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Inshore Opportunities in Norway and Sweden?
Hello there! My name is Niall, I come from Scotland and I’m looking for some advice regarding a move into Commercial Diving. A friend recently pointed me towards your excellent and informative site. Anything you could offer me would be greatly appreciated.
I currently work as a technical diving instructor (recreational diving). My passion is shipwrecks and hence where so many are found, deep technical open-circuit diving.
My girlfriend (also an instructor) and I have spent the past couple of years moving around working abroad, however she now feels she wants to settle back nearer to her home in Sweden. We have a very good relationship so I’m more than happy to make this move.
I’ve never really been one for swimming around with the fishes. My enjoyment comes from the technical challenge of being deep underwater and performing tasks in an unfamiliar environment. As such for the past three years now, I have researched, seriously considered and then put off several times making a move into Commercial Diving.
NYD in Oslo, Norway just happens to be 3-4 hours away from my girl’s home, so given our new circ**stances, thoughts of making the move are once again at the forefront of my mind.
I’m really just wondering what kind of work is out there? Specifically inshore and local to Norway or Sweden? I hope I am being as realistic as I can about potentially making this move. Other than a reasonable degree of strength and stamina, I have no skills as such to bring to the workface. I’m not a welder, I don’t hold degrees in Engineering, Surveying or hold certificates in Inspection. If asked, my dream job would be to work in Rescue and Salvage. I am too old to join the army, I’m 35. I’m not sure about Scandinavia but certainly in the UK to be a Police Diver I would need to become a Policeman. That is just not going to happen. Likewise the Fire Service, to be a Rescue Diver with them I need first to be a Fireman. Language might also prove to be a problem. With all the best will in the world I’m never going to speak Swedish. Man I swear it’s English backwards LOL.
Any information or advice you could pass our way would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Niall
I currently work as a technical diving instructor (recreational diving). My passion is shipwrecks and hence where so many are found, deep technical open-circuit diving.
My girlfriend (also an instructor) and I have spent the past couple of years moving around working abroad, however she now feels she wants to settle back nearer to her home in Sweden. We have a very good relationship so I’m more than happy to make this move.
I’ve never really been one for swimming around with the fishes. My enjoyment comes from the technical challenge of being deep underwater and performing tasks in an unfamiliar environment. As such for the past three years now, I have researched, seriously considered and then put off several times making a move into Commercial Diving.
NYD in Oslo, Norway just happens to be 3-4 hours away from my girl’s home, so given our new circ**stances, thoughts of making the move are once again at the forefront of my mind.
I’m really just wondering what kind of work is out there? Specifically inshore and local to Norway or Sweden? I hope I am being as realistic as I can about potentially making this move. Other than a reasonable degree of strength and stamina, I have no skills as such to bring to the workface. I’m not a welder, I don’t hold degrees in Engineering, Surveying or hold certificates in Inspection. If asked, my dream job would be to work in Rescue and Salvage. I am too old to join the army, I’m 35. I’m not sure about Scandinavia but certainly in the UK to be a Police Diver I would need to become a Policeman. That is just not going to happen. Likewise the Fire Service, to be a Rescue Diver with them I need first to be a Fireman. Language might also prove to be a problem. With all the best will in the world I’m never going to speak Swedish. Man I swear it’s English backwards LOL.
Any information or advice you could pass our way would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Niall
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Kelly on
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I would suggest considering a Commercial Dive School. Most of the Diving aspects are things you've probably already learned or already know, but alot of schools will teach you the basics of Inspections, pipeline survey, and the basics of welding underwater. There's a 2 week program I've been hearing about in Louisiana that will certify you for underwater welding but it's like $6,000.00. The Divers Academy I went to is only a 5 month course, so if you can afford to take off 5 months for school, and also qualify for the loan, I would say that would be your best and most effective way of getting into the industry. PLus with your scuba certs, you'll be overqualified for most jobs as compared to most cdivers who only have their surface supply certs. hope this helps.
