Jeff=Dive:
Are you or have you ever been a Commercial Diver ?
I'd like to hear from you. I am very serously considering attending DIT in Seattle. Convinent since I live here, plus their program surpasses all others I've looked into, including job placement prior to graduation.
:06:
I've heard good and bad things alike, but would like more input about the feild of work, benifits, company vesting, "accidents... incidents... near misses"... I would prefer to hear from those who've "been there, done that" althought anything anyone's got would be greatly appreciated.
Jp
First off, I love this job and there is nothing I would rather be doing, I do not think that is the predominant attitude in this industry though. Sometimes people stick with it for a short time or stay for other obligations.
It is hard because you have to try it for yourself to know but, at this point in my life I am very thankful to have found something I can make a living at and I enjoy.
DIT is a good school, most of the instructors are former Navy divers and that carries through to the training. You are able to get IMCA certification through DIT and if you are so inclined you will find it easier to work overseas.
In this trade many divers are always looking for the next best thing, so company loyalty is not as common as some industries. The best bet for your future (retirement, benefits) is to try to break into one of the unions. For this you will be diving the West coast or NorthEast most likely but rates are much hirer and you have a great benefit plan. (starting in Manhattan is $48.50 for diver right now)
You can get more of a mom an pop feeling with an inland company but I have seen many more unsafe inland operations.
By the time you graduate school with a little common sense you should be able to indentify an unsafe operation just looking at the system components. Don't accept any excuses and you will minimize the amount of risk your exposed to.
This trade is always going to expose you to some degree of risk, but you are the primary factor in minimizing it...
Work can be somewhat sporadic, (right now is no indicator, we will be short people for the next three years and stay busy down here) so always put money away for a dry day. Also put as much money as you can into investments (easier said than done sometimes...) for both retirement and so you never let yourself get into the position of accepting marginally safe or unsafe conditions to make enough to pay your bills...
If you try it and find this is your calling (you will not think it might be you will know) then try to find some friends who also feel that way (I would estimate 2 in 10 on average truely love the field and will stick with it in the long run) don't let the negativity of others drag you down.
Good luck!
Drop me a line if you have any questions or to let me know how everything is progressing.
P.S. looking into the state funded school (Youngs memorial and Santa Barbara) is good advice, you will spend 20 to 25 percent of what you would spend at a private school...
Jeff