Two offshore commercial divers and the director of a diving company have been sanctioned for exaggerating credentials.

Investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have slammed the trio for false claims of diving experience that could have jeopardised their own and other divers’ lives in an offshore incident.

Following a HSE investigation, two divers from the Portsmouth area have had their diving qualifications withdrawn. The two men and the director of a commercial diving company have also received police cautions for fraud.

In December 2022 HSE received information that two divers may have obtained their closed bell qualifications without having the necessary prior diving experience.

There was concern that their lack of experience could result in a diving incident offshore as both divers had worked for contractors in the North Sea.

In order to work in the UK as a saturation diver (also known as a closed bell diver), a diver needs an approved qualification. There are only two dive schools in the world that currently offer the qualification – INPP in Marseille, France, and the Commercial Dive Academy in Tasmania.

HSE contacted both dive schools and obtained details of the dives submitted to the schools by the divers as part of their enrolment.

Inspectors then followed this information up with several UK diving contractors to check on whether the claimed diving experience was genuine.  Due to the legal requirement for diving contractors to retain records of dives for two years, the contractors were able to provide accurate details of dive depths and times for the individuals concerned.

The director of the diving company in question was unable to provide records, despite having signed and stamped the diver’s logbook himself.  HSE went to the location of the claimed diving, and with the assistance of the harbourmaster was able to demonstrate that no diving had occurred on the dates recorded in the diver’s logbook. The diver had forged 10 at this location in order to demonstrate he had 20 dives over 15m deep. These had been fraudulently stamped and signed by the director.

The other diver was very short of experience and HSE could only find records that he had carried out around 28 dives, only one of which was deeper than 15m. He declared to the dive school he had 106 dives, 26 of which were deeper than 15m.

HSE worked closely with the Fraud Investigation Team of Hampshire Police. All three individuals admitted that they had made false entries into logbooks and received police cautions for fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.

HSE diving inspector Phil Crombie said: “You need diving experience to become a qualified closed bell diver and making it up could put your life and other divers at risk.

“Offshore diving contractors need to use qualified divers and these men could have worked anywhere across Great Britain.

“If we hear divers have made up their experience in order to get onto a closed bell course, we will look very carefully at all of the records available.

“A logbook is a document required by law, and making false entries is a criminal offence. The police cautions issued meant that we were able to have the qualifications withdrawn quickly by the relevant authorities.

“Closed bell courses cost over fifteen thousand pounds for a diver – and these divers have ended up losing that without gaining a qualification.  It’s just fortunate that they weren’t involved in any accident or incident.”

Hampshire Police PC Alam Mahmmued said: “The men involved in this case did not have the requisite experience to undertake dive work of this nature, posing a serious risk of harm to themselves. This is in addition to their actions which clearly amounted to criminal offences.

“We take any aspect of fraud seriously and we were pleased to collaborate with HSE to achieve a suitable outcome in this case. We hope this will in turn reduce the likelihood of any further offending. If offending continues, then these individuals face severe consequences in the criminal courts.”

Source: HSE Press Release

To get underwater repair and salvage missions done faster and safer, the Navy is testing a new deep-water suit reminiscent of Iron Man

Source: Military Times on YouTube

Seneca has made the difficult decision to cancel the Underwater Skills program after an incredible 45 years of preparing commercial divers for a wide range of careers both locally and internationally. The college’s closure has been attributed to high operating costs and low student demand. This program is no longer accepting applications. Students who are currently enrolled will be able to complete the program.

Seneca College was sought after by contractors for skilled graduates to work in offshore construction, salvage, inspection, offshore oil and gas exploration, and production.

Seneca’s 35-week program would have allowed the student to dive to a maximum depth of 50 meters (165 feet), under the supervision of Seneca’s Unrestricted Surface Supplied Supervisors, who had more than 100 years of combined commercial diving experience. Students would have received an internationally recognized certificate from the Diver Certification Board of Canada as an Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver upon graduation (DCBC).

Holland College

After operating the Commercial Diving Program in Prince Edward Island for 19 years, Holland College in Prince Edward Island closed it in 2000. Kimball Johnston and a former Holland College team member resurrected the course and rebranded themselves as the Atlantic Commercial Diving Center (ACDC).

