Choosing the Right Course

Choose a level of training that will give you the best opportunity to gain employment within the diving sector of your choice.

If you intend to work offshore you will need level 3. This is also our most popular course, as it offers the best employment opportunities. Often employers of onshore (level 2) divers will select a level 3 diver if available, in preference to a level 2 diver, due to their extra training and experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Claiming credit for previous experience

Divers who can establish comprehensive relevant theoretical knowledge and occupational diving experience gained in on-the-job situations, who have formal log book evidence of such experience as discussed below, may claim up to a maximum of two weeks credit towards the normal at-level training programs as detailed below.

This maximum period of credit is based on the assessment by ADAS that divers who have not undertaken formal diving training will not have been exposed to the required standard of training in safety critical activities such as emergency procedures, rescues and risk assessment, and to the professional standard of teamwork expected of ADAS accredited divers. The latter competency in particular cannot be adequately assessed in the limited time and opportunity afforded by an assessment-only procedure.

Prerequisites

Before accepting trainees for training and assessment, the dive school is responsible for ensuring that the candidates:

• meet the normal course entrance requirements
  
• have certified formal logged evidence of at least double the number of dives and bottom time required at the relevant levels. In the case of applicants who do not satisfy the requirement for time at relevant levels but who have extensive workplace experience, the dive school may seek exemption from this aspect from the National Manager ADAS.
  and/or
  have achieved recreational Divemaster or Instructor qualifications from either PADI, NASDS,SSI or NAUI or from an ADAS approved equivalent.

Trainees who have formal logged evidence of at least double the number of dives and bottom time required at the relevant levels as per the table below can claim up to two weeks credit for the respective qualification.

The table below details the number of dives and bottom time (in minutes) required at the relevant levels to qualify for an RPL.

Required Dives & Times	Part 1		Part 2		Part 3
	Dives	Times	Dives	Times	Dives	Times
0 - 10m	18	780	24	1380	2	60
10 - 20m	12	330	12	330	13	65
20 - 30	12	210	12	210	2	40
30 - 40	-	-	-	-	6	120
40 - 50	-	-	-	-	4	60
Plus Part 1	-	-	42	1320	42	1320
Plus Part 2	-	-	-	-	48	1920
Total	42	1320	90	3240	114	3585

Eligible Experience

Experience submitted in support of RPL claims must be in the form of logged dives, with original log books submitted. Each entry must have been signed by the candidate, countersigned by the dive supervisor and verified with a contractors stamp. If it is difficult for original log books to be sent, candidates may send photocopies, but the originals must be produced to the dive school before the RPL takes place.

Ineligible Experience

Ineligible experience includes:

• Recreational dives;
  
• Dives undertaken in a training context (unless armed forces training for operational warfare);

 RPL Process

Every applicant is to undertake a comprehensive theory competence assessment to gauge the level of theory knowledge.

This theory assessment is to cover the full scope of ADAS theory competencies, including physics, physiology, anatomy, diving medicine, OH&S legislation, standards, regulations, ADAS diver requirements, knots, CPR, resuscitation/O2 management, search patterns, equipment theory including compressors and chambers, records, log books, communications, tool safety, DCIEM tables, hazard analysis etc, and those competencies specific to the relevant level.

If a pass mark of 70% is achieved with "no fail" areas passed in full, the applicant can be awarded a credit of one week.

The Dive School is to establish that candidates possess strong claim to any of the practical diving competencies as identified in the ADAS Diver Competence Standards. The Dive School to identify those competencies which can be justifiably claimed and those for which the diver is deficient. A maximum credit of one week is allowable for the possession of practical competencies.

The candidate is then to:

• undertake training in all areas identified as deficient;
  
• undertake formal assessment of all ADAS practical competencies.

Additional Courses

The only Australian Standards applicable to Occupation Diver Training is the AS2815 series. Auxiliary subjects such as non-destructive testing, wet welding, and Air Supervisor courses are not the subjects of Australian standards, therefore their content will vary considerably between the establishments that offer such courses. In addition, the qualifications offered by these schools may not be recognised worldwide and if Standards Australia develops a new standard, previous qualifications may not meet these standards and may not be recognised by ADAS.

Hint: Only accept courses where they culminate in a Commonwealth Government ADAS certificate of competency.

