I have been thinking about becoming a commercial diver for over a year now, reading forums, researching schools and talking to family friends in the industry. I have made the decision that it is something i want to pursue and would just like to get the input from as many people as possible who are STILL in the industry. In a lot of what i have been reading people are saying save some money and stay away from the big schools that are more like corporations and go with a state program. and other are saying go for it. from what I have found cda seems to offer the most certs but I understand that doesn't mean you're gonna leave with all of them and i also heard that they will not fail people for the most part, that scares the **** outta me!! I have also heard that the school in Louisiana is by far the least expensive way to go if you stay in the states and offers the most realist training if you're going to work in the gom. Has anybody been their or work with people who have??
I understand that out of school i'll be a tender for the first couple years if I get a job off-shore and was told i could expect 14-15 an hr but expect to work 12hr days and 90 straight at times. any truth to that?? but could be suiting up the first day working inland but for a smaller company for less money and not as steady work. are these just pipe dreams or actual fact? I have heard that the industry is kinda dry right now in the US but could pick up after the election...any truth to that?
I know that if i want to work oversees i need to get my IMCA cert. and honestly I think this is the route i'm leaning twords at least for the first couple years of my career. I heard that you will not work nearly as many days in a row oversees like you would in the states! would it be better to go to school oversees to get the IMCA cert? I heard there is a school in norway that is only like 7k US and they speak english. Has anyone been there or work with people who have? My family friend who went to school in the states also went to a school in Scottland a couples years later to get into sat and he said that's where he wishes he would have just gone to begin with. and he also recommended that i get emt/dmt certs when im going through school to give me more of a chance of getting a job, but i heard the US standard takes more time and is more preferred. any truth to that??
I am ready to work my @:: off to prove myself during and after school. and am just trying to get the most bang for my buck when it comes to getting the nessecary certs. without getting ripped off and having a bunch of debt hanging over my head with the possibility of not being able to find work. I know that EVERY school is gonna tell you that they're the best and they can do yada yada yada but as people in the industry where do you see/know people coming from that achieve the most?? and what steps did they take or did you take to get there?? I know that no school can guarentee they turn out the best divers and it depends all on the person but what in your opinion what is the best program??
