Commercial diving

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 dan wisey 10 Jan 2020

Just wondering if there are any commercial divers on UKC?  If so would you mind answering a few questions via private message as I am considering a change of career.

cheers dan

Deadeye 10 Jan 2020
In reply to dan wisey:

Do you value your health?

2
 Tobes 10 Jan 2020
In reply to dan wisey:

I’ve worked around the fringes of commercial diving (familiar with the set up, training, dive support vessels, inshore/offshore air/sat etc) and used to do a fair bit of technical diving (for fun).
 

like rope access - having a trade first then adding diving/rope access etc is the easier way around it rather than spend (Upto tens of thousands) on becoming an offshore sat diver but with little to no trade/mechanical/engineering experience/knowledge etc.
 

Usual route in is inshore air, then offshore, then saturation with a lot of experience and training to be gained Inbetween those stages - and a lot more besides which I’ll admit not to know much about. 
 

Up to you but if you keep the discussion open on the forum you’ll probably get a better perspective on things from different contributors 
 

Good luck!  

 Billhook 10 Jan 2020
In reply to dan wisey:

I'll support  Tobe's reply too.  My step son is a rope access technician - I'm not sure of the grade..  He's a metalwork & welding specialist.  He can make, fix or repair anything you wish out of metal and weld/braze anything, and that is what he mostly does at hight ,

My grandson is a saturation diver and can, if he wishes work anywhere he chooses.  He is a an engineering specialist.  He could probably repair an undersea engine or pump but also things I don't understand properly to do with testing and so on.

When I've joked about joining them and paying a fortune for their tickets and updates every year or so, that even if I qualified, theyve both asked me; "what could you actually do when you got to the workplace?" = and of course my answer is very little!

Yes there are rope access technicians who have no specialised skill and I know there are divers of some description who have no special skill and you can probably go that route.  Whatever you do in terms of diving, I hope you achieve your aim but it isn't easy.  Good Luck.

OP dan wisey 10 Jan 2020
In reply to Tobes:Thanks for the reply, I can’t imagine there is much call for underwater sparks so I have been trying to work out what’s relevant and potential openings. I did the taster day and aptitude five at the PDA in Dunoon earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can tell straight away that carrying all that gear and then working is going to be hard graft! I was considering the bolt tensioning/rigging route but it is hard to fathom whether the courses you do topside can be used for diving.  They sell add on courses at the PDA but it’s unclear whether they are actually worth the paper they are written on or not. 

OP dan wisey 10 Jan 2020
In reply to Billhook:I currently work as a L3 on the ropes and a time served spark but just looking for other avenues at the minute. It’s a huge gamble paying all the money for the courses with no guarantee of a start though-exactly the same as regular offshore work just more expensive! 

 Tobes 10 Jan 2020
In reply to dan wisey:

You’re welcome. If you’re offshore already does working on the drill floor appeal (would be cheaper in-terms of training?! Or a number of other roles that don’t need vast amounts or training or studying.

having offshore trips already under your belt puts you light years ahead. 


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