WE ARE 100% VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED

MAKO Diving is an industry leader that draws on a diverse range of experiences from the in-shore, off-shore, military, public-safety, and scientific diving communities. We use all of our resources to provide you, the customer, with a solution that is tailored to your specific requirements. Welding, cutting, salvage operations, hull cleaning, and in-water repairs to structures and vessels are among our services.

We’re confident that we can assist you with all of your diving needs, so take a look around our website. If you have any questions, please contact us; we are eager to hear from you.

BORN OUT OF COJO DIVING INC. AND COJO RESCUE

In 2021, due to the magnitude of work that COJO Rescue was involved in, Connie and Joe (COJO Diving) saw the need to separate COJO Diving and COJO Rescue. Because of the desire to create a distinct and unique company, independent of the COJO brand, Connie and Joe decided to go with a new name, MAKO Diving and Marine Services Inc.

Due to our vast experience in all areas of diving, we have grown MAKO into an industry leader for commercial, public safety and scientific diving. MAKO has been involved in work throughout the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario.

DIVING OPERATIONS

MAKO Diving is a leader in the industry using a multitude of experiences from the in-shore, off-shore, military, public-safety and scientific diving communities. We bring all of our resources to bear to give you, the customer, a solution that will meet your unique needs. Our services include welding, cutting, salvage operations, hull cleaning, in-water repairs to structures and vessels.

Due to the unique nature of MAKO and our affiliation with several law-enforcement agencies, we have a 24-hour service with a crew ready to respond throughout the Maritimes when needed.

WE’RE NOT TOO BIG TO BE SMALL

At MAKO we understand that there is more than one way to complete a project. There are times when only surface supply can be used but, there are times when SCUBA may be used to accomplish projects as well. On projects such as surveys of benthic organisms or marine health, SCUBA can be the right fit, drastically reducing costs. MAKO has the ability to deploy several surface supply teams as well as SCUBA when the job calls for it.

We also maintain a full fabrication and repair capability in order to support all of our marine operations.

Due to the unique nature of MAKO Diving & Marine Services and our affiliation with several law-enforcement agencies, we have a 24-hour service with a crew ready to respond throughout the Maritimes when needed.

Located in Hanwell, New Brunswick

506.349.5110

Learn more at: https://makodiving.ca/

For over 150 years, lobster fishers on Prince Edward Island have been waking up early, setting their traps, and hauling in the most delicious red-shelled crustaceans to share with customers all over the world. Around 1200 Island lobster fishers work out of PEI’s 45 ports; many fishers are carrying on a family tradition.

Setting Day is the first day of the season for the Island’s lobster fishers, who work on the water for two months during one of PEI’s two lobster seasons. It’s a day of celebration when hundreds of boats leave port, loaded with traps, bound for the fishing grounds, while hundreds of people cheer them on!

The rest of the year is filled with activity as fishermen and their families work to maintain their boats and build and repair their traps. Lobster fishermen on Prince Edward Island are also very active in protecting the health of the fishery, spending time reviewing research, attending meetings, and discussing the sector’s future.

The lobster fishery is truly at the heart of rural PEI, where life fluctuates with the seasons.

About Lobster PEI

Lobster fishing is more than a job on Prince Edward Island; it’s a way of life. We are extremely proud of our products and the collaborative efforts we have made to manage a sustainable fishery that produces the best lobster in the world. Lobster PEI, or “The Lobster Fishers of PEI Marketing Board,” is a group of lobster fishermen who work together to promote and market PEI lobster.

Our Board

• Charlie McGeoghegan – Central Northumberland Strait Fisherman’s Association (Board Chair)
• Malcolm Ferguson – Central Northumberland Strait Fisherman’s Association (Treasurer)
• Mark Arsenault – Prince County Fishermen’s Association
• Terry Arsenault– Prince County Fishermen’s Association
• Tommy Drake – Southern Kings and Queens Fishermen’s Association
• Bethany McCarthy – Southern Kings and Queens Fishermen’s Association (Secretary)
• Ken LeClair – Western Gulf Fishermen’s Association (Vice-Chair)
• Ronnie MacRae – Western Gulf Fishermen’s Association
• Edwin McKie – Eastern Kings Fishermen’s Association
• Scott Bruce – Eastern Kings Fishermen’s Association
• Ryan Peters – North Shore Fishermen’s Association

Learn more at: https://lobsterpei.ca/

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

News Release

August 22, 2022

Prince Rupert, British Columbia – Watching whales and other marine mammals in their natural surroundings gives Canadians an opportunity to better appreciate these beautiful animals, but when humans get too close, we risk disturbing and even harming them. Canada has laws in place to ensure that marine mammals can be enjoyed at a safe distance.