Recompression Chamber Operators Certificate

In July 1999 ADAS introduced a chamber operators certificate. This qualification is automatic upon the successful completion of a AS2815.3 divers certificate, however it can also be completed as a stand alone course. Any Level 1 or 2 diver can now be accredited as a chamber operator after the successful completion of an intensive six-day program.

A non-diver, who meets the selection criteria, can also become eligible for the chamber operators course by completing the four-day chamber top up module.

A chamber operators certificate of competency is required to operate a recompression chamber on a dive site for surface decompression procedure, omitted decompression or for the treatment of diving ailments.

Descend Underwater Training Centre is Australia's most experienced trainer of Recompression Chamber operators having trained all of the Intervention works and chamber operators for the world benchmark project the Sydney Airport Link, Rail Tunnel. Descend was also responsible for producing the syllabus for the Chamber Operators course for ADAS.

Air Supervisor

In April 2001 ADAS introduced the Onshore Diving Supervisors Qualification. Divers will have several avenues to achieve the Diving Supervisors qualification. These are through

• The grandfather clause
  
• Recognition of prior learning
  
• Training and assessment

Recognition of Prior Learning

As an alternative, divers who cannot meet all of the requirements of the grandfather clause, but believe they are competent, may apply to a Diver Training Establishment to undertake a Recognition of Prior Learning Assessment. This will involve a theory and practical competence assessment to a prescribed format. This is generally a two-day program.

Training and Assessment Course

Divers who have logged a minimum of 100 Occupational dives and have no less than 100 hours of underwater experience all at the same level (level 1, 2 or 3) may apply to undertake the Dive Supervisors training course, for their level of experience. This is generally a two-week program although at the time of writing (22.8.01) ADAS have not yet finalised the program or approved any schools to teach the course. 
 

The Diploma of Occupational Diving

As the modern day occupational diver is a highly trained and multi skilled individual he can now get his occupational diving qualifications formally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). ADAS has developed a National Vocational Qualification - The Diploma of Occupational Diving. The aim is to provide a variety of career path options and to formally recognise the skills necessary to become an Occupational Dive Supervisor, Dive Manager or Dive Trainer.

Access and pathways to the Diploma include recognition of prior learning and on and off the job learning. The course incorporates specialist streams and multiple exit points to enable participants to persue a career in a variety of fields. Course opportunities include; Aquaculture, Marine Science, Police diving , Television and filmmaking, Scientific, Underwater construction and Oil field industry.

In all, ten Diploma's are available. They are the Diploma of Occupational Diving (Dive Manager) as a level 1-2-3 Dive Manager or Restricted 2 or Restricted 3 Dive Manager and the Diploma of Occupational Diving (Dive Trainer) at the same five levels.

Generally, the pathway is as follows;

STEP 1:
An Occupational Diver will automatically qualify for certificate 3 in Occupational Diving upon completion of the ADAS course at any of the five levels. (1-2-3-2R-3R).

STEP 2:
Then with practical infield experience of a minimum of 100 dives totaling a minimum of 100 hours they are eligible to enter Dive Supervisor Training. The Dive Supervisor course entitles the diver to a certificate 4 in Occupational Diving.

STEP 3:
Then with in field Supervisor experience of a minimum of 100 dives totaling a minimum of 100 hours and completing a management module they will be issued with the Diploma of Dive Management appropriate to their experience at any of the five levels.

Should the diver wish to progress to the instructional levels they will require a certificate 4 in Workplace training and assessment and 100 hours of logged, supervised instructional experience and complete the ADAS induction course before they can be issued with the Diploma of Occupational Diving (Diver Trainer) at any of the five levels.

ADAS will administer the courses (through its Occupational Diver Training Establishments) with approval to issue AQF qualifications up to Diploma level. Existing ADAS divers can claim their level 3 certifications directly from ADAS and further information is available on the ADAS website at http://www.adas.org.au

Integrity In Training

Training with a working contractor has three major benefits. Firstly, it guarantees you that your instructors know the realities of running a diving contract and they know what industry require of a diver. Secondly, these schools, because of their competitive nature, tend to stay up to date with state of the art equipment and techniques. Thirdly because they are involved in the construction industry they can assist you to find employment.

Hint: Choose an ADAS school that is also a working contractor. Ask for a list of jobs or customers that the school has worked for and see if these are the types of contracts you would like to be involved in.