commercial diving

Post Reply New Topic

Hey guys well I decided to try something different for a career. I leave next month for a 21 week training in commercial diving. I just earned padi certification last week which was frightening. Almost drowned had a bronchial tube full of saltwater 30 feet under. Had to squeeze my diaphragm and swallow it. Well anyways I am still here. I am kinda excited. Learn how to stick weld and burn steel and use impact drivers and such underwater. Has anybody considered this career choice or currently doing it?

Hah I read this topic heading as "Commercial DRIVING" and was thinking wtf at almost drowned had a bronchial tube full of saltwater 30 feet under.
But yes it's an awesome idea. I looked into this too with a romantic sense of guiding scuba dives. Unfortunately where I am, it's completely bogged down in red tape. In order to qualify as a scuba instructor or take people out scuba diving you had to do YEARS of expensive training courses, and then a huge number of prerequisite dives, pay a bunch of licensing fees - and after all that, settle for only a few weeks of work per year because of seasonal conditions and low tourism.
But your idea looks more sensible - like doing deep sea welding? I'm sure there's blocks in place to make this impossible too, but it's a good possibility.

I read it as commercial DRIVING too, and wondered at it because I get really stressed driving. Diving sounds much better I've not thought of it as a career beyond superficially, I think I'd be nervous of the dark. Is diving a special interest?
I was going to say it must be nice doing this on the Devon coast, if a bit cold at the moment, but I've worked out what mn stands for.

It sounds fascinating but I'm not sure of my skill as a possible welder.

Oddly enough though, my current job is actually Commercial Driver. I'm a yard truck driver.

I used to be a sports diver, but never considered it as a career. It sounds great... best of luck.

I once had Divemaster certs from PADI, NAUI, and YMCA, over 400 hours bottom time, certs in Whitewater Rescue, Dive Rescue, Search & Recovery (In water, it's only a "rescue" for the first five minutes), and Evidence Collection & Handling; I was an assistant instructor at university and Divemaster of a county rescue team.
Commercial diving is highly technical; which would appeal to the 'geek' in most of us, and as it is high tech/low relationship (relatively; you still must be able to function as a team, but it's nothing like sales, for instance), I can see a certain Aspie allure.
Having said that, OW I certification is little better than a license to drown, as apparently you've figured out. It's light-years away from a commercial cert. If I were you, I'd get NAUI OW II & Rescue, and all the bottom time you can possibly accumulate; it's not the snort of seawater, but the ensuing panic which will kill you. The only answer to that is training and experience; lots of it.
Another thing; if you're claustrophobic or anxious in low/no light or visibility, commercial diving's probably not for you.
Good luck!