On July 22, 2022, in Prince Rupert Provincial Court, the Honourable Judge Jeffrey Campbell ordered Thomas Gould to pay a fine of $12,000 for contravention of Canada’s Fisheries Act, section 7 of the Marine Mammal Regulations. This is the largest fine recorded to-date for this kind of an offence.

The sentence stems from a incident on April 25, 2020, when Mr. Gould, a scuba diver and owner of a commercial dive vessel, Ice Cube, knowingly interacted with a pod of seven Northern Resident Killer Whales near Prince Rupert Harbour. Evidence collected by fishery officers established that the dive vessel had attempted to motor ahead of the whale pod several times, a practice known as “leap-frogging”. It was also determined that Mr. Gould, in full dive gear, entered the water two different times in close proximity to the whales.

Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations outlines minimum approach distances for whales, dolphins and porpoises across the country. In British Columbia, all vessels must keep 200 m away from killer whales in BC and the Pacific Ocean and keep 400 m away from all killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet (June 1 – May 31). Under the Marine Mammal Regulations, it is also illegal to swim, dive or interact with marine mammals.

The killer whale pod identified in this incident has been returning to the Prince Rupert area every spring for over a decade. Signage is posted in the area to aid boaters in determining the mandatory approach distances.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has a mandate to protect and conserve marine resources and to prosecute offenders under the Fisheries Act. It ensures and promotes compliance with the Act and other laws and regulations through a combination of land, air, and sea patrols, as well as education and awareness activities.

The Department asks the public to call DFO’s Observe, Record, Report Hotline at 1-800-465-4336 to report occurrences of marine mammals being harassed or disturbed, as well as marine mammal injuries and entanglements. Mariners who are unable to reach the incident reporting hotline can call the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) Marine Mammal Desk at 1-833-339-1020 or report it to CCG marine traffic radio.

Quick Facts

• The illegal activity was reported to DFO’s Observe, Record, Report line and captured on security cameras in the area. These reports lead to the successful conviction of this incident.
• Northern Resident Killer Whales are listed as Threatened under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA). There is substantial scientific evidence that close approaches to killer whales by vessels can disrupt the normal behaviour patterns of these animals.
• Approaching marine mammals too quickly, coming too close or making too much noise can disturb, stress or even harm them. If you see tail, fin or spray, stay far enough away.

Contacts

Alexandra Coutts, Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
Tel: 236-334-2333

Stay  connected

Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

“My deepest was 621 feet” “When you drop out into the unknown – and you know, I could be the first person that’s actually stood here. You’re in a different world. I love saturation diving. I’m home now for two months and I can’t wait to get back offshore right now. “

John Anderson

Saturation diving is when you dive for long enough to bring all of your tissues into balance with the partial pressures of the breathing gas’s inert components. It’s a diving technique that lets divers working at extreme depths to spend less time decompressing overall. A diver breathing pressurized gas accumulates dissolved inert gas used in the mixture to dilute oxygen to a non-toxic level in their tissues, which can cause decompression sickness (“the bends”) if allowed to come out of solution within the body tissues; thus, safely returning to the surface requires prolonged decompression so that the inert gases can be eliminated in the lungs. Decompression time does not increase with increased exposure after the dissolved gases in a diver’s tissues reach saturation point, because no more inert gas is accumulated. To avoid nitrogen narcosis, saturation divers normally breathe a helium–oxygen mixture, however at shallow depths, nitrox mixes have been used.

When not in the water, saturation divers live in a pressured environment that can be a saturation system on the surface or an ambient pressure underwater home. A closed, pressurized diving bell is used to transfer from the pressurized surface living quarters to the comparable depth underwater. This can last for several weeks, and they are only decompressed to atmospheric pressure once, at the end of their tour of duty. By reducing the number of decompressions, the danger of decompression sickness is greatly minimized, and the total amount of time spent decompressing is much reduced.

Only 336 of the 3,300 commercial divers employed in the United States in 2015 were saturation divers, indicating that it is a highly specialized sort of diving.

