Commercial Course No 58a level one only - week 1

Students practice their line signals in the car park

This month we take a very close look at exactly what is involved in becoming a commercial diver and we follow day by day, blow by blow, as 5 new students work to complete their ADAS certification with Descend Underwater Training Centre in Albury. Meet the personalities, find out their expectations, hopes, dreams and see how they perform. This month we follow the first month of the course, called ADAS level one, it involves work diving using scuba and takes one-month full time to complete. Will they achieve their goals and become successful commercial divers? Keep reading over this enthralling episode and find out.

Monday 16th November

Day 1 - Induction day

Five new commercial diving students 3 from PNG arrived at Descend in Albury to begin training for their new career. The overall feeling is one of Good mixed with great. Instructor’s Kirk Savage & Rick Austin share the excitement as we all wonder what the next three months will bring.

The first morning is taken up with the OH&S induction and personal introductions then its straight into some theory. The rational at Descend is that the first week needs to be all theory – particularly Anatomy, Physiology, Physics and Diving maladies to ensure all divers understand the stresses that can be placed on their body by the diving environment. Also included in this week will be the DAN Oxygen administration and CPR course to ensure that all team members are capable of responding should an emergency arrive.

Meet The Students

Simon Malsem 20 years old from Beechworth, Victoria

Background: Open water licence last November and works as a beef boner in an abaittor in a place caled Leeton, which now has had enough of that job and wants to be a commercial diver.

After Course Goals: Wants to get level 2 & 3 licence then go off shore, but will be happy to do any job to do with diving

How do you feel now? Good

George Evatt 46 Years old from Bondi, Sydney

Background: 22 years diving, works as an underwater cameraman, has dived in many conditions, high altitudes, Antarctica. Usually dives with large 40kg cameras. Favourite dive location was Tasmania & favourite sea animal is handfish.

After Course Goals: To continue to be an underwater cameraman & to dive safely.

How do you feel now? Great

Vaburi Rea 26 years old from Papa New Guniea

Background: Has open water licence. Cleans piles, ships hull, propellors, pollish vents & other related jobs.

After Course Goals: Come back for part 2

How do you feel now? Great

Sarto Mewadi 30 years old from Papa New Guniea

Background: Diver - Hull Cleaning, propeler polishing, air lifting & pipe cleaning

After course goals: Would like to come back and do part 2 & 3

How do you feel now? Nervous

Kila Leka 26 years old from Papa New Guniea

Background: Diver with Pacific Towing in PNG

After Course Goals: Come back and do part 2

How do you feel now? Great

Tuesday 17th November

Sarto & Simon practice their line signals

Its back to theory. With anatomy and physiology covered on day 1 and its time to introduce some physics principals (Boyle’s Law & Dalton’s Law) and apply these to practical diving. Barotrauma of ascent and descent and gas poisonings such as Hypercapnia, inert gas narcosis, carbon monoxide poisoning and oxygen poisoning, Then its into hypo and hyperthermia and salt water aspiration syndrome. Heads are spinning – big days – lots of information.

 Wednesday 18th November

Simon practices his CPR techniques

More theory. For a chance we look at Potentially Dangerous Marine Animals, watch the video " Dangerous Australians" and then we introduce Henry's Law and it's application to Decompression illness. like all the other diving maladies this is an in depth study and involves cause, signs symptons, first aid, medical treatment, predisposing factors & most importantly aviodance. We finish with a computer simulation of a deep dive showing tissue saturation.

Thursday 19th November

Vaburi & Sarto practice their CPR techniques

Today we progressed onto some theory which included lifeline signals and search patterns - both of which will be put into practice next week when we start diving. We packed all the dive gear ready for out first days diving next week and then ended the day with some revision for the physiology exam also next week.

Friday 20th November

George puts the DAN kit together

Today is Oxygen Management day and we ran the DAN Oxygen Management program. This starts with cardio pulmonary resuscitation, one and two operator, bag valve mask and pocket mask, CPR practice and progresses to the demand valve oxygen equipment. Lots of hands-on experience improving CPR skills and using the DAN oxygen unit. After lunch we then did the DAN O2 theory exam and then marked it. Everyone passed with flying colours - (yeah, they've passed their first exam)!