To become a commercial diver, applicants must meet criteria, select a school, complete courses, pay tuition, and pass an exam. Programs take 8-12 months and cost $5,000-$8,000. Applicants must have a diving license and pass a physical exam. The exam includes written and scuba tests.
There are five requirements to obtain commercial diver training: meet the application criteria, select the school, complete the courses, pay the tuition, and pass the exam. Commercial diver training is available at select community and career colleges, but is primarily offered by private diving schools. A commercial diver uses special equipment to dive large bodies of water. They can remain underwater for an extended period of time and are usually part of search and rescue or salvage missions.
To apply for commercial diver training, you must have a diving license and pass a physical health exam. Most states have age requirements to ensure that all commercial divers are over 18 years old. This requirement is based on liability and health issues and is not considered to be discriminatory.
Commercial diver training programs typically take eight to 12 months to complete. Courses include diving techniques, search methodologies, psychological preparation and monitoring your physical health. The training program is divided into two components: theoretical and practical. The first part is classroom-based and covers equipment management, calculating oxygen needs, and emergency response.
The hands-on or scuba component allows students to learn how to navigate different types of water, manage breathing equipment and communicate with staff. Most schools assign a specific scuba instructor to each student. For the first few weeks, the student and instructor enter the water together. Over time, the instructor spends more time on the boat, monitoring the student.
When selecting a school for training commercial divers, it is important to review the school’s reputation. Schools with excellent reputations have devoted significant money, time and resources to the program over a period of years. They are committed to providing a professional-caliber program and are focused on your long-term health and well-being.
Commercial diver training programs cost between $5,000 and $8,000 (US). Included in this cost is the fee for renting the boat, breathing apparatus and related equipment. Many commercial diver training programs can be completed part-time, allowing students the flexibility to work and study simultaneously.
The scuba diving exam for a commercial diving license is a combination of written and scuba tests. The written portion of the exam focuses on safety regulations, laws, and guidelines. The scuba component of the exam is conducted by a licensed examiner. This part includes underwater maneuvers, descents, ascents and methods of communication.
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