History of Saturation Diving

Edgar End and Max Nohl completed the first planned saturation dive on December 22, 1938, when they spent 27 hours breathing air at 101 feet sea water (fsw) (30.8 msw) in Milwaukee’s County Emergency Hospital recompression facility. After a five-hour decompression, Nohl developed a mild episode of decompression sickness, which was treated with recompression. In 1942, Albert R. Behnke presented the idea of exposing humans to elevated ambient pressures long enough for inert gases to become saturated in their blood and tissues. The Genesis experiment began in 1957 at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, with the goal of establishing that people could endure prolonged exposure to various breathing gases and higher ambient pressures. The time it takes to decompress after reaching saturation is determined on the depth and gases breathed.

Trimix breathing gas was developed by Peter B. Bennett as a way to treat high blood pressure and nervousness. Bennett conducted an experiment called Atlantis III in 1981 at Duke University Medical Center, in which volunteers were subjected to a pressure of 2250 fsw (equivalent to a depth of 686 m in seawater) and slowly decompressed to atmospheric pressure over the course of 31 days, setting an early world record for depth-equivalent in the process. One of the participants in a later experiment, Atlantis IV, had euphoric hallucinations and hypomania, which caused issues.

Applications for Saturation Diving

Many deeper offshore areas employ saturation diving for bottom work because it allows the diver to make better use of his or her time while reducing the risk of decompression sickness. Surface oriented air diving is more common in shallower water. Underwater habitats are underwater structures in which people can live for extended periods of time and perform most of the basic human functions of a 24-hour day, such as working, resting, eating, grooming, and sleeping. The term ‘habitat’ is used in this context to refer to the structure’s interior and immediate exterior, as well as its fixtures, but not the surrounding aquatic environment. For oxygen, water, food, electricity, and other resources, most early underwater habitats lacked regenerative systems. However, rather than having to physically transport these resources, some new underwater habitats now allow them to be delivered via pipelines or manufactured within the habitat.

Since the early 1960s, private individuals and government entities have created, built, and utilized a variety of underwater habitats around the world. They’ve mostly been utilized for study and exploration, but at least one underwater habitat has been created for enjoyment and tourism in recent years. The physiological processes and restrictions of breathing gases under pressure, as well as aquanaut and astronaut training and studies on marine ecosystems, have all been the focus of research. Access to and from the exterior is usually made vertically through a moon pool in the structure’s bottom.

A decompression chamber may be included in the habitat, or individuals may be transferred to the surface through a closed diving bell.

Dangers of Saturation Diving

Saturation diving poses a high danger of both acute and chronic oxygen poisoning. The storage breathing gas exposes the divers to a constant level of oxygen concentration for long periods of time, on the order of a month at a time, requiring the gas in the habitat to be kept at a long-term tolerable partial pressure, typically around 0.4 bar, which is well tolerated and allows for large accidental deviations without hypoxia.

In saturation dives, there is some indication of a long-term cumulative loss in lung function.

Saturation divers are frequently plagued by skin rashes, otitis externa, and athlete’s foot, which develop during and after saturation dives. The increased partial pressure of oxygen, as well as the unusually high temperatures and humidity in the accommodation, are likely to be the cause.

Decompression injury, rather than living under saturation conditions, is thought to be the cause of dysbaric osteonecrosis.

Saturation diver training is usually done in commercial diving schools that are registered to train saturation divers and have the necessary infrastructure and equipment. A small number of organizations publish saturation diver training standards, and there is some international acknowledgment of equivalence. The diver must be qualified as a bell diver and have a certain number of dives and hours of experience since qualifying to begin training.

If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in saturation diving, think about the specifics of the profession before committing. While the income for saturation diving can be quite enticing to most potential candidates, the day-to-day living on the job can be extremely taxing.

We’re challenging what we say is a flawed Regional Assessment for proposed drilling in this area. This assessment was conducted unfairly and failed to fully account for the environmental risks of offshore exploratory drilling and the effect this activity would have on the ecology of the area and on our ability to meet vital GHG reduction targets.

The federal government plans to use the Regional Assessment to create a dangerous exemption regulation and plans to use it to waive individual assessments for a slew of exploratory drilling projects.

We take the position that the government cannot rely on this single flawed assessment to exempt all future drilling in the region from much-needed scrutiny under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA). Doing so would also set a dangerous precedent for what kind of industrial activities will or will not be properly assessed in the future.

