cDiver.net
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Thinking of becoming a comm diver
Hi all,
Im looking for advice, im thinking of doing my comm diving course in fort william but at 38 im thinking i might be too old ?? Im a recreational divemaster with more than 200 dives, im fit and healthy and think i have alot 2 offer as ive a long backround in construction/engineering.
Also how much would all your equipment roughly cost if your only just starting out ?????
Any comments and advice would be welcome.
Thanks.
Views: 26
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by stuart anderson on
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Advice number 1 would be to read through this Forum exhaustively, as this question has been asked quite a few times. Someone's going to shout at you!.
Quickly, No you're not too old, but it depends on what you want to do.
The equipment needed if you plan on working Inshore UK to begin with, is a good Dry Suit and gloves, a good knife, a Logbook and a smile. when you begin diving, you'll learn all about Hat-Liners, Leatherman's, cold weather gear, etc.
Leave out the Dive Master stuff too. It means nothing Commercially, and I would expect a Baby Diver to do 200 dives in his first year, and STILL know feck-all!
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Permalink Reply by Lee Richardson on
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Thanks stu,
Keep up the good work m8, and i've had a quick read thru, a lot of gripes haha
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Yep. Got to remember that this board is global, and that Diving has many different facets. Inshore UK doesn't mean anything to a Gulf of Mexico Diver, and vice-versa.
Having said that, there's a recession on everywhere, and it's hitting Diving as bad as anything else, probably more so statistically, due to the fact that before there was the bust, there was a 4-5 year boom, which flooded the market with starry-eyed wannabe's.
As far as the UK is concerned, there's, roughly speaking, a ladder going from Saturation Diver down to Dive school newstarts, going through the Middle East/SEA, Offshore Air, Civil's etc., and the downturn means that everyone's sliding down that ladder a couple of rungs. Not good if you're at the bottom trying to climb up, but nothing's impossible.
And thing's WILL get worse before they get better....
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Permalink Reply by Fish_food on
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If your going inshore you need;
A drysuit (I pref. neoprene, warm, strong and easy to fix) Bare is good! Ruffly 600£
Undersuit: Get a good one for winter 100£ and use an old tracksuit for summers.
Hatliner: 60£
Knife: Green river diveknife and a leatherman. About 100£ together if you shop on the net.
Gloves: Some inshore jobs supply gloves some dont so buy your gloves in bulk (if you can). If you shop around you can find them at 10-15£ a pair. When the water warms up use gardengloves 3£
Fins: you probably got some left and some jobs offer fins aswell.
Wetweather gear for summer and winter. I think you get some at Fort William.
Riggerboots: 50£
Rubber full safety boots (thermal) for wet winters: 80£
This is basic stuff, there's other stuff too like;
Good safetygla****. Sometimes you get them on jobs but I've been on jobs too where everybody looked like Steve Urkel (fkn funny!). Bollee, 3M and Uvex do good ones. I also have my own flametorch goggles and weldinghat lying around in my car. Better be prepared than sorry.
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Nice 1 fish food,
Thanks for the reply, a good drysuit is a must and gloves check. Is the rest supplied then ? i.e. breathing app and mask and stuff.
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Hats, umbillicals, air etc is supplied by your employer. There are some freelancers who take small jobs themselves and got basic material in the back of their van and charge it on their invoice, if used. This is France. In England all jobs I've been on, the employer supplied the diving equiptment.
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ok thanks m8 keep in touch
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Permalink Reply by Skylar on
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"Advice number 1 would be to read through this Forum exhaustively, as this question has been asked quite a few times. Someone's going to shout at you!."
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Thanks flynn lovin your work haha! but seriously beach life don't pay the bills but its gr8 4 a bit of fun hehe
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Ye i know m8 but the more responses the better rite ?
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Permalink Reply by Bill Gardner on
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Lee, I was really going to tee off on you-but there is a special place in the industry for a 'diver-construction engineer, ndt' specialist in the civils side. get your surface supply-endorsement and get out there and compete for a job.
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Thanks bill for not teeing off on me m8 haha!
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