SEADOG strives for quality control.
As a young and developing company, a group of individuals have come together to offer the best possible facilitation for the various components of Diver training. To meet the instructor ratio agreement of the DOL SEADOG has a full time staff of 6 Instructors/Supervisors and 3 Assistant instructor/Supervisors to maximize training of our clients.
The positive, cohesive and enthusiastic team is led by retired saturation diver Mike Elliot. Mike is arguably the most experienced diving instructor in South Africa and a very valuable asset to SEADOG. With 3795 days logged in saturation he has much guidance to offer the young divers.
Instructors and Supervisors are trained in according to the principles of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and have completed ADVANCE FACILITATION SKILLS and SUPERVISORY MANAGEMENT SKILLS which equips them with the essential skills for facilitation of training.
All First Aid and Diver Medic training is presented by C-DOC staff led by Bridget Thomson - Professional Nurse/Occupational Health. Bridget and C-DOC staff are registered health care professionals and experienced in the Diving medical Field. The voluntary work that all staff provide at the local hospital ensures crisp knowledge and latest protocols to allow for interactive teaching techniques making the courses more alive and realistic.
SEADOG is a DIVERS ALERT NETWORK (DAN) business member and incorporates the DAN training programmes, Oxygen Administration and Neurological Assessment into diver training at no extra cost.
The unique location of SEADOG in the Port of Saldanha and abundance of ancillary training equipment including two (2) chamber facilities and three (3) dedicated diving vessels, ensures realistic training in realistic conditions. SEADOG strives to stay away from easier benign water and quarry diving to ensure optimal seamanship training required of a diver.
The SEADOG accommodation is either onsite or within walking distance which allows easy access to training facilities and early morning watermanship as the sun rises across the bay!
To select you school carefully please follow the following tips:
- Course cost
- Training components and certification included in costing
- Course Location
- Number and level of competence of Instructors involved in training
- Location and price of accommodation
- Diving Equipment (Surface swimming gear) purchase /hire facility
- Tools training capability
- Ancillary training equipment
- Access to chamber facilities
- Number of boats dives completed
- Location of Diving Medical Examiner
- Minimum maximum amount of divers per course.
- Legislation and HIRA training
GREAT TIP FORM COMMERCIAL DIVER MAGAZINE!!!!
This excerpt comes directly form their website - reference - www.
For those of you interested in becoming a commercial diver, your first stop will probably be to Google for some information on the subject of commercial diving ........
Working as a commercial diver IS great but don’t get sucked into all that garbage. Here’s a realistic breakdown of what might be required of you should you wish to start a new career as a commercial diver.
- Of course you should be able to swim, however it isn’t necessary to show you need to be a good swimmer. Just as long as you’re comfortable in the water
- You don’t need to be a mathematical genius but as part of your course you will be expected to use diving tables to solve fairly simple equations. Some schools also require you sit a basic math test before starting your course just to make sure you are alright with this. It’s not difficult stuff but you need to be able to find missing data from a basic equation. Google Boyle’s Gas Law for example.
- You will need to pass a diving medical before booking your course, I recommend you do take this medical before booking just to be sure you don’t lose a deposit on your course fees. ...
That’s it for the basic requirements of getting on the diving course. Of course there are other issues not the least can you afford the costs involved. A commercial diving course is expensive enough but you will also require accommodation, other living costs, travel, some equipment purchases and don’t forget you won’t be earning for around ten weeks at the very least while you take the course.
Next you must factor into the equation – Do you actually want to be a commercial diver?
Many people hear about money and travelling and dive (sorry had to be done) straight in, call up a few training schools and go for it. It’s worth having a look into the sort of work that will be on offer once you’re qualified and considering – ‘Is this the type of work I want to be doing as a Commercial Diver?’
Here’s a few things that I noticed a lot of people didn’t consider when I was recently at a diver training school.
- Some people can’t handle being cold and wet. A commercial diver career isn’t for you
- Don’t have the motivation to actively put yourself out there to find work? A commercial diver career isn’t for you!
- Don’t like going to new places on your own, abroad or otherwise and can’t handle being away from your family/girlfriend/boyfriend/cat/guinea pig? Commercial diver isn’t for you.
You get the idea. I’m still new to the industry but I’ve already met many people who did their course and didn’t end up even doing a day’s work as a commercial diver. Something to think about before spending your money.
However if you are ticking all these boxes then I sincerely wish you all the best as those that do usually love their day to day work as a commercial diver and myself – I’ll never look back.
As always subscribe to Commercial Diving Magazine to get updates in your email for free. We are also looking for guest authors for the magazine. If you’re interested please contact us and let us know what you think you can offer, whether you’re a commercial diver, scuba diver, wanabee diver or non-diver – we’d love to hear from you. Thanks for reading.