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Permalink Reply by Erik Golub on
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NYD's course lasts 4 months so you need to apply for a residence permit. Once you have all the doc**ents there should be no problems. The course is one of the cheapest in Europe (around 4500 euro) but you need to take care of the accommodation yourself, which in Norway might be a considerable sum of money (3000-4000 euros for the food, rent and other expenses). The north sea is one of the most regulated commercial diving areas in the world. But you'll need to start at the bottom of course. Fish farming industries are said to be the starting point for many guys finishing their course in Norway. Collect your tickets try to find some work inshore and then after some time you might be lucky enough to be offered something offshore.
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Permalink Reply by Niall Mackenzie on
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Thanks for the replies guys. I have a deposit down for NYD in Norway. I’m currently on the waiting list to begin in March, fingers crossed.. As for my previous diving experience, well it’s all going to count for nothing in the commercial world. This is my concern. I am a diver, just a diver. I have no relevant vocational qualifications and/or relevant work experience. I doubt a series of introductions to things like welding, inspection etc will make me very employable as a welding/inspecting diver?
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Permalink Reply by Bill Gardner on
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Niall, what skills/assets do you bring aside from diving that would encourage an employer to consider you for employment. There are many many divers out and about. It is a very competitive market and the more you have to offer the stronger likelyhood of getting work. The diving cert is a drivers licence, what can you do when you get to work?
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hey niall, me and a friend of mine are also scheduled for March. if you need any additional info let me know.
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Hi Bill. Nice analogy. Not much I’m afraid. I really am starting right from the bottom.
This is why I wondered about rescue and salvage work. Not that for a minute I’m implying these areas do not need any prerequisite skills or experience.
Hey Erik, I’m due to visit the school in December when we get home from Malta. If there’s anything I can think of I’ll give you a shout for sure. Thanks for the offer, really appreciate it.
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Rescue diving has its advantages, but sporadic suggest you have SARS training. Salvage typically requires pronounced knowledge of rigging/burning knowledge of pumps, motors, matts, and deck skills as salvage hands have to be able to do it all & expeditiously, not just the diving bit-its all hands to make it happen but one of the best places to learn. A thoriugh knowledge of ships husbandry couldn't hurt. Check out Mammoet, Smit, Svitzer, etc.
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Bill many thanks for the advice. I have another question then. So here I am, sitting firmly at the bottom of the pile with regards to experience. I’m wondering, might employers look at certain schools with degrees of favour? Are there certain courses more respected than others? The reason I ask is my choice of school has come down to two: The PDA in Dunoon, Scotland and the NYD in Oslo, Norway. The cost difference between the two schools is staggering. Why such a huge difference? Also, the NYD course is 16 weeks as opposed to 9 weeks at the PDA, again why? My initial favouring towards NYD was because of the course length, not funnily enough because of the vastly cheaper price. I assumed/hoped the longer course meant a higher standard of training?
Below is the list of certificates you respectively walk away with from each course. Would someone in the industry mind making a quick comparison and offer their opinions as to which, if any is the better/more useful course?
PDA (Premier Offshore Package) £9,845
1. HSE First Aid @ Work & 02 Provider (Commercial Diving Endorsement)
2. HSE Professional SCUBA (Part 4)
3. HSE Surface Supplied (Part 3)
4. HSE Surface Supplied Top-Up (Part 1)
5. SVQ Construction and Inspection Diver Award
6. RYA Powerboat Level II
NYD (Part One Offshore) £3,200
1. PSA (Petroleum Safety Authority Norway) Offshore Part 1 (Internationally recognized by i.e. IMCA, HSE, NDC)
2. NLIA (Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority) Inshore Part 1
3. IDSA (International Diving Schools Association) Offshore Level 3
I am particularly curious about the new addition of the SVQ Construction and Inspection Diver Award on the PDA course. I was unaware of this when I put down my deposit at NYD. Details of this section can be found here - http://www.professionaldivingacademy.com/Diving-Courses/view-course...
Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Niall
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Neill, the low course price of the course in Oslo is due to the fact that the school is partially state funded. At least I was told so by the director. What you must bear in mind is that the costs of living during the 4 months will amount up to 4000-4500 Euros. I don't know if any accommodation is offered at PDA. And once again let me remind you that you need to apply for a residence permit since tourist visas only last 3 months. This has proven to be the most difficult part for me since the Norwegians seem to be very strict with this kind of paperwork. I was told that even some guys from Sweden have had problems with their applications.
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Erik, thanks for the heads up re the Residence Permit. PDA does not include accomodation either.
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