full legal interpretation of the UK requirements for offshore diving. It is meant as a guide to the main additional requirements for work in the UK given by its diving regulations in comparison to the IMCA code. It does not address other legal requirements which may exist while working offshore under UK jurisdiction and if work is planned which falls under UK jurisdiction then it is recommended that specialist advice is sought in order to comply with all aspects of the UK legal requirements.

Specific Points

References in brackets below are to the relevant paragraph numbers of the HSE ACoP or to pages or sections of the IMCA code.

♦The HSE ACoP (para 33) requires the diving contractor to have formally notified HSE in London of its details such as name, address, telephone etc.

♦Maximum bottom times allowed when surface supplied diving are specified in para 44 and Table 1 of the HSE ACoP. This contrasts with the advice given in section 7.3.3 of the IMCA code and will limit surface supplied diving to shorter times than may be the case under the IMCA code.

♦Surface supplied diving is not allowed deeper than 50 MSW by HSE (para 46) and a closed bell must be used if working deeper than this. In contrast section 7.3.5 of the IMCA code allows the use of surface mixed gas with an open bell down to 75 MSW.

♦Paragraph 75 of the HSE ACoP requires the diving contractor to use hearing protection and noise reduction techniques if required. This subject is not specifically addressed in the IMCA code.

♦Paragraph 79 of the HSE ACoP says that wet suits will have limited applications offshore in the UK. This is due to the colder waters encountered compared to otherparts of the world covered by the IMCA code.

♦The HSE ACoP specifies (para 94) an absolute minimum team size of nine for one saturation bell dive with two divers in the bell. This contrasts with a minimum team of seven given in the IMCA code, section 5.3.

♦HSE (para 96) says that any diver should only take part in one bell run in each 24-hour period. This differs slightly from the IMCA code, section 5.3.

♦HSE (para 97) says the bell runs should not exceed eight hours from lock-off to lock-on which is the same as the guidance in IMCA section 7.3.21. HSE further states that in a two-man bell run, no diver shall spend more than four hours locked out and in a three-man bell run, two of the divers may lock-out together for up to six hours each but should act as the bellman and stay dry on each third bell run. IMCA guidance notes that the project plan needs to ensure that each diver spends no more than six hours out of the bell.

♦There is a requirement (HSE 104) for two qualified life support personnel to be at, or in the vicinity of, saturation control at all times. If one is required to leave, for meal breaks or other reasons, then they must be replaced by another qualified life support person. This contrasts with IMCA section 5.2.4.

♦HSE has specific requirements for first aid training to a nominated UK standard (paras 117-119). Those qualifications require to be renewed every three years. This is similar to IMCA section 6.3 but requires the UK type certificate.

♦The recording of the dive needs to be retained for 48 hours after the diver has returned to surface (HSE 133) instead of the 24 hours required by the IMCA code, section 4.7.

♦The HSE ACoP (para 145) requires independent primary and secondary braking systems on man-carrying winches with the secondary system operating automatically on hydraulic systems. This is more detailed than the requirement in the IMCA code, section 4.11.1.

♦The HSE only approves certain diver training certificates for offshore diving within its jurisdiction (para 173). A copy of this list, which changes from time to time, can be obtained from HSE in London. The list is similar to that identified in the IMCA code, section 5.1.2 (and set out in IMCA information note D 05/07), but is not identical.

♦The doctor carrying out an annual divi ng medical examination for use within HSE jurisdiction must be on the HSE approved list (para 192). Specific cases will need to be checked and confirmed with HSE in London.

 

[scoobert]

Can anyone recommend a pocketed weight belt with shoulder straps?
The BCD with 30# of weight, and a tank is too heavy to push out of the water solo.
My butt is too small to hold up a normal weight belt.

 

[Herb-alaska]

DUI weight and trim works well. Make sure that you have sufficient buoyancy / not over weighted enough so that when you remove your bcd you are still buoyant

 

[fstbttms]

Can anyone recommend a pocketed weight belt with shoulder straps?
The BCD with 30# of weight, and a tank is too heavy to push out of the water solo.
My butt is too small to hold up a normal weight belt.

Why are you wearing the tank in the water? On the dock or in a dinghy with a long hose is the way to go if you are married to a bottle. Using a hookah is an even better option, IMHO.

 

[scoobert]

Why are you wearing the tank in the water? On the dock or in a dinghy with a long hose is the way to go if you are married to a bottle. Using a hookah is an even better option, IMHO.

I cannot dump a ton of money into bottom clean kit, when I have a grand total of two monthly customers, and myself.
If I cannot use it for rec diving, then I typically don't invest in it. On the other hand, I just had my first scumbag not pay me for a bottom job.