Commercial Course No 57 - Week 1
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| Students discuss CPR techniques |
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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 8 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. Not as many international students this time, usually they make up about a third of the course, this time they are from New Zealand and Sweden and one from UAE. 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. Next month we will watch the students progress to level two which is surface supplied equipment to 30 metres, and in the final installment we will see how our intrepid students handle the deep 50 metre dives to qualify for ADAS level 3. Will they achieve their goals and become successful commercial divers? Keep reading over these three enthralling episodes and find out.
Monday 4th May
Day 1 - Induction day
Eight new commercial diving students arrived at Descend in Albury to begin training for their new career. The overall feeling is one of excitement mixed with pumped and ready. Instructor's Rick Austin and Kirk Savage 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
Kerry Horan - 34 Years old from Werribee, Victoria
Background: Recreational diving in Egypt, Canary Islands, Malaysia, Barbados & Thailand
After Course Goals: To work in the industry
How do you feel now: Positive
Hunter McKenzie - 31 Years old from Christchruch, NZ
Background: Been diving for crays in NZ. Diving in Japan. Completed PADI diver advanced. Currently employed as a rigger in the oil & gas industry
After Course Goals: To get 50+ hours completed surface supply diving then to move on to Sat.
How do you feel: Excited
James Dunn - 25 Years old from Sydney, NSW
Background: Did a dive master trainee course in Cairns where he got to do many, night and boat dives & train in the diving industry. Has dived around the world in countries like Egypt, Thailand, Borneo and USA. Have also worked in the building industry on and off for many years.
After Course Goals: Would like to gain full time employment in the oil and gas offshore industry. Then to further his career by becoming a dive supervisor
How do you feel now: Pumped
Jonas Bosell - 23 Years old from Sweden
Background: Started as a freediver at age 8 and moved up to freediving instructor for 6 years after that started scuba diving. Carpenter for 3 years then electrician for 2 years.
After Course Goals Offshore work
How do you feel now: Excited
Nathan Schoonbeek - 27 Years old from Central Coast
Background: Have been in construction for about 11 years and took up nursing to fall back on. Have been freediving & spearfishing since was young and has been scuba diving on and off since Jun 07. Has only recently done formal training (padi, open water)
After Course Goals: Would love to travel & work all over the world. Every dive would be an adventure
How do you feel now: Good
Dale Lieshout - 24 Years old from Victoria
Background: Advanced open water, 25 dives. Fitter/machinist by trade
After Course Goals: Oil rigs or onshore mechanical repair & welding/cutting  | | Dale & James practice 2 operator CPR |  |
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How do you feel now: Excited
Craig Dewar - 26 Years old from Bunderberg, QLD
Background: Open water cert. Grew up in QLD, have done several jobs in several industries in the past 8 years, has done lots of travelling in the past 3 years and is currently residing in Colombia. Loved diving since first started, for years has been interested in the commercial diving course & have finally decided now is the time to do it.
After Course Goals: Would love any onshore/offshore work. If onshore would love to work in Argenting, if offshore would love anywhere. Would like to gain a level 4 after some experience
How do you feel now: Excited
Jason Sockett - 38 Years old from UAE
Background: Project Manager, PADI Scuba Instructor (10 yrs)
After Course Goals: Running commercial dive company in UAE
How do you feel: Ready
Select the link below for student photos
http://www.descend.com.au/training/gallery/PhotoGallery.asp?whichcategory=Commercial%20Students%20Course%2057&AreaID=17
Tuesday 5th May  | | Hunter & Nathan conduct 2 operator CPR | |
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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 6th May
More theory. For a change we look at Potentially Dangerous Marine Animals, watch the video "Dangerous Australians" and then we introduce Henry's law and its application to Decompression Illness. Like all the other diving maladies this is an in-depth study and involves cause, signs & symptoms, first aid, medical treatment, pre-disposing factors and most importantly avoidance. We finish with a computer simulation of a deep dive showing tissue saturation.  | | Line signal practice | |
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Thursday 7th May
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.
Friday 8th May  | | Introduction to full face masks | |
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We started the day with the DAN O2 theory exam and then marked it. Everyone passed with flying colours - (yeah, they've passed their first exam)! We then 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 on Monday and then ended the day with some revision for the physiology exam. A great first week.
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