Protecting the integrity of the IAA is an important objective of our lawsuit. Letters and phone calls from Ecojustice supporters like you played a vital role in persuading lawmakers to pass the strongest possible version of this law – and now we’re working hard on your behalf to ensure it is implemented properly.

Canadians should be able to count on the federal government to properly implement laws like the IAA and protect nature – already under threat on so many fronts.

The Atlantic waters off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador are one of the most important marine environments in the world and home to a large amount of ocean life from the endangered cod to humpback whales, corals and sponges.

But oil spills are already uncomfortably commonplace here. For example, in November 2018, the White Rose field offshore production facility spilled 250,000 litres into the ocean and no oil was ever recovered.

These waters have sustained local communities for years and are an important part of local and Indigenous traditions. Livelihoods and the vibrancy of local communities depend on clean, healthy ocean conditions. We must do everything we can to defend them.

Please consider supporting this case, and all of Ecojustice’s efforts to give voice to nature and defend ocean ecosystems, with a special gift today.

And thanks, as always, for standing with us. When we’re going up against governments and oil companies in court, your support truly makes a world of difference.

Devon Page,
Executive Director, Ecojustice

Ecojustice is Canada’s largest environmental law charity. Help us build the case for a better earth.

Donate to Ecojustice at: https://www.support.ecojustice.ca/page/31853/donate/1

Getting the Job done above and below the water line.

We are a full service marine contractor, servicing Western Canada with on water construction above and below the water line.  Look to us to get your next marine project done on time and on budget.  With 40 years of combined experience doing jobs around the world, our team of highly trained commercial divers can design, build and install anything on or in the water.

Some of our services are

• 1080p Diver Inspection
• 1080p ROV Inspection 
• 3.2u Inspections/Repairs
• Magnetic Particle Inspection
• Ultrasonic Thickness Measuring
• Diver Soil Sampling 
• ROV Soil Sampling 
• Sidescan Sonar Mapping
• Surveying and Mapping
• Pipe Penetration 
• Inspection, Maintenance and Repair(IMR)Program

Let us step up a plan that works for you.

• Inspection diving can be done using commercial diving gear allowing us to build comprehensive reports in real time. Being a full service marine construction company allows us the ability to repair stuff as we inspect it.

• Let us protect your underwater assets with our inspection, maintenance, and repair(IMR) program.  This ensures that your structures are tracked throughout their life, ensuring their longevity is maximized to their full potential.

• We have the full capability’s to do full visual inspections in any marine condition.  Using the newest 1080p cameras, we can document your marine assets over their lifetime.  This in turn creates a reference point for every inspection, which keeps you knowledgeable of the latest status of your underwater assets. 

• Our non-destructive inspection techniques let you see just how degredated your marine asset really is. 

• Water/material samples via ROV (remotely operated vehicle) or Diver giving you a clear and concise sample that is untainted.

• On-board side scan sonar and GPS surveying lets us see the bottom in real time, helping us map out underwater assets. 

• With 3.2u divers on staff, we can inspect to the highest inspection standard in the world (IMCA CSWIP).  Years of experience in inspection has honed our skills in this field, letting us have the most robust Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair (IMR) Program in Western Canada.

• Magnetic particle inspection (MPI) crack testing involves determining the extent of a crack in ferrous metals, which may not be visible to the  eye.  When the extremities of the crack are located, often stop drilling technique is required or other supplementary preventative measures.

• Ultrasonic Thickness measuring is performed to determine the current state of the structure when compared to its original design, whether for class or intermediate survey of submerged objects.

• Pipe penetrations can be done to remove blockages with our ROV (remotely operated vehicle) or Divers.  Pipe penetration inspections can be done to give a perspective of wear from the inside, giving a baseline on the remaining lifespan. 

• CMC Subsea can assist you with your next pipeline locate in the water. 

• Permits / programs 

Learn More at: https://cmcsubsea.com/

NEW EQUIPMENT, NEW LOCATIONS, AND IMPROVED RESPONSE TIMES 

Long-term partnerships, service agreements and an understanding of the ‘life-time value’ of customer relationships is at the heart of The SMS Group’s growth and a recent investment in diving and sub-surface engineering.

The SMS Group has an enviable reputation as specialists in ship repair, marine engineering and major fabrication projects in the Commercial Marine, Defence, Cruise and Superyacht sectors.

