Thinking of Ocean Corp (ideas please)

[dmtnet]

Well I just got a pale grant and a student loan to cover the UDT course at Ocean Corp here in Houston and am considering enrolling. I have done a few dives recreationally and it seems like a job I couldn't stop loving. I understand hard work, have been a poly-chem operator for about 6 years now and am looking for something new. Have done some welding ( about a year ) and am a full Paramedic I so I am just wondering what you guys and gals think of the Ocean Corp or if I should take my money else where. I understand it'll take a few years to get into the business and be considered a full diver and actually start making some money.

Thanks ahead of time for your insight and suggestions.
JB

 

[dmtnet]

bump anyone?

 

[Wijbrandus]

Not a clue myself.

Seems to me commercial diving is a whole different animal than ScubaBoard caters to, though.

Might get more responses at TheDecoStop.com where the more hard core seem to reside.

 

[Mark Allen]

I have looked into commercial schools over the past couple of years. The Ocean Corp. is the better one on this continent. The dive center of Fort Williams in Scotland is top notch. There are others overseas. You are pretty much guaranteed to get work as the current diver to job ratio is 1:6 The only reason that I am getting into commercial diving is that rec. diving pays so poorly. Get as many cert's as possible. Non-destructive testing, welding, medic etc...
PS...you must be willing to travel alot for the good jobs and spend endless amounts of time decompressing. Watch out.

 

[erikharwell]

not many commercial divers retire, alot of them die early from various ailments. my instructor used to be a commercial diver and recently died from a very rare liver cancer. did diving to great depths breathing crazy blends of gases cause it, who knows, I sure dont want to find out. dive for fun, but dont turn it into a job. there are plenty of jobs out there that will make you more money and give you time off to dive for fun. just my opinion, do what you want

 

[Laughing Swordfish]

Well I just got a pale grant and a student loan to cover the UDT course at Ocean Corp here in Houston and am considering enrolling. I have done a few dives recreationally and it seems like a job I couldn't stop loving. I understand hard work, have been a poly-chem operator for about 6 years now and am looking for something new. Have done some welding ( about a year ) and am a full Paramedic I so I am just wondering what you guys and gals think of the Ocean Corp or if I should take my money else where. I understand it'll take a few years to get into the business and be considered a full diver and actually start making some money.

Thanks ahead of time for your insight and suggestions.
JB

Ocean Corp is a a poor choice. Where you go depends on what you plan on doing. Are you a US citizen? If so, the Jones act may prevent you from working overseas. If you plan on working the Gulf of Mexico or inland in the States, then go to the cheapest option out there, which is Young Memorial College. School just teaches you the basics, your real education is on the job, so I wouldn't waste a whole lot of money with the big schools like Ocean Corp or College of Oceaneering. Look at forums on www.longstreath.com or www.offshorediver.com. Do your research before you blow some money.

If you are able to work overseas, then you are going to need a certification that is recognized as HSE equivelant. I don't believe any of the US schools do that. DIT in Seattle will give you a Canadian cert that might be recognised by HSE. Again, do lots of research. Scubaboard is probably not the best place. Go read the archived posts on the websites I put above here.

My advice would be to save your money and find a better line of work. Commercial diving kinda sucks. Pay mostly sucks (even union) and working conditions range from barely safe to downright 'gonna get u killed' unsafe. Unless your Daddy is on the board of directors for Oceaneering and can get you in sat, you will never make any big money. Sorry to be a downer, but the industry just isn't like what many outsiders think. Personally been there, done that. Moved onto better work.