About Us

The adaptation of high tech equipment to suit the divers needs

Descend Underwater Training Centre, founded in 1979, is a pro-active company who have developed a niche market specalising in Commercial Diver Training for the onshore contracting and offshore oil industry. We utilise the same technology, equipment and personnel to supply the Commercial Diving contracting needs of the irrigation, water supply and hydro power generation industries of inland Australia.

Centrally located in Albury, New South Wales, on the main corridor between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, we now service the majority of inland water structures throughout Victoria and Southern New South Wales and the ACT.

Our training is accredited with the Commonwealth Government by the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS), and is Vocation Education and Training Board (VET) approved. Descend attracts students from national and international markets and brings in over 2000 bed nights of accommodation into Albury-Wodonga annually. We are currently exporting our training packages to Hong Kong and New Zealand. Our instructors are amongst the most qualified divers in Australia. They are enthusiasts who love what they do and love the profession they are in.

Major Descend achievements include;

• In May 2007, Descend won a contract to survey of all 26 road bridges on the Murray River in N.S.W. for the Road Traffic Authority.
• In April 2007, Descend won the Gold Coast Desalination Project to supply hyperbaric training for twin tunnel boring machines.
• In April 2007, Descend was back in Hong Kong to complete another training contract for hyperbaric tunneling in Hong Kong for the Link 200 joint venture.
• In January 2007, Descend completed a experienced route competency assessment for 17 divers in Turkey
• In October 2006, Descend won the following awards at The Celebrating Business on the Border - local business black tie dinner; Winner - Excellence in Business & Community Partnerships, Winner - Community Leadership Award - Awarded to Des Walters and also  awarded a Certificate of Merit - Excellence in Diversity in the Workplace and Certificate of Merit - Excellence in Business & Professional Services.
• In July 2006, Descend completed its second hyperbaric tunnelling project in Hong Kong. This time the Link 200 project, which is twin rail links joining the east and west MTR rail lines.
• In March 2006, Descend won its biggest contract to date. The re-opening of the low level diversion tunnel in Jounama Dam at Talbingo. Working with up to 8 divers for 16 weeks in depths of up to 30 metres, Descend completed 365 dives and expend over 4400 man-hours on this project. This is the first time in the Southern Hemisphere this type of project has been attempted, let alone achieved.
• In July 2005, Descend undertook the diving involved in building a new low level intake at Tantangra reservoir. This project involved placing over 250 tonnes of concrete, installing over 30 tonnes of structural steel, horizontal boring and underwater cutting.
• In July 2003 Descend won the Commonwealth Government and Telstra Business awards in the following categories; Best Micro Business in NSW, overall Best Small Business in New South Wales and the prestigious National award of Best Micro Business in Australia.
• In March 2003 Descend won a contract to survey of all 24 road bridges on the Murray River in N.S.W. for the Road Traffic Authority.
• In July 2002 Descend won a training contract for hyperbaric tunneling in Hong Kong for the China Harbour Transfield joint venture.
• In November 2001, Descend started exporting their ADAS diver-training package to New Zealand.
• In July 2001 Descend became a State finalist in the Telstra and Australian Government Small Business Awards.
• In July 1999, the Commonwealth Government presented Descend with an Award for Hyperbaric Excellence -Planning, Training and Operations, for our involvement in the Sydney Airport Link Rail Tunnel. This program has been acclaimed as the "most successful compressed air project in the world", and has set a benchmark for future tunneling training.

• Divers entering the water at Hume Weir

  Descend was a category winner of the Albury Wodonga Business Awards in 1997, and outright winner in 1999.
• First course for Tuna Farm divers in Port Lincoln, S.A., which led to a permanent dive school being established using the Descend Training system.
• The first time the Australian Federal Police have used a civilian contractor to train Police Divers in Canberra. This police training has now extended to include Queensland and Victorian police divers.
• Remote courses for the Fisheries Department and Hobart University, Tasmania.
  

Descend is committed to providing innovative, professional and quality services to its customers and believe the future of the business rests with its skilled and motivated staff.

Descend is the best Commercial Diver Training establishment in the Southern Hemisphere