The SMS Group, for many years, has supported its core customer base with diving and sub-surface engineering with equipment and Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP) based in Dover, Kent.  

To improve response times and customer service the business has invested in new plant and equipment, and relocated legacy equipment, to create four new sub-surface ‘hubs’.

Led by John Webb and Danny Tolhurst the business has created four new Diving and Sub-Surface Engineering ‘Hubs’ at its existing marine engineering bases in Dover, Lowestoft, Portsmouth and Avonmouth, whilst simultaneously expanded its subcontract diving database of SQEP.

John Webb, Diving and Technical Manager, said: “The provision of support to core SMS customers around the Group is very, very important. 

“To better look after our existing customers we’re proud and pleased to make this investment. It’s great news at the right time.”

He goes on to say: “Our service offering remains exactly the same.

“It includes pre-purchase surveys, hull inspections, underwater fitting and machinery, magnetic particle inspection (MPI) testing and Ultrasonic testing. 

“It also includes crack detection, planned and emergency diving support, Cathodic protection survey and renewal, in-water surveys, repairs and installations,  bespoke plant hire and heavy engineering equipment with barges, jack-ups, pontoons, safety and workboats.  

“Propeller clearing, fouled running gear and underwater situation assessments, salvage and damage assessments, class extension inspections, utilities infrastructure, repair and maintenance, power stations, reservoirs and outflows, ROV deployment and ‘live’ data inspections as well as contaminated water diving.

 “Services also include the provision of CSWIP accredited divers to 3.1 and 3.2 levels, and lock gate, dock gate and cofferdam manufacturing and installation.” 

John added: “It’s a broad offering that is now supported by a larger geographical network.

“We’ve moved the diving offering from ‘local’ to ‘national’, and it’s been very well received by both new and existing customers.”

The SMS dive team has commercial, defence, in-shore and off-shore diving experience with specific quayside/ports and harbour marine civils capability.

The business provides 24/7 support, from seven locations in the UK. 

Learn more at: http://www.sms-marine.co.uk.

Over 2 kilometres off Delaps Cove, Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia scallop fishing vessel, Chief William Saulis, was found sitting upright in 60 metres (197 feet) of cold saltwater on January 16, one month and day after her loss at sea. British Columbia/Nova Scotia RCMP rescue teams assisted the Coast Guard and the Transporation Board to locate Saulis. There were six crew members working on the Saulis, but to date only one crew member, Micheal Drake has been found. A remote-controlled vehicle was used in the search and identified the Saulis.

Read The Original Scuba News Canada article on Chief William Saulis.

Chief William Saulis was headed to Digby, Nova Scotia on December 15, 2020, after three days of sea scallop fishing. The combination of gale-like winds, numerous currents and the fact that the seas were strong, probably contributed to the tragedy.

The RCMP said it was important to decide what are the next steps to check inside the vessel. It is thought that the remaining fishermen/crew are still in the vessel. The recovery of the crewmembers is important to family members to bring them closure.

A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the families of those lost from the Chief William Saulis.

We train in the toughest conditions. This means our students are ready for anything.

Located in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Atlantic Commercial Diving Centre is the only certified commercial diving school in Eastern Canada. Our staff have a combined 200+ years of industry experience and facilities boast the latest in equipment and technology. We are proud of our high success rate from our carefully crafted programming, combining in-class lectures with hands-on experience.

We are proud of our high success rate from our carefully crafted programming, combining in-class lectures with hands-on experience. We know our graduates are eager to begin their careers upon graduation. We are proud that employers look to us to provide the commercial diving industry with highly trained and dedicated talent. Our students train in the tidal waters of the North Atlantic, preparing them to work anywhere in the world. Our ACDC graduates are in demand, working on everything from deep water drill platforms to bridges, aquaculture environments, ships and more.

Read about the cancellation of Holland College’s Commercial Diving Program at The Scuba News Canada

Kimball Johnston was the Training Director for the former Commercial Diving programme at Holland College, (Prince Edward Island) and when they decided to cancel the course, Kimball bought it out and began the Atlantic Commercial Diving Centre to carry on commercial diver training for those wishing to pursue that career.

The team Kimble has assembled has over 200 years experience in every aspect of commercial diving. That is simply amazing, and they are known for producing the top divers.

