Diving Academy

ONSHORE & INLAND DIVERS OFFSHORE DIVERS.

 OFFSHORE: diving work done on oilrigs and vessels in deep sea (RSA Class 2)
Training starts at Class 4, then 3, then 2. A student needs to pass the one course before he can go on to the next Class. In order to go offshore, one needs an additional training course in Offshore Survival at the Cape Technikon Offshore Survival Training Centre.

What type of courses do you provide?

Training at Commercial Diving Academy

The HSE in UK accepts the curriculum prescribed by the RSA Dept. of Labour, as presented by ALL APPROVED RSA commercial diving schools. Training is provided in the following:

Our students are trained according to the RSA Dept. of Labour Curriculum and IMCA on the following diving equipment:

" Dive helmets & Masks: Kirby Morgan 17, Kirby Morgan 18, Kirby Morgan 27, Kirby Morgan 10, AGA MK II

" Dive Suits: Dry suits, wet suits, hot water suits
" Air Supply Systems: HP & LP Compressors, dive control panels, bulk air storage supply systems
" Decompression chamber, CCTV Ship survey equipment, basic helmet & mask maintenance
" Underwater pneumatic hand tools, welding (surface & underwater) BROCO / ultra-thermic cutting
" All equipment used and trained in comply with international commercial diving standards.

What type of jobs can I do after each course?

Class IV – Police / Fire Brigade diver, media & scientific diver, Archaeological diver, Aquariums

Class III – Diamond diving industry, civil work projects (harbor construction, dam refurbishing)

Class II – Oil and Gas industry, Natural resources companies

In commercial diving, different levels of qualifications are applicable to different types of jobs:

Class IV: 30-metre scuba diver

This entry level of commercial diving requires a sport diving qualification, a scuba qualification used by the police force, fire department and rescue teams, along with marine archaeologists, aqua culture divers, and media and scientific divers. The qualification limits the diver to using small hand tools and conducting simple inspections on scuba. No decompression is required and one has direct access to the water's surface. Scuba in commercial diving terms refers to diving with a full-face mask. The class IV diver may not operate large surface-controlled power tools, or dive where the use of cranes, air lifts, diver dredging or winches are required.

Class III: 30-metre commercial diver surface supply (onshore/inland)

The next step is the Class III surface-supply diver course. Commercial divers need this qualification for working in harbours, doing inland dam wall-outlet maintenance as well as shipping repairs and salvage. This qualification allows divers to use scuba as well as surface-supply diving equipment, and the diver is able to do more tasks in the underwater working field. These tasks include underwater welding, cutting and dredging, airlifting, using salvage equipment, construction tools and a range of hydraulic and pneumatic tools used in the onshore and inland diving environment. The Class III commercial diver may perform all these tasks, but only onshore and inland and not in the oil and gas offshore diving industry.

Class II: 50-metre commercial air diver (offshore)

This course can only be done after completing Class III and is the highest level of commercial air diving qualifications a diver can get. It is the minimum qualification a diver needs to work offshore in the oil and gas industry, and the diver will still have to spend two years doing civil work. Civil work is working in the local harbours and at sea doing general diving work to gain extra water time and experience before applying for work in the offshore industry. The Class II qualification allows the diver to use hydraulic and pneumatic power tools, high- pressure water jets, and underwater welding and cutting. You are allowed to work with hand tools, thermic lances, explosive tools, airlifts, and low- and high-pressure compressors. You can also operate deck decompression chambers, manage air quads, hot water suits, dry suits, surface decompression with oxygen, diving baskets and stages and wet bells (Type I and II). You are also allowed to do dives with more than 20 minutes decompression time. Other functions this class diver can perform are inspections and measurements, photography and CCTV for inspection and surveying purposes and underwater explosive procedures. The diver must be able to understand and operate surface-supply diving control panels, underwater dredging, therapeutic decompression tables and the principles of closed and semi-closed circuit breathing apparatus. Last, you must be able to operate a deck decompression chamber during surface decompression as well as therapeutic treatments.

Are these courses internationally recognized? Could I work overseas with it?

IMCA and HSE of the U.K do recognize Department of Labour approved Class II tickets and with this you can dive in most countries of the world. In order to go offshore, one needs an additional training course in Offshore Survival at the Cape Technikon

Questions asked in connection with enrolment:

What is the duration of each course?

What are the qualifications/ requirements to enrol on the course?

Applicant must be 18 years of age, able to speak, write and understand English, be able to do basic maths, able to swim or preferable an entry-level SCUBA qualification (Open Water 1) and must be examined by a RSA Dept. of Manpower/Labour registered dive doctor before you can attend any commercial diver training course.

Where do I go for my dive medical examination?

Please contact our office for a list of providers nearest to you. If there in no Dive Medical Officer nearby, it can be arranged that you do your check in Cape Town on your first day of course.   Remember that if you do not pass this medical, you cannot continue on the course as to be a commercial diver you need to pass this every year to be able to dive, but we will reimburse you in full. The cost of this is approximately R 960-00 for the first examination. It is a complete medical examination incl. X-rays and ECG’s. Once qualified as a commercial diver you must be re-examined once yearly, at reduced cost (X-ray not necessary every time until you are 40 years of age). No diver may work without a valid and in-date medical certificate.

What do one need for enrolment?

Additional DOL Documents for Class II application:

- Your Log Book, Class III ticket and personal diving gear

- Your Log Book, Class III ticket and personal diving gear

- 2 x certified copies of the last page of your current log book (Please ensure you bring your current log book with you on course – NO LOG BOOK; NO COURSE. All entries must be made, countersigned by your supervisor and have a clear and legible company stamp
 

Are there any additional costs?

Your course fee include everything except your documentation expenses as stated above, your medical examination, your basic dive gear, accommodation and meals.

Where do I obtain the basic dive gear?

The 7mm wetsuit can be bought in most dive shops but for a custom fit the best place is Coral Wetsuits in Cape Town. The rest of the gear: mask, snorkel, gloves, booties, fins, knife, weight belt and lead can be bought in any dive shop. We also help you with buying this equipment on arrival

Where can I find accommodation?

Accommodation is available in the nearest town, Malmesbury about 20km from the dive school. These include Bed and Breakfast, Guest Houses, and Self Catering Accommodation. Please contact our office for a complete list.

How do I book / pay for the training?

Booking for a course must preferably be done no later than two weeks before commencement of the course. A deposit of 50% on total course fee is payable on booking, and the balance is due strictly on the first day of the commencement of the course.

What other courses do the school provide?

• 50 Meter Decompression Chamber Dive

• Chamber Operator Course

• Compressor Course

• 50 Meter Decompression Chamber Dive

Course detail:

• Must be adequately SCUBA qualified to participate (SCUBA advanced)

• Course duration: 35-40 minutes per dive

Course duration: 6 Days

Course detail:

• HP Compressors, LP Compressors

• Breathing Air Storage Systems, Compressor Maintenance

• The Law and Compressor Operation

• Course duration: 5 days (2 days Theory; 3 days Practical)

All Courses: Certification included