In a commercial diving program, you may have to dive through pipes of raw
sewage for a class assignment. Or you may have to lay pipes on the ocean floor
wearing a heavy suit and helmet hooked on to a thin tether.
Only a handful of community and technical colleges across North America
train commercial divers. Private schools also offer training.
Entrance requirements are fairly high. You must have experience diving
and the necessary documents to prove it. Programs generally demand a certificate
in sports diving.
You must pass a physical exam before you enroll. You may also have
to pass exams that test your math and English skills. Programs generally
ask for a high school diploma with courses in physics and math.
"There is a lot of math...required," says Dave Geddes. He is an instructor
in an underwater skills certificate program.
Divers need math to calculate the right ratio of breathing gases and rates
of decompression. As any diver can tell you, you can't just rise to the surface.
If you rise too quickly, you will suffer the bends.
You should also like to work with your hands. Classes in shop, woodworking
and automotive repair are good.
Being comfortable in the water is a must. Swim, surf or play water polo.
And get as much diving in as possible, says Geddes. "Get as comfortable
underwater as you possibly can," he says.
Courses in commercial diving programs cover a range of subjects. Aside
from the diving-related courses, you may also take courses in general seamanship,
boat handling, electronics, drafting, marine biology and small engine repair.
Expect to work hard. Instructors will hold you to a high standard.
You may have to get a mark of 80 percent or higher in some or all of your
courses to pass.
"We don't have C- divers," says Don Barthelmess. He is the program director
of the marine technology program at Santa Barbara City College. "We have to
set the bar a little higher for students coming in here."
The reasons behind the higher standards are obvious. They teach students
to think about safety above all else.
"Even though we are in a learning environment, we don't have much room
for errors...when we are putting people in the water," he says.
Expect to spend a fair bit of money on diving equipment. The dry
suit alone costs $2,000. Other items you may have to buy include wrenches,
boots and safety goggles.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Construction
Laborers
UnderWater Magazine
Keep up with industry news
Dive Medicine and Safety
Outlines the many medical aspects of diving
Association of Diving Contractors International
Job postings and scholarship opportunities
Shipwreck Central
Watch amazing shipwreck videos and explore the interactive map