Three courses coming up in 2020/2021 for the Atlantic Commercial Diving Centre::

Surface Supplied Diver Certification: January 21, 2021

Occupational Scuba Certification: May 17, 2021

Divers Supervisors Course: December 7-11, 2020

Learn more at: https://www.atlanticcommercialdivingcentre.com/

One of the challenges for designing and engineering projects that are in, around, and underwater is determining what is actuality below the water line. Our experience in underwater surveys and inspections can help you see through the water so that you have the information you need to execute your projects.

Our Services

Underwater Mapping

Single Beam – A cost effective, way to get accurate Data where you need it.

Multi Beam – Great for creating detailed point clouds.

Side Scan – if you’re looking for a target or want to inspect underwater structures, side scan can help you see through the waves.

ROV Video Inspection

Safest and most cost effective way to conduct video inspections underwater. From ship hulls to reservoirs, ROVs are a great tool for inspections.

Diving Inspections

Divers are the most versatile option for inspecting structures underwater. We can work with your engineers and use innovative tools to help you get the information that you need.

Learn more at: https://www.cuis.ca/

Holland College has recently discontinued its Commercial Diving Program in Prince Edward Island, after 19 years. Diving graduates received a Certificate, Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diver which was recognized by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), the International Association of Diving Contractors (ADCI), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Graduates were in demand, operating on everything from deep water drill platforms, bridges, environments in aquaculture, ships and more. Underwater welding was their specialty, but they also trained divers to be effective in the commercial tasks they would need for the future in the working world.

Kimball Johnston and his former team from Holland College are reviving the course, and they have branded themselves as the Atlantic Commercial Diving Center (ACDC). Atlantic Commercial Diving Centre’s combined staff have more than 200 years of industry experience. The eastern coast of Canada is the busiest place for commercial divers, so this is good news for businesses that require this service.

Learn More at: www.atlanticcommercialdivingcentre.com/

Aiming to provide the UK’s best commercial diving services in coastal waters, inland waterways, lakes, reservoirs and pools, RS Divers has an impressive expert dive team with over a ten year’s experience and a 100% safety record.

I went down to meet the team to find out more!

Ruben Stephenson, Sales Director told us that ‘as an established operator, we offer comprehensive underwater services which range from underwater salvage and shipping maintenance to marine civil engineering contracts. We are based in Portsmouth on the south coast of the UK and our team are available 24 hours a day for emergencies and are willing to travel far and wide to offer support.’ 

The team admit that each job presents its self with various challenges but boast that they confront every project with professionalism and determination as well as an extreme focus on safety and it was clear that all staff here were driven by a passion for excellence and quality customer service.

The company has supported huge events including the recent Americas World Cup in 2015, where they were appointed the role of official ‘UK Diver Safety Support’. This need came after a 2013 training event saw the death of British sailor, Andrew Simpson. The races saw high powered yachts traveling at rates of up to 35 knots in the water and although a fascinating event to watch, it brought great in water risks. RS were standing by at the request of Sir Ben Ainslie to deliver fast and efficient dive services in the event of any accidents.

A comment from Rob Andrews, Team Origin Events, commented on the service provided by RS and said, ‘Please thank your team for their prompt and professional dive service. Strangely the best outcome was to have your team fully available without having to use you.’

RS went on to tell us about some other commercial dive projects that they have been involved in, including the Berkshire riverbed surveys, which was a project working on a man-made river that was constructed as a flood prevention measure. RS were commissioned to undertake a series of in-water surveys including shingle, sheet pile and gradient surveys. The results of the surveys saw that the river needed attention. RS completed all works before the river was officially opened.

RS have also been the lead dive team to host some incredibly exciting projects such as one that involved working to investigate hundreds of unknown objects in Portsmouth Harbour. A team from Wessex Archaeology joined RS to deal with discoveries of historic importance. The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team were on stand by for RS in case explosive devices were detected from the second World War. What an incredible project to be a part of and one that is still firmly underway.

Ruben went on to tell us that the reason they get the fantastic opportunity to work on such important projects goes back to that company ethos of efficiency, safety and professionalism. ‘We have the best trained and qualified staff divers in the business, all with extensive experience who have worked on thousands of successful projects and will continue to do so.’

RS Diver’s website is one full of case study stories which are really quite phenomenal to read. They are also available to follow on Facebook and Instagram as well as Twitter. We plan to keep in touch with them for upcoming news and events of ongoings in the World of commercial diving. Be sure to check them out!