SEADOG COMMERCIAL DIVING SCHOOL

Saldanha Bay  - South Africa

Call us on 022 714 0222

MISSION

At SEADOG, we are committed to providing quality, progressive education using outcome-based skills training and the development of individuals.

We support student-centered learning to ensure that individuals trained at SEADOG demonstrate competency through a combination of knowledge, understanding and skills that produce good performance and safe working practices within the global civil works and offshore, oil and gas industries. ”

LOCATION

SEADOG is located in Saldanha Bay, approximately 120 km from Cape Town, on the West Coast of South Africa.

The Port of Saldanha is the deepest and largest natural port in the Southern Hemisphere. It is ideally located to hold a dominant position in the growth of the oil and gas industry.

SEADOGS unique location provides the trainee with realistic conditions. All diving operations are carried out from the private jetty at SEADOG. The quiet waters within the bay are ideal before the trainees are exposed to the rigors of diving in the open ocean on one of SEADOGS dedicated diving vessels.

The nearest airport is Cape Town International (CPT).

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Due to the quality controlled nature of SEADOG the staff compliment of 9 instructors and assistant instructors are trained according to the principles of the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) and have completed Advanced Facilitation Skills, Coaching and Mentoring Principles and Supervisory Management skills which equips them with the essential skills for facilitation of training. They also hold IRATA rope access ensuring sound rigging principles.

The team is led by retired saturation diver Mike Elliot who has 40 years diving experience and 3795 days logged in saturation he has much guidance to offer the young divers. It has been noted that Mike is arguably the most experienced diving instructor in South Africa and a very valuable asset to SEADOG

Occupational Health and Safety is a fundamental aspect of commercial diving and SEADOG is led by Bridget Thomson a Registered Nurse qualified in Occupational Health. SEADOGS training includes safety awareness and hazard identification to ensure students can manage their own health and safety and under conditions of increased stress as may be experienced in an emergency.

First Aid and Diver Medic training is presented by C-DOC who are all registered health care professionals experienced in the Diving medical Field. This ensures crisp knowledge and latest protocols to allow for interactive teaching techniques making the courses more alive and realistic.

The unique location of SEADOG in the Port of Saldanha and abundance of diving equipment and subsea tools, including two (2) chamber facilities and three (3) dedicated diving vessels, (1) wet bell  and  four (4) mobile Diving Spreads ensures realistic training in mobilisation, demobilization and launch and recovery.  SEADOG strives to stay away from easier benign water and quarry diving to ensure optimal seamanship and diver training

Ttrainees complete at least 20 seagoing dives during the 12 weeks of training. This improves overall seamanship roles and responsibilities where the safety of the diver is affected by environmental factors therefor providing the competence now demanded internationally in the offshore industry.

SEADOG supports DIVERS ALERT NETWORK (DAN) and incorporates the DAN training programmes in

1. Oxygen Administration
2. Neurological Assessment
3. and Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) 

MEMBERSHIP

1. IMCA Training Establishment Member
2. South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOAGA)

AUDITS

The company is audited by

1. DOL - Diver Training and First Aid Training
2. SAMSA - Maritime Fist Aid Training
3. IMCA - Diver Medic
4. TPNA - To maintain Diving Licence in the Port of Saldanha

SEADOG follows the guidance of IMCA D023 and D014 to ensure standards are maintained with that of the oil and gas industry.

ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION:

SEADOG is a training center designed to enhance the ability of our clients to achieve improved quality of life in a sustainable way through delivering quality accredited skills programmes.

1. Department of Labour (DOL Registration No.CS04)
   • Accredited Training Centre for commercial divers and supervisors – CS04
   • All Instructors hold Advanced Facilitation Training in line with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
   1. Class IV – SCUBA Diving up to 30m (Equivalent to HSE Part 4/ ADAS Part 1)                                                               4 weeks 
   2. Class III – Surface Supply Inshore up to 30m (Equivalent to HSE Part 3 / ADAS Part 2)                                                 4 weeks 
   3. Class II – Surface Supply Offshore up to 50m (Equivalent to HSE Part 1 / ADAS Part 3) (IMCA Recognized Certificate)     4 weeks 
   4. Supervisor training - Class IV, III, II
   5. Chamber Attendant/Operator Training
   6. Dive Technician Training
2. Department of Labour (DOL Registration No.CI626)
   • Training is provided by registered Health Care professionals with experience in the emergency medical environment and diving medicine Instructors all maintain a voluntary work schedule in the local trauma unit to ensure crisp knowledge and latest protocols.
   1. Levels one (basic)First Aid                                                                                                                                     16 Hours (2 days) 
   2. Level two (Intermediate) First Aid                                                                                                                           32 Hours (4 Days)
   3. Level three (Advanced) First Aid                                                                                                                            40 Hours (5 Days)
3. South Africa Marine Safety Authority (SAMSA) Registration
   • Maritime First Aid Training Facility STCW 95
   1. Elementary First Aid (STCW-95 code A-VI/1-3)                                                                                                        2 Days 
   2. First Aid at Sea (STCW-95 code A-VI/4-1)                                                                                                               5 Days 
   3. Ship’s Captain Medical (STCW-95 code A-VI/4-2)                                                                                                    5 Days 
4. IMCA Training Facility
   • IMCA (Ref IDM/13 cert 003). All health care professionals are familiar with Diving medicine and currently attended the 17th International Congress of Hyperbaric Medicine March 2011.
   1. IMCA Diver Medic                                                                                                                                                   2 Weeks 

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

SEADOG Commercial Diver Training School is under the combined leadership of Mike Elliott and Bridget Thomson.

Mike Elliott has 40 years experience with 3795 days in saturation. He completed his navy diving career in 1973 and was actively involved in civil works until 1978 where he commenced his career in the offshore industry on North Sea platform Thistle “A”.

Bridget Thomson 20 years experience in occupational health support within the commercial diving industry. After completing her service at the Institute of Maritime Medicine she established C-DOC and has joined forces with Mike Elliot to ensure quality education for the increasing requirements of the global offshore oil and gas industry.

Unique to SEADOG is the variety of qualifications held by the Instructors. All students during their 12 week modular training will be trained by a work force of industry experienced supervisors, systems’ technicians and healthcare professionals.

SUMMARY

SEADOG offers an affordable 12 week trade in commercial diving and provides the graduate with immediately useful skills to enter the civil works industry with the progression to offshore, oil and gas.

Applicants may consider a career in commercial diving as a less costly alternative to attending university or college.

Commercial Diving graduates can follow further career opportunities in the following areas:

• Inspection Diver (CSWIP)
• Coded Welder
• Saturation Diver
• ROV Pilot / Technician
• Dive System's Technician (to be offered by SEADOG during 2012)
• Life Support Technician

NOTE: Please note although tools training is given simultaneously with diver training one can not qualify as a welder or underwater welder during training. This is a specialized course and a student can only become proficient in underwater welding by attending appropriate training which is not currently offered in South Africa.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

As a leading training centre SEADOG understands and accepts it's responsibilities to provide a safe working environment to all personnel on all work sites and at all times will aim to protect and conserve the environment and operate with the minimal practical  environmental impact to sustain future production and development.

Through opportunity, skilling and support, the people we invest in may become active participants in the economy. It helps them create wealth, build self-esteem, proudly find their place in society.